Global Director - Integrity, Ethics & Counter Fraud at Save the Children

Role Purpose:

Save the Children has agreed an ambitious new strategy for 2022-24, which requires us to work in some of the world’s toughest and most complex operating environments. Ethical conduct is a cornerstone of what we do. We are committed to promoting ethics and integrity not only in our fight against fraud, bribery and corruption, but across all of our work – with each other and with the communities and children we serve.

We are looking for our next Global Director - Integrity, Ethics and Counter Fraud. The role holder will be an experienced strategic and operational leader who will help build a strong workplace culture around ethical conduct, in addition to building and executing a strong prevention and response strategy to fraud, bribery and corruption. In addition to leading the organisation’s work on Ethics and Integrity, this role will ensure the effective and efficient operation of the Global Counter Fraud team to support the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Trustees, and Save the Children Member organisations in discharging their responsibilities to communities, donors, and regulators.

A key part of the organisation’s ‘second line’ (of defence) and reporting to the Chief Risk Officer (CRO), the role holder will lead a global team of c.10 Counter-Fraud Specialists (one Head of Counter-Fraud, Five Regional Counter-Fraud Leads and roving analysts/officers). In addition, they will provide technical and pastoral support to a wide network of in-country counter-fraud focal points. The role holder will also work closely cross-functionally to ensure the continual development and embedding of a strong culture of ethics and integrity across the organisation, including:

• Setting, obtaining buy-in, and executing a vision for ethics and countering fraud across SCI - building on the progress made to date;
• Develop a Code of Ethics and related training package for the organisation
• Develop and execute ‘Ethics in Action’ sessions and ‘town hall meetings’ – focusing on difficult ethical issues and trade-offs
• Driving a modern, data-driven and technology-enabled strategy for the organisation’s counter-fraud effort – delivering meaningful insight and action;
• Ensuring that necessary counter fraud measures are identified and embedded within the internal control structures and systems;
• Driving a consistent and risk-based ’triage’ approach for all suspected fraud incidents and to manage the teams’ completion of fraud investigations including accurate and timely reporting as well as root-cause analyses and lessons learned;
• Leading by example by being actively involved in undertaking the most sensitive, critical fraud, bribery & corruption and conflict of interest investigations where discretion; objectivity and a keen sense of impartiality and personal integrity is of utmost importance
• Supporting in the development of fit for purpose fraud awareness training programmes, including new starter induction, third-party awareness and on-going refresher training;
• Supporting the CRO in communicating effectively across the organisation on matters of ethical conduct, corruption, and fraud;
• Provide regular communications to the Audit & Risk Committee of the Board, SLT, Regional and Country leadership on counter fraud work; themes; as well as on the performance of the Global Counter Fraud team;
• Working with other ‘incident reporting business units’ to help build a unified approach to high risk / high profile multifaceted investigations that may contain elements of fraud, child safeguarding, adult safeguarding, and/or safety & security; and
• Deputise for the CRO as needed.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Significant hands-on experience in counter-fraud or a closely related field, demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of fraud prevention, detection, and response.
• A deep understanding fraud in international development and humanitarian settings
• Sound Familiarity with international anti-fraud standards and regulations, including regulations like the Fraud Act, UK Bribery Act, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), among others.
• Ability to operate at a senior executive level and transition seamlessly between strategic fraud risk management and day-to-day operational fraud response management
• Proven track record of working in a matrix management environment, being able to deliver on objectives across a complex landscape
• Excellent communicator, negotiator, facilitator and leader, able to clearly and confidently articulate and communicate on and deliver the organisation’s counter-fraud strategy
• Strong analytical skills to aid foresight, insight, and action on emerging trends
• Demonstrable ability to take a pragmatic approach to counter fraud management in operating environments with low skills capacity, high insecurity, limitations to funding and limited technology, and political instability
• Requirement to undertake overseas travel, to attend management meetings as needed or visit regional or country offices.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Commitment to Save the Children values

Desirable

• Ability to communicate in another Save the Children’s official language (English, French, Spanish, and Arabic)