Advisor II, Regional Risk and Compliance

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development services without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and its processes reflect this commitment. The agency welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and dedication to serving those in need. With a workforce that spans multiple countries, CRS emphasizes the importance of cultural humility and contextual awareness in its operations.

Job Overview:
The Advisor II, Regional Risk and Compliance plays a crucial role in providing regional advisory leadership aimed at enhancing risk management, compliance, safeguarding, and accountability practices across various country programs within a designated region. This position involves supporting both country and regional leadership by interpreting and applying CRS policies, donor requirements, safeguarding standards, and global risk and compliance expectations. The Advisor is responsible for identifying systemic risks and assisting country teams in translating these requirements into practical, context-appropriate tools and guidance. The role requires close collaboration with regional leadership, country program teams, and global risk and compliance colleagues to ensure consistent application of standards, support the escalation of high-risk issues, analyze trends across countries, and contribute to regional learning and decision-making processes. The Advisor is expected to promote continuous improvement of risk and compliance systems, ensuring that all practices align with organizational protocols and standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Advisor II will undertake a variety of duties including providing regional technical guidance and advisory support to country programs on risk management, compliance, safeguarding, fraud prevention, accountability, and ethical conduct. This involves advising country teams on the interpretation and practical application of global policies and standards, supporting country and regional risk assessments, and providing technical input on significant compliance matters. The Advisor will develop and promote the use of regional risk and compliance tools, analyze risk-related information to identify trends, prepare regional reports, and support country programs in strengthening safeguarding awareness and accountability mechanisms. Additionally, the Advisor will coordinate with various stakeholders to ensure consistent application of risk and compliance approaches, mentor country risk and compliance staff, and provide technical support for donor proposals requiring regional review. The role also includes conducting regional-level risk and compliance reviews, following up on audit recommendations, and ensuring timely responses to internal and external audits.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in fields such as Accounting, Finance, Governance, Ethics, Risk Management, Law, International Development, Business Administration, or a related field. A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in risk management, compliance, audit, governance, safeguarding, investigations, or related operational risk functions is required, preferably within an international NGO or complex multi-country environment. Demonstrated experience in providing technical support and advisory guidance across multiple countries is essential, along with experience in aligning regional risk and compliance approaches with global policies and donor requirements.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields such as Accounting, Finance, Governance, Ethics, Risk Management, Law, International Development, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree in these areas is preferred, along with professional certifications such as CPA, CIA, CFE, CCEP, CRMA, or equivalent qualifications. Strong knowledge of donor regulations and compliance expectations is also highly valued.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in risk management, compliance, audit, governance, safeguarding, investigations, or related operational risk functions. Candidates should have experience in providing technical support and advisory guidance across multiple countries or complex operating environments, as well as experience in aligning regional risk and compliance approaches with global organizational policies and donor requirements.

Languages:
Fluent professional proficiency in English is required, while proficiency in French is strongly preferred. This bilingual capability is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the region.

Additional Notes:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities and may require travel up to 30% within the assigned region. The anticipated duration of the assignment for expatriates is informed by a term limit based on the job type and level, as well as the agency's needs. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and staff from all forms of exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate is expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates, and all offers are contingent on the selected candidate's ability to legally work in the location of the position.