Investigator

Job Description

Background

The International Rescue Committee is among the world’s leading humanitarian relief and development organizations. The IRC has been at the forefront of virtually every major humanitarian initiative to assist people uprooted by war, persecution, or civil disputes for the last 80 years. And, more than 80 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 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. Today its 11,000 employees and 13,000 incentive workers work in 170 field offices in 40 crisis-torn countries are helping communities rebuild after Ebola, survive terrorist insurgencies, and recover from war. From health care to education to protection for women and girls, the IRC is there.

Job Overview

The Investigator for the Middle East and North Africa Region (“MENA”) will assist the IRC Ethics and Compliance Unit (ECU) conduct investigations of allegations involving fraud, waste, abuse, corruption, beneficiary exploitation and abuse, and other misconduct. The MENA region includes the following IRC Country Programs: Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Libya.

In this role, you will support IRC programs to ensure continued vigilance with regard to the risks associated with violations of IRC’s Code of Professional Conduct and Policies the law/regulations and the further development of complaints mechanisms and investigation capacity. You will additionally 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

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. This position will play a key role in meeting these challenges by furthering a critical mission of the ECU: to safeguard our employees, beneficiaries, staff and resources from misconduct and abuse in complex and high-risk operating environments through investigating allegations of fraud, collusion, and corruption in the use of the grant funds.

It is preferred that the candidate’s work location will be within the MENA region, either remote working or working from an IRC office, with primary responsibilities for investigations in the MENA region and its related Country Programs. Fluency in the Arabic language and travel to IRC offices and field locations within the region is required.

Major Responsibilities

· Undertake investigations of alleged fraud, corruption, waste, safeguarding and any other type of misconduct, with objectivity, impartiality, and fairness throughout the investigative process and in accordance with generally recognized international investigative standards and IRC guidelines

· Formulate investigation plans, review and analyze all information to determine its relevance and reliability, conduct interviews of staff and other parties, record interviews, acquire and analyze potential documentary and electronic evidence, conduct investigative research, prepare draft investigation reports, and present investigative results in a clear written form

· Prepare reports and ad hoc briefs pertaining to investigations in coordination with the Senior Investigator, Ethics and Compliance Unit management, and others as appropriate

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

· Aid in the prioritization of investigative work in consultation with Ethics and Compliance Unit management

· Participate in developing and revising compliance-related best practices and lessons learned from investigative work

· Engage regularly with Country Directors, Regional Vice Presidents, and other key stakeholders on investigations

· Work with Compliance Coordinators or other local staff assigned to support investigations

· Deliver investigation training, remotely and in person, to Country Program staff supporting investigations

Reporting Lines and Relationships

· Reports to: Senior Investigator, ECU

· Directly supervises: None

· Other Internal and/or external contacts:

o Internal: Headquarters departments, international and U.S. program operations

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

Job Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required in business, finance, accounting, law, international relations, criminal justice or related field.

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

• **Work Experience*****:***

o 6+ years of international investigations experience

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

o Experience conducting fraud, collusion, corruption, vendor and supplier collusion, safeguarding and other types of investigations in challenging environments, and preferably in locations where the IRC operates

o Experience working with investigation teams in remote locations and insecure environments

o Experience examining forensic, financial and electronic evidence

o Extensive experience conducting interviews of witnesses and subjects in multicultural environments

• Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

o Fraud Investigation Principles and Techniques, including Procurement Fraud, Bribery, Collusion and Corruption

o Sexual Exploitation and Abuse investigation and interviewing experience preferred

o Excellent judgment and Honesty and Integrity in the highest degree

o Interviewing skills and the ability to interview both witnesses and subjects

o Experience with computer and accounting forensic specialists (having such expertise a plus)

o Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, including the preparation of clear and concise reports

o Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work successfully with internal functional units and operations

o Data Analysis

o MS Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint

o Demonstrated experience and a successful track record working with minimal direct supervision

• Language: Fluency in Arabic, in addition to proficiency in the English language

Working Environment

• Position will either be remote working from home or in an IRC office environment within the MENA region (as defined above)

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

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

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Qualifications