VN 2024 716 Regional Risk and Compliance Officer (P4) Vienna, Austria

Organizational Context and Scope

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) for Management, the overall supervision of the Regional Director (RD), and the technical guidance of the Institutional Risk Division (IRD) in Headquarters (HQ), the Regional Risk and Compliance Officer provides advice and support to the implementation of institutional policy related to risk identification, management, and treatment in Country Offices (COs) across the Region. Specifically, the successful candidate provides oversight, internal control, and technical guidance to promote the integration of risk management into Regional Office (RO) and COs operations and programmes. In close collaboration with the RO, Chiefs of Mission (CoMs), and Heads of Office (HoOs), the successful candidate monitors and strengthens assessments of reputational, fiduciary, and other types of risk as they relate to strategic planning and subsequent decision-making at both the regional and country level.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Ensure and strengthen the integration of risk management with other oversight and control processes, including compliance, internal controls, and due diligence at the regional level.

2. Lead efforts to integrate risk management into RO and COs decision making, through appropriate monitoring and oversight so that IOM is able to identify, evaluate and treat key risks supporting COs operations as well as advising the RDs, and CoMs/HoOs.

3. Advise RO and COs units on Institutional Compliance Frameworks to strengthen operational and management oversight.

4. Strengthen and monitor assessments of reputational, fiduciary, and other related risks as part of strategic planning and decision-making processes at RO and CO level.

5. Advise RO management, as well as CoMs/HoOs, on actions to be taken to enforce and strengthen accountabilities and compliance for robust, responsive, and transparent governance frameworks.

6. Support and enhance the RO and COs in fraud risk assessments, assessing allegations of fraud, root causes, with the aim to develop fraud risk treatment plans.

7. Assess and manage risks to the Regional Strategy and maintain a Risk Register at RO level, and ensure that COs in the Region also assess, record, and manage risks.

8. Keep the IRD in HQ abreast of the status of key risks within the region through regular reporting on risk and control matters, ensuring the bottom-up flow of risk-related information emanates from COs.

9. Through the escalation of prevalent risks within the RO and to IRD in HQ, trigger early warning alerts to mitigate downside effects of risks on IOM’s Strategic Plan, and activate swift preventive or remedial action for risks escalated to the RO.

10. Ensure that Regional Thematic Units (RTUs) provide oversight and support to COs on the management of risks pertaining to their areas of thematic expertise, including at project level, based on IOM’s Project Handbook and related guidance.

11. Support and provide substantive inputs and advice to COs, particularly smaller offices, with the drafting and development of risk treatment plans in coordination with the relevant technical and thematic units.

12. Monitor and report on the effectiveness of internal controls and risk treatment plans across the region and engage in the sharing of lessons learned from risks and performance issues with a view to continuous improvement.

13. Perform enhanced due diligence, including duty travel as needed, in high-risk settings according to contextual and operational requirements.

14. Ensure that delegated authorities within the Region are optimally managed and tracked; are aligned with accountabilities, Instructions (INs), the Delegation of Authority (DOA) Policy and approved DOA matrices; and are based on assessment of risks and opportunities, in coordination with the Change Management Division and IRD.

15. Track and advise on the implementation of oversight recommendations in the region, and build corresponding links to annual planning, reporting, and management exercises.

16. Lead RO oversight of the ERP’s Governance, Risk and Compliance module overseeing CO activities.

17. Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in Risk Management, Corporate Governance, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with at least seven years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above or related fields with at least nine years of relevant professional.

EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated experience in risk management, risk mitigation, crisis management, or corporate governance;
• Experience working in non-OECD countries related to humanitarian and development programmes is highly advantageous;
• Experience working in an international, inter-governmental, or non-governmental organization, United Nations, or government; and,
• Experience in the design.

SKILLS

• Ability to understand complex contexts and fast-changing migration and displacement dynamics and ability to frame them in respect to institutional, reputational, fiduciary, and other types of risk;
• Strong communication, negotiation and engagement skills, particularly in response to working with administrative heads, project managers, and management support functions;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and manage a diverse team;
• Strong analytical skills combined with the ability to effectively summarize, present, and communicate findings;
• Demonstrated expertise of relevant standards and practices related to risk identification, risk management and risk treatment planning; and,
• Proven agent of change or willingness to foster a culture of learning, risk management and knowledge management.