About the Role
The Compliance & Risk Support area provides leadership, coordination, and technical support to Member Associations (MAs) to strengthen organizational risk awareness, resilience, and compliance. The area supports the identification, assessment, and mitigation of strategic, operational, financial, and safeguarding risks, enabling informed decision-making and sustainable achievement of organizational objectives.
The Crisis & Risk Management Support Professional supports the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of enterprise risk management and crisis preparedness frameworks for MAs. The role provides structured analysis, coordination support, and technical advisory input to strengthen risk-informed decision-making and effective crisis response, in alignment with organizational policies, governance frameworks, and risk appetite. The position contributes to consolidated reporting and supports senior leadership, including the Executive Board (EB) and International Senate (IB), with analytical materials and structured decision-support.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
- Enterprise Risk Management: Support the design, implementation, and maintenance of enterprise risk management (ERM) principles, frameworks, and tools. Facilitate structured risk identification and assessment processes; contribute to the development and monitoring of mitigation measures and internal controls, ensuring alignment with governance structures and organizational policies.
- Risk Analysis & Reporting: Prepare risk analyses, dashboards, and consolidated reports for leadership. Contribute to risk reviews, audits, and assurance processes, ensuring accurate documentation and structured reporting to support risk-informed decision-making.
- Crisis Preparedness & Simulation: Support the development and regular updating of crisis response protocols, Security Risk Assessments (SRAs), contingency plans, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Contribute to crisis simulations and preparedness exercises, and integrate crisis preparedness into operational and programmatic planning.
- Crisis Coordination & Support: Provide coordination and analytical support during crisis situations. Prepare situation reports and structured briefings, including data-driven and executive summaries for leadership. Support after-action reviews and lessons-learned processes to strengthen organizational resilience.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Coordinate with safeguarding, humanitarian action, compliance, audit, finance, communications, and security colleagues to ensure integrated risk and crisis management approaches. Provide technical guidance and tools to Member Associations, facilitate structured information flow, and ensure adherence to policies and escalation procedures.
- ERM Program Implementation: Implement and refine an ERM program based on the COSO 2017 (or most current) framework. Advise leadership on aligning risk appetite with strategy, performance, and safeguarding.
- Business Continuity Planning: Advise on the design, maintenance, and stress-testing of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plans. Ensure critical business functions have a "Plan B" validated through regular tabletop exercises and simulations.
- Advisory Support: Provide advisory on Risk Management and Support to develop risk mitigation and preparation strategies.
Safeguarding and Promoting a Safe Environment
As someone working for or on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages, you are responsible for helping to create and maintain a safe and protective environment for staff, as well as for the children, young people, and adult programme participants supported and cared for by the organization. You are expected to:
- Commit to the Code of Conduct and reflect on the safeguarding implications of your work on an ongoing basis.
- Actively participate in team discussions to identify risks and share and apply preventative and mitigation measures and strategies.
- Integrate safeguarding principles into your daily decisions and tasks.
- Report any safeguarding concerns promptly and in line with procedures.
- Promote a values-based culture, accountability, and zero tolerance of harm.
Requirements and Qualifications
- Education: Master’s degree level, preferably in Crisis Management, Risk Management, Business Administration, Security Studies, International Relations, Emergency Management, Audit, Compliance, Business Continuity, or a related field.
- Experience:
- Minimum 10 years’ professional experience in crisis management, risk management, internal control, audit, compliance, or related functions, including familiarity with ISO 31000 and ISO 22301 and other related standards.
- Minimum 5 years' professional experience in risk reporting to and advising international C- and S-Board levels on risk.
- Experience in an international NGO or federated system is highly desirable.
- Travel: Willingness to travel 30% to 35% of the time.
- Languages: English and French proficiency is a must; Spanish is an asset.
Technical and Soft Skills
- Enterprise risk management frameworks (e.g., ISO 31000)
- Business continuity and crisis management principles (e.g., ISO 22301)
- Risk mapping, assessment, and reporting
- Incident analysis and structured situation reporting
- Development of mitigation and monitoring tools
- Analytical reporting and dashboard preparation
- Strong analytical and structured thinking with the ability to synthesize complex information
- Clear written and verbal communication, diplomacy, and discretion
- Ability to influence without direct authority
- Solution-oriented mindset and collaborative approach in multicultural environments
- Board-level advisory experience and persuasiveness
- Ability to explain complex matters in simple language
