Global Investigations Lead

Overview

Lead ethical investigations in a global humanitarian context.

You have:

• Minimum 7 years of experience leading or supervising investigations in humanitarian or complex organizational environments.
• Master’s degree in law, human resources law, criminal law, human rights, gender or gender-based violence, international affairs, or any other directly relevant social science field.
• CHS Alliance-type certificate on PSEAH workplace investigations and fraud/corruption investigations certificates.
• Demonstrated expertise in SEAH and corruption-related investigations.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed practices, survivor-centered approaches, and duty of care.
• Demonstrated counter-fraud and anti-corruption experience and investigations.
• Strong communication, judgment, discretion, and cross-cultural awareness.
• Commitment to upholding and modelling DRC’s values and Code of Conduct.
• Fluency in English.
• Demonstrated counter-fraud and anti-corruption experience/certificates (e.g. CFE).
• Demonstrated understanding/experience of Internal Audit practices.
• Proficiency in French or Arabic.
• Field-related experiences (being based in a humanitarian setting/operation).
• Experience as manager or team leader supervising investigators or ethics officers.
• Experience and relevant certificates demonstrating experience as a Trainer of Investigators.

Contract

This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.

Do you want to be a driving force fostering ethical accountability in a global humanitarian setting? Step into a pivotal role where you'll serve as the technical lead for investigations—shaping standards, mentoring others, and ensuring that every case is handled with rigor, fairness, and impartiality.

Who are we? DRC’s work is guided by the values of Humanitarian Principles, Honesty & Transparency, Inclusion, Respect and Independence & Neutrality. It is essential that in all our work we uphold the highest standard of conduct and safeguarding standards for the communities where we work, our staff, interns, volunteers and contractors, partners, and other stakeholders. We have a duty of care to protect anyone who comes to contact with our work, particularly our vulnerable groups of beneficiaries and affected populations. The Danish Refugee Council has a Code of Conduct (CoC) since 2007, and a Code of Conduct Reporting Mechanism (CoCRM) for International Operations since 2012. Together, they form a cornerstone of DRC’s commitment to accountability and integrity. As Global Investigations Lead, you will join a team of currently 6 colleagues (expanding further in early 2026) and support the Code of Conduct Reporting Mechanism in over 30 Country Operations.

About the job As Global Investigations Lead, you will be responsible for the overall strategic direction, operational oversight, and quality assurance of the investigations function within DRC’s Safeguarding & Code of Conduct. This includes direct technical supervision of global investigations & investigators, technical guidance to Hub-based Global Safeguarding & Code of Conduct Advisors, collaboration with Country Operations, and ensuring alignment with organizational standards, Code of Conduct obligations, and donor requirements.

Strategic Oversight • Participate, along with the Safeguarding and Triage & Intake (Global Registrar) Leads, to the overall team coordination, ensuring objectives, process and priorities alignments. • Lead the development and implementation of the global investigations framework and methodology. • Lead case meetings, quarterly reviews and contribute to Ethics Learning Reports and risk analysis products. • Represent DRC in Investigators-dedicated external working groups and clusters.

Case Management and Quality Assurance • Assign investigations in collaboration with the Head of Safeguarding & Code of Conduct and Triage & Intake Lead (Global Registrar). • Supervise and review investigation plans, timelines, and outputs led by investigators and Authorizing Officers. • Directly manage a caseload of high/very high-sensitivity cases, particularly those involving SEAH, retaliation, or high reputational risk. • Ensure proper review and investigation reports’ quality for accountability and compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s). • Ensure fair, safe, and survivor-centered approach handling of investigations. • Lead peer review and improvement plans based on quality trends. • Ensure, in collaboration with the Prevention/Safeguarding Lead, of the proper delivery and filling of post-case Management Action Plans. Capacity Strengthening, Training and Reporting Obligations • Support the recruitment, onboarding, mentoring and professional development of investigators. • Design and support the delivery of investigations training, maintaining and updating a pool of investigators. • Ensure systematic and confidential documentation of cases using approved systems. • Collaborate with the relevant stakeholders on donor reporting obligations. • Contribute to external reports when required, ensuring legal and ethical safeguards. • Contribute to the analysis of findings across investigations to identify systemic issues, recurring trends, and lessons learned.

About you To be successful in this role we expect you to bring sharp investigative instincts, sound judgment, and a principled approach to managing sensitive and high-risk cases. Success will rely on your ability to lead with clarity across geographies, mentor investigators, and provide strong technical supervision to uphold the highest investigative standards. You will need to champion quality assurance, ensuring that all outputs meet global benchmarks for integrity, impartiality & fairness, due process and a clear survivor-centered approach.

All employees should master DRC's core competencies: Communicating, Taking the lead, Collaborating, Striving for excellence and Demonstrating integrity.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required • Minimum 7 years of experience leading or supervising investigations in humanitarian or complex organizational environments. • Master’s degree in law, human resources law, criminal law, human rights, gender or gender-based violence, international affairs, or any other directly relevant social science field. • CHS Alliance-type certificate on PSEAH workplace investigations and fraud/corruption investigations certificates. • Demonstrated expertise in SEAH and corruption-related investigations. • Familiarity with trauma-informed practices, survivor-centered approaches, and duty of care. • Demonstrated counter-fraud and anti-corruption experience and investigations • Strong communication, judgment, discretion, and cross-cultural awareness. • Commitment to upholding and modelling DRC’s values and Code of Conduct. • Fluency in English.

Desirable • Demonstrated counter-fraud and anti-corruption experience/certificates (e.g. CFE). • Professionally qualified lawyers are encouraged to apply. • Demonstrated understanding/experience of Internal Audit practices. • Proficiency in French or Arabic. • Field-related experiences (being based in a humanitarian setting/operation). • Experience as manager or team leader supervising investigators or ethics officers. • Experience and relevant certificates demonstrating experience as a Trainer of Investigators.

We offer Contract length: Permanent Workplace: Copenhagen Start date: Ideally October 1st, 2025

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the agreement between DRC and AC. This is a national position for which local terms and conditions apply.

Application process All applicants must send a cover letter, an updated CV in English.

Closing date for applications: Sunday, August 31st , 2025. We expect to conduct interviews early September.

Further information For questions regarding the vacancy please contact [email protected]. For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 10 months ago - Updated 10 months ago - Source: drc.ngo