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Senior Compliance Officer
About Internews
Internews works globally to ensure people everywhere can access trusted, quality information that empowers participation, accountability, and healthier, more informed communities. For more than 35 years, in over 100 countries, we have strengthened local media, supported civil society, and helped millions of people access crucial information across issues such as health, governance, conflict, and the environment.
We are an international nonprofit with administrative hubs in California, Washington DC, London, and Paris. Our teams represent a wide mix of backgrounds, identities, cultures, and lived experiences. We actively foster an environment rooted in dignity, belonging, justice, and flexibility.
About the Role
We are seeking a high-performing, experienced, and self-directed compliance professional to provide maternity cover within the Grants, Contracts & Compliance (GCC) department.
This role requires someone who operates with excellence, independence, and sound judgement from day one—a person who is confident navigating complex donor rules, shaping risk‑mitigation strategies, and leading award management processes without needing extensive onboarding. We are seeking an experienced practitioner with proven applied experience, rather than a purely theoretical background.
You will oversee the full lifecycle of European donor‑funded awards, ensuring rigorous contractual and regulatory compliance across Internews. Working closely with colleagues across Programmes, Finance, and Global Development, you will help maintain a culture where doing things right is prioritised over shortcuts.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise with major European donors (European Commission, Sida, FCDO), a proactive mindset, and the ability to lead, train, and influence teams across the organisation.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES include the following, with other duties upon request:
Compliance
· Review and approve proposal budgets for assigned funding opportunities.
· Review donor agreements and ensure terms are acceptable; support the Director of GCC in strengthening organisational risk‑mitigation practices.
· Advise staff on Internews’ internal and donor rules across the project cycle.
· Work with Programme Officers and cross-functional teams on effective project start‑up, including inductions, adapting award procedures/templates, and ongoing staff training; conduct country visits when required.
· Collaborate with Finance to support successful programme audits.
· Maintain and update organisational data on institutional donor platforms (e.g., EU Transparency Register, IATI).
· Develop and maintain training materials and guidelines for at least one major donor; provide expert compliance guidance across GCC.
· Deliver inductions and training for new and junior GCC staff.
· Set up and maintain complete and up‑to‑date award records in line with donor and Internews requirements.
Development
· At proposal stage, review and approve teaming agreements and NDAs with bid partners.
· Review and approve donor budget submissions, ensuring accuracy, consistency, compliance, and adequacy.
· Coordinate pre‑award due diligence for prospective donors.
· Review and negotiate donor agreements and modifications, managing associated risks.
· Establish and maintain proposal, award, and contract records within the award management system, including significant data entry.
Procurement Management
· Advise staff on procurement requirements and maintain internal records for procurements under awards.
· Support development of compliant procurement plans.
· Lead and administer higher‑value procurements, including negotiating contractor terms.
· Draft and execute sub‑contracts and amendments in full compliance with donor and Internews policies.
· Troubleshoot contractual issues, prepare termination notices, and manage related risks.
· Prepare procurement documentation for audits and serve as point of contact for procurement audit processes.
· In all duties, uphold Internews’ Core Values and demonstrate commitment to fostering a culture of Belonging, Dignity, and Justice.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
· Line‑manage GCC staff when assigned.
· Deputise for the Director of GCC as required.
· Lead award management for flagship programmes and advise programme teams and partners on donor compliance, budgeting, and agreement management.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required
· University degree in a relevant field or equivalent lived/professional experience.
· Extensive senior-level experience in award management within an international nonprofit or international development organisation.
· Demonstrated hands‑on experience interpreting and applying donor rules and compliance requirements (especially European Commission, FCDO, and SIDA) in real project implementation contexts.
· Proven experience managing procurements and negotiating contracts, including drafting and executing agreements and amendments in compliance with donor and organisational requirements.
· Experience preparing procurement documentation for audits and managing procurement‑related risks.
· Demonstrated experience troubleshooting compliance, contractual, and financial issues, and advising programme teams on practical solutions.
· Experience assessing and managing compliance and contractual risks across the project cycle.
· Experience using award management systems or structured grant/contract databases, including maintaining accurate award records and donor‑required data.
· Native-level proficiency in English (written and spoken).
· Strong writing and editing skills, with prior experience producing key work outputs such as proposals, budgets, reports, and trainings.
· Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, including diplomacy, negotiation, cross-team collaboration, donor communication, and discretion with confidential information.
· Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with a demonstrated track record of applying critical thinking to complex compliance or award management challenges.
· Excellent time‑management and organisational skills, including the ability to handle shifting priorities in a fast‑paced or complex operating environment.
· Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multicultural and remote teams; demonstrated leadership capacity.
· Flexibility to manage periodic shifts in workload and working hours.
· Experience mentoring or training staff on compliance, procurement, or donor‑related procedures.
· Experience leading cross‑functional processes involving both programme and operational teams.
Preferred
· Prior experience living or working in a global majority country/region
· Proficiency in Russian (written and spoken).
· Experience with EU/UK‑funded projects (e.g., EC, FCDO) in complex environments.
· Experience developing internal policies, guidelines, or training materials related to compliance, procurement, or award management.
· Familiarity with Internews’ operating environment, systems, or organisational approaches.
Vacancy Timeline:
Deadline for applications: 21 April 2026 (Note: This is a rolling recruitment process candidates might be invited for interview before the deadline)
MISCELLANEOUS:
Candidates must submit a succinct cover letter of no more than 2 pages explaining how they satisfy the requirements of the role, and a CV highlighting relevant experience. Successful candidate will also be asked to provide three professional referees, one of whom must be from their most recent employer.
The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the associate a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of their position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.
This position will be located in the United Kingdom and therefore, a successful applicant must both be present in the UK for the duration of the assignment and be able to demonstrate their Right to Work in the UK in order to commence employment.
We are seeking to appoint a Compliance Officer for an immediate start. Reporting to the school's in-house Legal Advisor, you will ensure the school operates in full compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and internal policy requirements, promoting a culture of compliance across all areas of school activity.
This role is initially offered on a one-year fixed-term contract working term-time, plus INSET days and a further three weeks during the school holidays (38 weeks). The role also has part-time support provided by the Compliance Administrator.
Salary circa £63,000 per annum, depending on experience. This is based on a full-time equivalent annual salary of £75,000.
We will be shortlisting and interviewing as applications come in, so early applications are advised. Please note that we may appoint before the closing date.
To apply and find out more about the school and our attractive staff benefits package, please visit our dedicated recruitment page via the 'Apply' button.
Closing date: 9.00am on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.
Interviews: Monday, 27 April 2026.
Diversity – The School is fully committed to the principles of equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion. We have an established and representative staff Equality and Diversity Board to help drive forward positive change. A further Equality and Diversity Committee has recently been formed from our student population.
We are committed to attracting and retaining the very best staff, ensuring that our staff body reflects the diversity of our students and local community. Acknowledging a lack of ethnic diversity within our Support staff community, we particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates for this role. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the School may employ positive action where diverse candidates can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS, online checks and receipt of two satisfactory references.
WORKING WITH US
The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.
We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.
As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.
To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.
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ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY
We are looking for a Data Protection Compliance Officer to join our central compliance team.
You will play a key role in supporting the Federation’s Data Protection Officer and the wider Central Data Protection Team. You will help ensure the organisation operates in full compliance with legal regulations, government guidelines, and best practice—making a real contribution to safeguarding data across the Federation.
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MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
In this role, you will:
- Raise data protection awareness across the Federation
- Deliver, design and coordinate focused data protection awareness training, including analysing training needs
- Manage data incidents, ensuring swift containment, thorough severity analysis and accurate reporting
- Prepare targeted data protection communications for Data Champions
- Compile Data Protection Impact Assessments and Data Sharing Agreements
- Liaise with the Supply Management Team to conduct data protection due diligence on new third-party suppliers
- Monitor completion and maintain accurate records of Federation-wide “All Staff Data Protection Awareness Training"
- Capture and report data protection risks and related mitigating actions, as directed
- Carry out data protection monitoring and reviews across the Federation’s academies
- Maintain data protection compliance records
- Provide advice and guidance on data protection enquiries to academies and Head Office staff
- Support the Data Protection Compliance Manager and Data Protection Officer on Federation-wide initiatives and projects
- Coordinate the review and quality assurance of Federation policies and key documents—sending calling notices, liaising with relevant teams, and drafting policy update communications
- Coordinate a comprehensive suite of general compliance training for Head Office and academies
- Assist the Data Protection Officer with the management of Federation risk.
- Support the creation of the Main Trust Data Protection Board report & other compliance documentation
- Provide advice and guidance on general compliance enquiries to academies and Shared Services staff
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- A graduate-level education (or relevant experience/qualifications in lieu of a degree)
- A good working knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications
- Working knowledge of the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 and the Data Use & Access Act 2025, including practical implementation
- Previous experience in education management, compliance, or data protection.
- Project management experience
- Experience working in a professional, high-paced environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with excellent interpersonal abilities
- Excellent administrative skills and exceptional attention to detail, including proofreading
For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.
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APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION
If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.
Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.
When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.
A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.
OUR VISION & VALUES
Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.
We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Safeguarding Notice
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Equal Opportunities
The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.
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WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:
- Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
- Annual performance and loyalty bonus
- Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
- 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
- Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
- Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
- Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
- Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
- 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
- Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans
For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.