Compliance officer jobs in Belfast
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ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for a part time governance and compliance officer to oversee our governance and risk framework as a non-profit regulated by the Charities Commission (England and Wales) and OSCR (Scotland).
You will identify, develop, maintain and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance and risk mitigation with the various regulations that we must adhere to such as Charities Commission, OSCR, Fundraising Regulator, Companies House, UK Data Protection and Safeguarding.
As governance and compliance officer, you will deliver high quality, professional and compliant governance across the charity, nationally and in supporting our network of support groups (see About IA) ensuring we comply with statutory regulations, that protect our members and the charity itself while applying best practice principles.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Developing and documenting a detailed understanding of charity practices, paying specific attention to areas where IA is bound by statutory regulations
- Developing robust policies and procedures that ensure charity compliance and best practice
- Remaining up to date with current regulations that IA is bound by and ensuring any changes are implemented within any imposed deadlines
- Regularly review and maintain policies and procedures auditing your findings to ensure exemplary record keeping following up with implementing changes
- Implementing policies and procedures amongst staff, volunteers and the Board of Trustees with robust record keeping introducing governance cycles to keep everyone updated with current policy and communicating changes where necessary
- Identifying risks, recommending mitigating actions and reporting your findings to the management team and Board of Trustees
- Reviewing and updating IA’s risk register
- Recommending and monitoring recommended training among staff and volunteers especially where IA is bound by statutory regulations
- Liaise with third-party suppliers to IA who are responsible for providing services to the charity that support our governance and risk framework
- Supporting Trustee recruitment, induction, training, and evaluation processes
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE
- Demonstrable experience of at least 12m in governance and risk management within a not for profit environment with working knowledge of UK charity regulations. Exceptional candidates from a commercial background would be considered
- A thorough working knowledge of risk management
- Development, implementation, monitoring and maintenance of governance and risk frameworks
- Documenting, reviewing and mitigating risk
- Demonstrable experience of regular reporting to management
- Strong working knowledge of UK data protection regulation
- Working knowledge of safeguarding requirements
- Exceptional record keeping skills to satisfy audit requirements
- Management of third-party relationships including suppliers to IA and volunteers who are carrying out their volunteering role in line with IA’s policies and procedures
- Team player
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE
- Experience across the not-for-profit sector
- Working with volunteers
- Basic understanding of AI and the benefits of using it within the not-for-profit sector
- Experience supporting Boards or Trustees
- Regulations governing charity fundraising
SKILLS AND QUALITIES
- Highly organised
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Flexible, adaptable in approach, creative thinker to manage the balance between governance and continuing to provide a personal approach to vulnerable adults
- Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Proactive and solution-focused
APPLICATION SUBMISSION
To apply, please submit:
1. Your CV (up to 3 pages)
2. A covering letter outlining your suitability to the role (max 500 words)
Interviews will be two-stage for successful candidates. Initial interviews will be held via video conferencing (such as Zoom) discussing previous experience and role fit with successful candidates going through to a second round. This includes alignment to IA’s values. Please allow up to 1 hour for this stage.
Second round interviews are expected to be via video conference. Successful candidates will, in advance of the second round, be given a short brief and asked to present at interview their understanding of a governance issue facing charities. Please allow up to 1 hour for this stage.
Applications should be submitted via the advertising platform including your CV and covering letter. See attached role profile for recruitment timetable and further details about us/the role, including contact details for an informal chat, if required, before applying. Applicants are encouraged to ensure availability in line with the recruitment timetable in the attached job specification.
While IA recognises the value of AI technology in the current climate, IA reserves the right to ignore applications where we have reason to believe that they have been wholly produced using generative AI tools.
Please let us know if you require any additional support to attend or undertake an interview or if there is anything we should consider as part of the interview process
Apply as above. Additionally, please refer to the recruitment timetable in the attached job specification
Registered Charity 
6 - 10
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
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: 13 March 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.
