Risk and Compliance Manager

A-Introduction:
The Risk and Compliance Manager plays a critical role in ensuring the integrity, accountability, and efficiency of UNICEF-supported projects implemented in Palestinian camps and gatherings in Lebanon. This position is designed to strengthen internal controls, uphold neutrality, and ensure compliance with humanitarian principles and donor requirements. Given the complex and sensitive nature of operations in these contexts, the role is essential for maintaining program quality, mitigating risk, and safeguarding donor confidence.

This is a consultancy position jointly supported by the five Lead Partners of UNICEF’s Palestinian Programme in Lebanon: Taawon, TdH-IT, MAP, NISCVT, and ARCPA. This advertisement is issued on behalf of all five Lead Partners. Each Lead Partner will contribute 20% of the consultant’s salary, and the consultant will dedicate 20% of their time to each partner. The consultant will follow a hybrid work modality (remotely and from the partners’ offices, when required) and will coordinate closely with the Chief of UNICEF’s Palestinian Programme in Lebanon.

B-Job Purpose

The Risk and Compliance Manager will be responsible for leading the strengthening of risk assurance and compliance efforts in the organization and its partners. He/She will be responsible for providing complementary expertise, support, and monitoring related to the management of risk, including but not limited to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of risk management practices at a process, systems, and entity level. He/she will ensure to lead the achievement of risk management objectives following organizational rules and regulations, acceptable ethical behavior, internal controls, information and technology security, sustainability, neutrality, and quality assurance. Moreover, he/she will provide analysis and reports on the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management and internal controls.

C-Main Responsibilities

1. Risk Management Support

1. Lead the process of providing guidance and support to the organization in the risk assessment process and ensuring compliance with applicable rules and regulations for it and its partners.
2. Lead the monitoring process of risk mitigation action.
3. Undertake visits to project sites and field offices to verify the quality of performance.
4. Support partner capacity assessment and building of organization staff and partners.
5. Ensure the risk management approach is embedded in any project/proposal, and in any major decision made by the management.

2. Ensure Compliance

1. Lead the review process of the organization systems, procedures and processes for compliance with organizational rules and regulations.
2. Enforce and strengthen internal controls to ensure that systems are in place to prevent, detect, and report non-compliance.
3. Review and validate the internal work processes in Programme and Operations to ensure that accountabilities are clear and placed at adequate levels as per best practices.
4. Lead the establishment of a risk-based system to periodically and systematically review a sample of activities (Programme and Operations) to ensure they are carried out according to established work processes and in compliance with organization policies and procedures.
5. Support the internal and external audit processes, conduct quality assurance and follow-up on the implementation of the recommendations, and provide feedback to the management.

3. Fraud risk Management support

1. Support the management in collecting evidence about allegations of fraud and misconduct for investigations.
2. Advise the management on lessons learned from investigations and measures to be taken accordingly.
3. Ensure the implementation of the anti-fraud strategy, suggest internal fraud prevention mechanisms, and alert the management on any fraudulent issues as well as unethical behaviors detected.
4. Lead the process of fraud risk training/orientation to staff, partners, and suppliers.

4. Neutrality and Humanitarian Principles Compliance

1. Ensure that all activities and partnerships are assessed against humanitarian principles, particularly neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
2. Develop and implement a neutrality compliance framework to assess partner organizations’ alignment with the organization’s core values and humanitarian standards.
3. Monitor field-level activities to prevent political, sectarian, or partisan influence on program delivery, particularly in sensitive contexts like Palestinian refugee camps and gatherings.
4. Train staff and partners on maintaining neutrality and managing perceptions, especially during program delivery in highly politicized or fragmented environments.
5. Flag any risks to the organization’s neutrality and recommend mitigation measures to leadership.

5. Recruitment and Risk-Sensitive Hiring

1. Support the development and implementation of transparent, merit-based recruitment processes that align with internal HR policies and ethical hiring practices.
2. Ensure that recruitment practices reflect organizational values, prevent conflicts of interest, and promote diversity, inclusion, and neutrality—especially in politically sensitive areas.
3. Participate in vetting processes for key staff, particularly those in compliance, finance, and field roles, to ensure adherence to anti-fraud and neutrality standards.
4. Contribute to building a staff profile that enhances risk management capacity within the organization and supports a culture of compliance and accountability.
5. Monitor recruitment trends and practices of partners and flag any risks or irregularities to management.