Lead, Employee Relations (Investigations) at Save the Children

Role purpose

To lead SCI’s grievance investigations capability, ensuring concerns are investigated fairly, consistently, proportionately and to a high professional standard. The role provides senior oversight of senior, complex and high-risk cases, develops a skilled investigations team and safeguards the integrity, quality and timeliness of the investigation process. Through strong partnerships, case insights and organisational learning, the role helps identify systemic risks, strengthen practice and contribute to a safe and respectful working environment.

• Reports To: Director, People & Organisation Effectiveness (Interim)
• Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available
• Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: SCI Careers 
• Required Time Zone: Any
• Contract Length: Permanent
• Right to Work: The successful candidate must have the right to work in the country where the role is based, for the duration of employment. 
• Language Requirements: English
• International Travel: up to 5% 
• People Management: Number of people managed in total: 3-4
• Remit: Global

Principal Accountabilities

• Lead, manage and develop a team of specialist investigators, setting and maintaining high professional standards for investigative planning, methodology, evidence assessment, recommendations and report writing.
• Create an environment where investigators can exercise independent professional judgement whilst maintaining robust quality assurance mechanisms and providing senior challenge where required to ensure decisions remain impartial, consistent and defensible to internal stakeholders and the communities we serve
• Maintain effective oversight of the grievance investigation caseload, ensuring concerns are handled swiftly, compliantly and proportionately and workloads are balanced whilst timelines are met, and emerging risks, delays, or barriers to progression are proactively addressed or escalated. 
• Lead investigations into high risk grievances against senior leaders, ensuring they are addressed fairly, consistently and in accordance with SCI’s Safe and Respectful Working Environment Policy and Grievance Procedure. 
• Ensure a person-centred approach throughout the investigation process, recognising the wellbeing, needs and rights of individuals affected by a concern and ensuring all parties are treated with dignity, fairness and respect. 
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders, Country Offices and functions including Risk, Legal, Safety and Security and the wider People team, navigating competing perspectives whilst aligning to confidentiality protocols and protecting the integrity of the investigation process.
• Proactively identify recurring themes to escalate systemic issues, areas of organisational risk and opportunities for improvement, providing actionable insights that strengthen SCI’s approach to maintaining a safe and respectful working environment.

Experience and Skills

Essential

• Substantial experience overseeing and/or conducting complex and sensitive investigations into grievances across multiple countries in which SCI operates.
• Demonstrable expertise and experience advising on relevant employment law and its application to case management in SCI’s operating contexts.
• Proven ability to lead, manage and develop a team, setting clear expectations for quality, timeliness and professional standards and providing effective technical supervision, coaching and quality assurance.
• Demonstrable experience managing a complex investigation caseload, effectively prioritising high-risk and sensitive concerns, monitoring progress against agreed timelines and proactively addressing barriers, delays and capacity constraints.
• Ability to exercise independent and balanced judgement to reach well-reasoned findings when dealing with sensitive employee relations concerns, including navigating conflicting evidence, complex stakeholder dynamics and matters involving significant organisational, legal or reputational risk.
• Highly developed interpersonal, listening and questioning skills, with the ability to build trust and engage sensitively and effectively with reporters, impacted individuals, subjects of concern, witnesses and other stakeholders throughout the investigation process.
• Significant experience applying continuous learning to continually innovate and improve existing ways of working, investigation frameworks, methodologies or quality assurance processes. 
• Demonstrates strong cultural awareness and inclusive leadership, with the ability to recognise and adapt to cultural considerations and the implications of power dynamics when leading investigations and investigation teams

Desirable

• Experience of leading investigations within an international, federated, humanitarian or similarly complex organisation.
• Significant experience in a generalist HR, talent acquisition or as a paralegal/legal counsel 
• Professional proficiency in French, Spanish or Arabic would be highly desirable

Education and Qualifications 

Desirable

• Professional training, qualification or accreditation in workplace investigations, employee relations, HR, law or another relevant discipline, or equivalent experience