Investigator

London, UK: GBP 51,000.00 - 70,000.00 Annually

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Work Arrangement: Open to Remote

Job Description

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the world’s leading humanitarian relief and development organizations. Since its inception, the IRC has been at the forefront of virtually every major humanitarian initiative to assist people uprooted by war, persecution, or civil disputes. And, 90 years after Albert Einstein helped create the IRC, the number and intensity of humanitarian crises across the globe warrant a dose of Einstein-inspired innovation. The UN reports that 360 million people today are in humanitarian need.

The IRC has grown because its teams have gone to the toughest places, done cutting-edge research, developed in-depth knowledge, and forged vital relationships with local governments and communities. Today, its 20,000 employees and 30,000 volunteers and incentive workers operate in 170 field offices in 40 crisis-torn countries, helping communities rebuild after floods and health crises, survive terrorist insurgencies, and recover from war. From health care to education to protection for women and girls, the IRC is there.

Job Overview

Two commitments lie at the foundation of the IRC’s work: 1) our unceasing quest to serve the needs of our beneficiaries; and 2) our determination to meet the requirements of our donors as trusted stewards of their resources. Our Ethics and Compliance Unit (ECU) plays a critical role in this mission by upholding and promoting our code of conduct, the IRC Way, to ensure that we carry out our work following the ethical and moral principles that support our humanitarian calling. One of the main responsibilities of the ECU is to safeguard our workers, beneficiaries and resources from misconduct and abuse in high-risk operating environments through investigating allegations of fraud, waste, collusion, corruption, exploitation, and other misconduct.

As an Investigator, you support IRC Country Programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia and the Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration (RAI) program in the USA. Your main responsibility is to conduct investigations into violations of the IRC Way, including the misuse of grant funds. You are integral to developing, improving, and promoting complaint mechanisms, and expanding the ECU’s investigation capacity. You collaborate with other IRC functional areas and programs to support our partners, sub-grantees, and other agencies in encouraging a work environment that minimizes the potential for misconduct.

Your work location is flexible – you can either work from an IRC office or remotely from your home in the USA, the UK, or in Pakistan. It is preferable, however, that you have experience working in or with the Asian countries in which the IRC operates. Proficiency in English is required for this role, and candidates fluent in Pashto, Dari and/or Urdu have a distinct advantage. This role also encompasses travel to our offices and field locations within the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigate alleged fraud, corruption, waste, safeguarding violations, and any other type of misconduct, with objectivity, impartiality, and fairness throughout the investigative process and in line with international investigative standards and IRC guidelines.

• Formulate investigation plans; obtain, review, and analyze all information; conduct interviews of staff and other parties; record interviews; acquire and analyze evidence; conduct investigative research.

• Engage with Country Directors, Regional Vice Presidents, and other relevant team members on investigations; streamline investigative steps with in-country Compliance Coordinators or other local staff assigned to support investigations.

• In coordination with the Senior Investigator, ECU management, and others as appropriate, prepare ad hoc briefs and draft investigation reports, presenting investigative results factually and accurately in a succinct written form.

• Prepare recommendations for corrective actions and improved controls and effectiveness or efficiency of IRC operations.

• Assist in the prioritization of investigative work.

• Participate in improving compliance-related standard processes, specifically based on lessons learned from investigative work.

• Train Country Program staff supporting investigations.

Job Requirements

• Work Experience:

o 4-6 years of experience in the private and/or public investigations sector. This includes experience conducting investigations into fraud, corruption, vendor and supplier collusion, safeguarding matters, etc. in complicated environments, and preferably in locations where the IRC operates.

o Extensive expertise in examining forensic, financial, and electronic evidence.

o Proficiency in interviewing witnesses and subjects in multicultural environments.

o Experience working with diverse investigation teams, including in remote locations and insecure environments.

o Experience in the nonprofit and NGO sectors, with grant-supported organizations, regional and international organizations, or the inspector general function within a large government organization is advantageous.

• Languages: Proficiency in English; fluency in Pashto, Dari and/or Urdu is a distinct advantage.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (or similar) in law, international relations, criminal justice, journalism, finance, accounting, or a related field.

• Certification: Certificates, licenses or advanced degrees in law, accounting, or computer forensics (i.e., CFE/CFF/CPA/CA/CCEP) are an advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Investigative curiosity, an analytical mind, and attention to detail.

• Excellent judgment, honesty, and integrity.

• Expertise in fraud investigation principles and techniques to detect procurement fraud, collusion, bribery and corruption, etc.

• Clear and effective communication, both orally and in writing, including in diverse and multicultural environments.

• Excellent inter-personal skills, experience in conducting interviews with empathy and purpose.

• Proven track record of building relationships with internal programs and operational units.

• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to prepare factual, clear, and concise reports in a timely manner.

• Confidence in working with minimal direct supervision, with a focus on delivering quality results.

• Strong time management skills with the ability to adjust quickly to multiple demands and changing priorities.

• Proficiency in MS Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

• Experience with digital e-discovery tools is a plus.

Reporting Lines and Relationships

• Reports to: Senior Investigator - Asia and RAI USA, ECU.

• Supervises: None.

• Other internal and/or external contacts:

o Internal: Headquarters departments, international and US program operations.

o External: International representatives, partners, vendors, suppliers, service providers, and external auditors, as needed.

Working Environment

• Location: Working from home or in an IRC office in Pakistan, the UK, or the USA.

• Travel: Travel (30%+) to IRC offices, field sites, and possible insecure environments is required (post Covid-19 travel restrictions).

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to UK and US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:

IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Gender Equality:

IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Professional Standards:

The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

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