IPPF – Director, Risk and Assurance

Director, Risk and Assurance

July 2023

About IPPF

International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all.

Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 120 autonomous members with a presence in over 146 countries. Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. Volunteerism is central to our healthcare delivery. It underpins the vital work of our members and their teams, whether through community outreach and distribution of contraceptive care or the regional Youth Action Movements championing change.

Role: Director, Risk and Assurance

Location: London

Salary: £73,251 - £77,334

The Role Role Purpose

The Director, Risk and Assurance is responsible for coordinating IPPF’s risk management and assurance activities. The role advises the Director General (DG), the Directors Leadership Team (DLT) and the Board, on all risk and assurance matters allowing the DG and the DLT to make informed and timely decisions. The role will also oversee company registrations and contract review processes. The Director Risk and Assurance line manages Global Security Advisor and Contracts & Registrations Advisor.

Key Tasks

General and Legal Risk:

• Facilitate the commissioning of external legal advice taking into consideration cost, effectiveness and appropriateness for the situation. Specific HR advice will be managed directly by the Director, People Organisation and Culture.

• To act as company secretary.

• To be responsible for standardising legal contract agreements, contracting processes and developing a robust repository with all this information, accessible to key individuals. Oversee the donor contract review processes.

• To ensure effective implementation of the Data Protection Act 1984 and the GDPR regulations 2018 as it affects the Federation. Act as IPPF’s Officer for Data Protection Act purposes.

• To oversee company registrations including overseas.

Risk Management and Fraud:

• To oversee risk management for IPPF including the development of the risk strategy and structure. To provide risk management support to the DG, DLT and staff, review risks raised and monitor the risk mitigation actions of IPPF’s risks.

• To report to the Finance Audit & Risk Committee on risk and fraud issues, including maintaining the strategic risk register Liaise with the Director, Finance and Technology on issues related to compliance, fraud, criminal practices and risk.

• Responsible for reporting serious incidents to the Charity Commission and ensuring the Federation is meeting its reporting obligations under current global legislation.

• To be the main point of contact for any allegations of financial wrongdoing. To oversee investigations into allegations of financial wrongdoing.

• To provide advisory services on Safety and Security across the Federation.

Assurance:

• Provide assurance to the Board on key risks and effectiveness of controls across the Federation.

• Develop the annual internal audit and MA assurance plan and oversee the delivery of the plan, including management of outsourced internal audit resource.

General:

• Ensure gender is effectively mainstreamed within the remit of the post and in line with IPPF’s Gender Equality Policy.

• Build and maintain positive relationships with all members of staff and contacts within and outside the Federation, in particular relationships with the Treasurer, Audit Committee and representatives of donor organisations.

• To become familiar with the Federation’s Health and Safety Programme and Guidelines for using Visual Display Units.

• To do everything possible to ensure a healthy and safe working environment, including following instructions and guidance.

• Take collective responsibility for safeguarding.

• To undertake any other reasonable duties as may be requested from time to time.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications:

• Professional qualification in law, accountancy, internal audit or equivalent experience.

Proven Ability:

• Significant experience of risk management and assurance in an international context.

• Experience in reporting to senior management teams, boards, and audit committees.

• Experience in contract management with large international donors e.g. DFID, USAID, DFAT etc.

• International experience is essential and previous charity/not-for-profit experience is desirable.

• Understanding or experience of UK Charity Commission regulations and reporting requirements.

Skills:

• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written). Knowledge of French, Spanish or Arabic advantageous.

• Excellent attention to detail in reviewing and managing legal agreements.

• Strong interpersonal skills to co-coordinate and build relationships across the Federation.

• Strong project management skills.

• Excellent organisational and time management skills required to meet tight deadlines.

• Excellent financial/budgetary skills.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Good IT skills including Microsoft packages.

Personal Competence:

• Willing to travel internationally, approximately 30 days a year.

• Awareness of and sensitivity to the multi-cultural and diverse environment in which IPPF operates.

• Integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.

• Understanding of and a commitment to safeguarding including child protection, in a local and international context.

• Supportive of a woman’s right to choose and to have access to safe abortion services.

How to Apply

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR.

To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-072023-IPPF or Pat-JonesCoverLetter-072023-IPPF.

Please note that all our clients recruiting in the UK are legally obliged to confirm that the appointee is eligible to work in the UK. As of 1 January 2021, government’s new regulations will apply. For further information visit the Home Office website at https://www.gov.uk/ browse/visas-immigration/work-visas.

Timeline

Closing Date: 4th Sept 2023

First stage interviews: 18–20th Sept 2023

Final interviews: 16th Oct 2023

Selection Process

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

Equality Statement

Equality and diversity are at the core of IPPF’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Queries

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email at ippf-director-riskassurance@oxfordhr.com in the first instance.

About Oxford HR

Exceptional leaders can inspire change and propel purpose-led organisations towards reaching their world-changing goals.

Finding such leaders can be a challenge; and yet their transition into leadership is vital to an organisations mission and success.

Oxford HR is a global leadership consultancy dedicated to searching for and supporting remarkable leaders and teams in purpose-led organisations.

We understand the nuances of purpose-led leadership because we’ve worked in organisations across the breadth of the sector ourselves. We’ve also worked with such organisations since 1995; so we appreciate just what benefits impactful people can bring.