Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact. The Program / Department / Team Mercy Corpsโ global fraud and corruption team is a key part of the Mercy Corps Ethics and Compliance Department (ECD) and leads our organizational efforts to prevent, detect, deter and respond to fraud and corruption issues. The team reports to the Senior Director, Fraud and Corruption Investigations, who reports to the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO). The global fraud and corruption team is bolstered by a global network of investigators and focal points working at the country level to investigate fraud and corruption and raise awareness about Ethics and fraud and corruption. The Position Under the direction of the Senior Director, Fraud and Corruption Investigations, the Senior Fraud and Corruption Investigator will play a lead role from receipt of an allegation to the submission of the final investigation report. The Senior Fraud and Corruption Investigator is responsible for overseeing and/or conducting investigations into allegations of violations of Mercy Corpsโ Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy, training others on the conduct of investigations, representing Mercy Corps with donor ethics and oversight bodies, and developing and analyzing ethics data. It is the role of the Senior Fraud and Corruption Investigator to ensure that Mercy Corps takes all reports of misconduct seriously and that fraud and corruption allegations are investigated thoroughly and impartially consistent with sector-wide best practices and donor expectations. Essential Responsibilities Strategy and Vision
Manage investigations by setting clear direction and strategy; anticipate challenges and risks and identify strategies for mitigationDeliver quality results even under difficult or changing conditionsEnsure that lessons learned are captured from fraud and corruption investigations for the agency to consider when revising policies, procedures, and trainingUnderstands ethics related compliance requirements and what it takes to ensure a culture that takes ethical issues and obligations seriouslyLeads and enables activities that enhance Mercy Corpsโ reputation for analytical rigor and innovationInvestigation Support
Effectively oversee and/or plan and execute impartial, thorough, timely and confidential investigations into allegations of fraud and corruptionsEnsure investigations are conducted in a manner that considers the safety and security of all involved, including risk assessments and mitigationManage investigations conducted by country-level investigatorsEnsure timely reporting of ethics incidents to donorsEnsure country-level investigators follow the ECD Investigation ManualProvide guidance to country-level investigators on investigative stepsReview investigation reports prepared by country-level investigators on a timely basisEnsure investigation files are organized, thorough, and maintained in a confidential mannerMaintain appropriate confidentiality within the agency and with third partiesTraining and Awareness
Help build trust and confidence in Mercy Corpsโ reporting, investigation, and follow up systems, and foster a climate where team members feel confident and comfortable coming forward with issuesIn coordination with established onboarding processes, assist with the onboarding of new team members to ensure awareness and understanding of Mercy Corpsโ ethics policiesConduct and/or coordinate regular anti-fraud and anti-corruption trainings for team members Personal Leadership
Consistently strive to exceed expectations and demonstrate flexibility, resilience and the ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstancesMaintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignityDemonstrate an awareness of personal strengths and development needs, modeling non-defensive behavior and openness to feedback; builds a culture of feedback and learningIdentify a robust personal Work Plan that reflects Mercy Corpsโ performance expectations, including development objectives that contribute to Mercy Corpsโ objectivesTeam Leadership & Development
Demonstrate sound judgment at all times, encouraging a climate of idea generation and bold thinking. Implement new approaches and evaluate their impact.Share information proactively and appropriately, creating a trusting, collaborative team environmentClearly and transparently state expectations and be accountable to high standards. Manage performance proactively, taking steps to address poor performance. Coach, develop, and provide feedback to others to help them succeed and achieve their potential.Influence and Representation
Maintain productive relationships with all stakeholders, including country teams, other headquarters functions, donors, and regulatorsCommunicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are metSupervisory Responsibility Regional Investigator, Ethics and Assurance Managers (through dotted line reporting) Accountability Reports Directly To: Senior Director, Fraud and Corruption Investigations Works Directly With: Ethics and Assurance Managers, Integrity Focal Points, country-level senior management teams, global finance team, Mercy Corps Europe Compliance team Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
At least 5 years of experience as a trained and practiced investigator is required;Proven investigative skills and demonstrated ability to manage others and act as a lead investigator, including the interviewing of subjects of complaints and witnesses, the collection of potential evidence, and other related investigative procedures;Demonstrated ability to produce detailed investigation reports;Demonstrated knowledge and interest in ethics, fraud, and corruption, and a sensitivity to cultural diversity and gender issues;Solid understanding of a wide-range of ethics violations, including fraud and corruption;Experience working in humanitarian aid or development, either living overseas or spending a significant amount of time in foreign countries, is preferred;Strong verbal and written communication skills;Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, effective organizational and interpersonal skills;Ability to navigate difficult circumstances with a calm demeanor and in a methodical, analytical manager;Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws;Additional experience as an ethics officer, attorney, or similar position is preferred;English fluency (written & verbally) required; proficiency in Spanish and/or French is a plus.Success Factors The successful Senior Fraud and Corruption Investigator will have (or quickly develop) knowledge of the INGO environment; deep knowledge of best practices in conducting fraud and corruption investigations; a proven ability to analyze complex situations with varying cultures, languages and education levels; the ability to objectively document and prioritize findings and to develop workable recommendations for improvement. This person will have an utmost understanding of and appreciation for the confidential nature of this work. They will have strong management skills and be adept at communicating with and motivating a diverse array of stakeholders. Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
