Regional Legal and Compliance Manager

Project HOPE is an international NGO of engaged employees and volunteers who work in more than 25 countries, responding to the world’s most pressing global health challenges. Throughout our 60-year legacy, Project HOPE has treated millions of patients and provided more than $3 billion worth of medicines to local health care organizations around the world. We have helped build hundreds of health programs from the ground up and responded to humanitarian crises worldwide.

Code of Conduct

It is our shared responsibility and obligation to treat each other with respect, take affirmative steps to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse and Trafficking in Persons, and to disclose all potential and actual violations of our Code of Conduct, which may include Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption, Discrimination or Harassment. Together we can reinforce a culture of respect, integrity, accountability, and transparency.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Regional Legal and Compliance Manager duties will include working closely with the Legal Department to identify and assist with mitigating legal risks for activities in the Africa Region, including but not limited to labor law and taxation issues; assist with bringing structure and discipline to contracts and the legal structuring, review and negotiation of agreements; and strengthening Project HOPE’s global IP assets (materials, trademarks, new assets). The Regional Legal and Compliance Manager will be able to successfully invite and manage divergent views, while managing multiple tasks and activities in a calm, resilient, collaborative, and professional manner.

The Regional Compliance Manager duties will include, but not be limited to the management and oversight of Project HOPE’s Ethics & Compliance program within the Africa Region, including compliance with donor requirements and investigating potential violations of donor requirements, law or policy. Working closely with the Chief Compliance Officer (or designee) and other Regional Compliance Directors, the position will help build the field team and will be responsible for assessing compliance efforts to meet legal and contractual obligations and recommending appropriate compliance strategies, training and other initiatives to minimize noncompliance and/or unethical conduct within Project HOPE and/or those working on behalf of Project HOPE in the Africa Region and to ensure timely reporting of all potential violations or concerns. The Manager will report to and be under the leadership of the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, or his or her designee, and will be a key member of the Governance, Legal and Compliance Team.

Project HOPE is looking for a strategic, solution-oriented professional with experience overseeing a humanitarian and emergency response compliance program, including overseeing field investigations. The international relief and development sector is faced with increasing regulatory requirements and scrutiny from donors, regulators, and host country governments.

The Regional Legal and Compliance Manager will assess a host of dynamic ethical, contractual, and legal requirements and invite and manage divergent views, while managing multiple tasks and activities in a calm, resilient, collaborative, and professional manner. They must be able to manage multiple investigative matters with discretion and the utmost care of the individuals and organizations involved. They must have excellent written and oral communication skills, the ability to understand and distill data analysis, and have a proven ability to gain credibility, support, and engagement from a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. They will be a critical and strategic thinker while being able, and willing, to immerse themselves with details.

They will be able to work both independently and collaboratively within a cross-functional, cross-divisional, and multi-national environment assisting in the resolution of issues in a manner that conforms to the highest ethical practices while fostering and enhancing positive working relationships. The Regional Legal and Compliance Manager will have the utmost sensitivity and knowledge of cultural, political, and religious environments in the regions where we work and have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability. This will be a locally hired role with local benefits.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain the highest level of professional and ethical standards, acting in compliance with both the letter and spirit of applicable laws and regulations.
• Lead compliance oversight for the Africa Region, including implementation of the Project HOPE Ethics and Compliance program designed to effectively prevent, detect, respond to, and mitigate illegal, unethical, or improper conduct and promote a culture of integrity and compliance.
• Responsible for training of staff located in Africa on Project HOPE compliance policies and donor requirements related to humanitarian assistance, emergency response, corporate donor requirements and USAID programming.
• Responsible for training and oversight of Project HOPE’s antibribery and sanctions/export and related compliance policies in the Africa Region.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of U.S. Agency for International Development (“USAID”), Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), and other major funders and oversight bodies operational compliance requirements.
• Provide support, advice and recommendations for complex problem-solving situations related to compliance, and to build consensus, identify strategic priorities and directions, and ensure successful outcomes in the Africa Region.
• Work collaboratively with relevant departments to ensure efficient and effective compliance measures and prompt and successful resolution of audits and investigations of alleged noncompliance and/or ethical issues arising in the Africa Region.
• Foster a culture of trust and confidence (both internally and externally) within the Africa Region in Project HOPE’s duty to report, investigation, and follow up system.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge with funder and legal requirements for purposes of ensuring compliance.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Law degree from an accredited institution in US or in Ethiopia preferred.
• Valid license to practice law in Ethiopia required.
• At least 5years of experience in international development with direct experience with managing a compliance program and conducting investigations in a humanitarian and/ or emergency relief setting.
• Strong cultural sensitivity and experience in a global, geographically dispersed organization.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English.
• Experience and knowledge of US Government grants, sanctions and anti-corruption laws is essential. Specific experience with USAID, CDC and/or BHA grants is a plus.
• Experience with ethics, compliance, sexual exploitation and abuse, and corporate transactions in humanitarian and disaster relief high-risk contexts is a plus.
• Previous foreign travel and willingness to travel approximately 40 percent of the time as needed for training and investigations.
• Experience with investigations in a regulated environment.