Palestine Risk & Compliance Senior Officer

INTRODUCTION

Join Humanity & Inclusion (HI) as a Palestine Risk & Compliance Senior Officer and contribute to strengthening risk management and compliance across our humanitarian operations in Palestine. You will support departments in managing risks and strengthening internal controls, coordinate audits, and promote a culture of integrity and accountability.

THE ORGANIZATION

Humanity & Inclusion / Handicap International - co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize- is an independent and impartial organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Through our actions on the ground and our advocacy, we respond to the essential needs of vulnerable populations, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. HI is present in 56 countries around the world.

Handicap International is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from people with disabilities.

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OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION:

Under the hierarchical management of the Deputy Country Director of HI Palestine during the establishment phase, and under the hierarchical management of the Regional Compliance Senior Officer beyond January 2027, the Palestine Risk & Compliance Senior Officer is responsible for establishing and operationalising the Risk & Compliance function within HI Palestine.

The position ensures that preventive procedures and internal control mechanisms are properly implemented, enabling HI Palestine to identify, prevent, mitigate and manage risks related to non-compliance with HI's internal rules and policies, applicable legal and administrative obligations, contractual commitments and ethical standards.

The Palestine Risk & Compliance Senior Officer provides mission-wide support and assurance on risk management, compliance, internal controls, audit coordination, due diligence and safeguarding. The position works closely with the Senior Management Team and all departments to strengthen organisational governance, accountability and risk-informed decision-making.

The position is responsible for establishing and structuring the Palestine Risk & Compliance Unit, developing its processes, tools and annual action plan, and ensuring effective coordination between compliance, risk management, safeguarding, audit and other assurance functions.

The scope of intervention covers all HI Palestine activities, projects, shared services, partnerships and operating locations, including remote-management settings.

The Palestine Risk & Compliance Senior Officer is the mission focal point for compliance and the fight against fraud and corruption. The position also ensures that HI staff, partners, suppliers and other relevant stakeholders are aware of applicable institutional policies, ethical standards, prevention measures and internal reporting/alert mechanisms.

The position directly supervises the Safeguarding Officer and ensures effective coordination between safeguarding and the wider Risk & Compliance framework, while respecting the specific technical and confidentiality requirements applicable to safeguarding and investigations.

The position requires a high degree of autonomy, sound judgement and the ability to establish systems and processes in a complex and rapidly evolving operational environment.

Responsibilities/ Missions:

1. Establish and Lead the Palestine Risk & Compliance Unit

Tasks:

• Establish and operationalise the Risk & Compliance Unit within HI Palestine
• Define and document the mandate, scope of intervention, roles, responsibilities and interfaces of the Unit with other departments and assurance functions
• Develop the Unit's annual action plan and priorities based on the mission's risk profile and strategic priorities
• Develop and institutionalise the Unit's procedures, SOPs, tools, templates and reporting mechanisms
• Establish clear accountability and coordination mechanisms between risk management, compliance, internal control, safeguarding and audit functions
• Develop risk-based reporting and escalation mechanisms for high and critical risks
• Establish regular Risk & Compliance reporting to the Country Director and Senior Management Team
• Ensure coordination and alignment with the Regional Compliance Senior Officer and the wider HI Compliance function
• Contribute to the progressive integration of the Palestine Risk & Compliance Unit into the regional Compliance structure

2. Strategy, risk management and steering

Tasks:

• Understand HI Palestine's strategy and translate it into operational objectives and priorities for the Risk & Compliance function
• Support the development of the risk register including risk indicators, trigger points and escalation mechanisms for significant and critical risks
• Support in the identification, analysis and assessment of organisational, operational, programme, financial, legal, regulatory, compliance, safeguarding, partnership, fraud and reputational risks
• Support the definition of mitigation plans and monitor effectiveness of risk mitigation measures

3. Compliance and internal control

Tasks:

• Ensure compliance with: HI internal rules, policies, procedures and standards; applicable national and international legal and regulatory requirements; contractual obligations; institutional donor requirements; partnership and consortium agreements; relevant requirements applicable to suppliers and third parties
• Assess compliance and internal control risks associated with remote-management arrangements
• Ensure that HI employees are familiar with the standards, procedures and tools required for the proper management of activities and resources
• Identify control weaknesses and support departments in developing and implementing corrective action plans
• Conduct risk-based compliance reviews, spot checks and second-level controls across the mission

4. Verification of Legal and Administrative Compliance

Tasks:

• Ensure that HI Palestine complies with applicable legal, regulatory and administrative obligations required for its operations
• Monitor key obligations related to registration, permits, authorisations, reporting requirements, labour regulations, taxation and other administrative requirements affecting HI operations in close coordination with the relevant departments (Finance, HR, Logistics)
• Identify and escalate potential cases of non-compliance to the Country Director and relevant support functions
• Support departments in implementing corrective measures where compliance gaps are identified.
• Liaise with HQ, regional support functions and external legal advisers when specialised expertise is required

5. Compliance with contractual obligations and donor requirements and audit coordination

Tasks:

• Support the Grants Manager, as the lead responsible for donor compliance, in identifying, monitoring and addressing risks related to contractual obligations and donor requirements applicable to institutional grants and other funding agreements
• Act as the focal point for the coordination of internal and external audits within HI Palestine
• Coordinate audit preparation, including the collection, organisation and provision of required documentation
• Facilitate communication between auditors and relevant HI departments
• Consolidate and coordinate management responses to audit findings and recommendations
• Maintain a central audit findings and recommendations tracker, including corrective action plans
• Follow up on the implementation and closure of audit recommendations
• Ensure that lessons learned from audits inform the Risk & Compliance action plan, internal controls and procedures

6. Partnership and third-party due diligence

Tasks:

• Establish and strengthen a risk-based due diligence framework for partners, suppliers, contractors, consultants and other relevant third parties
• Ensure that appropriate due diligence is conducted before and, where relevant, during relationships with third parties
• Ensure that identified risks are documented and appropriate mitigation measures are established and monitored throughout the duration of partnerships and contractual relationships

7. Focal point for the fight against fraud and corruption

Tasks:

• Promote awareness of HI's policies relating to integrity, fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest and abuse among HI staff, partners and relevant third parties
• Receive or facilitate the appropriate referral of reports through HI's established reporting (Ethics Point) and alert mechanisms, while ensuring confidentiality and respect for all individuals involved
• Contribute, when specifically requested and within the applicable HI framework, to administrative investigations into fraud or abuse under the supervision of authorised HI management or HQ functions
• Alert the Country Director, Regional Compliance Senior Officer and/or relevant HQ focal points in the event of significant fraud, corruption or integrity risks

8. Safeguarding supervision and oversight

Tasks:

• Directly supervise and support the Safeguarding Officer and the Palestine Safeguarding focal points in West Bank and Gaza
• Support the development and implementation of the mission safeguarding action plan
• Ensure that safeguarding policies, procedures and reporting mechanisms are known and accessible to staff and relevant third parties
• Support the strengthening of safe, confidential and accessible reporting and referral mechanisms
• Monitor safeguarding compliance across HI operations and partnerships

Note that this job description must remain flexible; the list of tasks set out above is not exhaustive and is subject to changes resulting from the diversity of Humanity & Inclusion/Handicap International activities to respond to additional tasks or changes as identified by the line and functional managers.

Job Requirements:

Professional skills

• University degree in audit
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in audit and compliance,
• Previous INGO experience is a desirable

Cross-cutting skills

• Arabic and English are mandatory
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Adapting communication and messages to an intercultural environment.
• Proactive, shows initiative
• Working as part of a team/network, cooperating.
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback, discussing with multi-disciplinary teams, working as part of a network and collaborating.
• Advance knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Access).
• Planning, organizing and multitasking skills
• Strong team player
• Solution maker
• Ability to travel to all countries of the programme when required

The initial contract will be for a period of up to 6 months, with the possibility of extension depending on the funds and the performance

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS:

HI workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in HI Code of conduct. In accordance with these values, HI operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-fraud, bribery, and corruption.

Handicap International is an equal-opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from persons with disabilities