Associate Director, Compliance Lead Advisor

Purpose of Job

The Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) is the EBRD’s Accountability Mechanism. IPAM independently reviews environmental, social, and public disclosure-related complaints raised by project-affected people and civil society organisations concerning Bank projects. IPAM is an independent function, governed outside the Bank’s investment operations, reporting directly to the EBRD Board of Directors via the Audit and Risk Committee. The Project Accountability Policy (2019) established mandate, structure and operation of IPAM.

Within this context, the Associate Director, Compliance Lead Advisor works in close coordination with the Chief Accountability Officer (CAO), leading the Compliance Review function, which is responsible for the processing of cases through the three stages of the Compliance function: compliance assessment, investigation and monitoring of action plans.  

Managing a small team, the Associate Director is responsible for ensuring the robust and timely implementation of all cases and work closely with other members of the IPAM team to ensure deliverables meet the IPAM investigative standards and the methodological process established in the policy and on any internal guidance developed is applied.   

Key to the role is engaging with relevant case stakeholders, implementing robust and systematic investigative methodologies and providing fact-based compliance determination analyses. They are also responsible for the monitoring of Management Action Plans and ensuring that systematic collection of results and outcomes to serve as inputs for Advisory products.  

Providing substantive compliance products to feed into IPAM’s institutional learning work is another important part of the role and the Associate Director will actively identify trends and systemic issues and work in collaboration with the IPAM Outreach and Institutional Team on the production of institutional knowledge products as required.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities 

Under limited direction of the Managing Director, Chief Accountability Officer, the Associate Director Compliance Lead Advisor acts as the Compliance function lead and has a combination of function-specific and general administrative-coordination functions including:

Case Management

• Leads the Compliance team in planning and conducting the assessment and compliance reviews of cases in the function, ensuring all appropriate lines of inquiry are identified, and resources are used effectively, and policy provisions are complied with.
• Manages, coaches and develops the Compliance team, ensuring they excel and meeting the standards, vision and objectives set the by CAO.
• Engages  and consults the CAO on progress, identifying risks and ensuring  alignment with strategic direction.
• Designs options and solutions for functional challenges in consultation with the CAO.
• Leads on the recruitment, training and supervision of compliance team members and consultants
• Acts as the in-house expert in the application and interpretation of the Environmental and Social Policy and the Access to Information Policy.
• Responsible for the establishment and updating of methodologies, guidelines and procedures for the Compliance function of IPAM in line with best practices.
• Engages with and ensures that inputs from all relevant stakeholders are considered in the case work and, as agreed, inform about case progress and procedures.
• Plans and undertakes missions to project sites as needed to gather first-hand evidence relevant to the compliance review work, including areas with hazardous working conditions.
• Identifies and maintains a roster of technical experts to assist the compliance work in an ad-hoc fashion providing technical inputs.
• Promotes and ensures understanding of information security and confidentiality issues relevant to investigation.
• Ensures the integrity of case files as per Bank and IPAM standards and is accountable for ensuring that the compliance team are aware of internal procedures and follow them.
• Keeps abreast of the work of other independent accountability mechanisms and the evolution of environmental and social safeguards to inform and improve the work of IPAM.

Outreach and Learning

• Participates in and supports Outreach efforts of the department, as required
• Collaborates with the Outreach and Learning Team to ensure that programmatic goals of these two mandates are achieved in a robust, consistent and impactful way.
• Proposes relevant content and provides case updates to ensure website and other transparency vehicles reflect progress made.
• Provides insights and substantive inputs for the generation of institutional learnings resulting from the compliance function and proposes outlets and strategies to devolve learnings to relevant Bank staff.
• Liaises with relevant internal and external stakeholder groups, including complainants, civil society organisations, international development organisations, independent accountability mechanisms, and other relevant offices.
• Liaises with the compliance/investigation sections of other international organisations to promote knowledge sharing.

Administrative

• Monitors expenditure against approved levels on a regular basis and investigate significant variances to ensure effective performance and cost control.
• Keeps abreast of all relevant internal policies and procedures as a people supervisor and responsible for the delivery of the compliance work.
• Leads the annual SIP process in line with Bank policies and procedures, taking responsibility for the production and quarterly reporting of the annual work program.

Other tasks

• Supports the CAO in overseeing IPAM administrative operation, including budgetary and HR matters, the development and preparation of internal administrative procedures and working with other IPAM team members to ensure institutional engagement and performance while ensuring a healthy work/life balance.
• Is a member of the Risk Assessment IPAM Coordinating Team and ensures cascading of decisions regarding safety and retaliation mitigation measures.
• Contributes to the ongoing development of professional practices within IPAM, proposing to the CAO training activities and sharing knowledge as needed.
• Participates in the implementation of his/her personal learning and training development plan.
• Performs other assignments or tasks as determined by the Chief Accountability Officer.
• Coaches junior staff and, trains and transfers knowledge so as to ensure robust delivery.  

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in social or environmental sciences, sustainable business administration, corporate social responsibility, environmental and social impact assessment, and/or international development, or equivalent work experience.
• Demonstrated relevant work experience in environmental and social impact assessment, project finance, stakeholder engagement particularly in relation to international development finance.
• Recognised expertise in the application of environmental and social safeguards in the context of a multilateral development bank in particular the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy and the Access to Information Policy
• Proven track record in project management with a focus on delivering robust outputs within the timeframes set.
• Demonstrated deep awareness of the global accountability space, the EBRD accountability framework, the application of environmental and social safeguards, Equator Principles and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Relevant Experience in an IFI setting and/or existing accountability Mechanism preferred.
• Exhibition of excellent judgment under high levels of scrutiny from both internal and external stakeholders in a compliance role, requiring the ability to present evidence-based findings in a constructive manner.
• Experience managing a team and delivering work through others.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate competing priorities, meet deadlines and ensure effective delivery in line with policies and procedures.
• Capacity to maintain independence and impartiality, guided by the evidence in determinations.
• Successful track record of constructive engagement with polarised stakeholders of varying backgrounds, languages, education levels, mandates and motivations, through negotiation, participation and consultation.
• Experience working in EBRD countries of operation preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and coordinate efficient deliverable production.
• Willingness to travel regularly and work outside standard business hours required.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken. Fluent written and oral command of English; professional command of a second language used in EBRD countries of operation would be an asset.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multicultural and diverse team.

Challenges

• High pressure position: requiring the ability to coordinate and produce outstanding fact-based compliance work, working to firm deadlines using nuanced judgment and engagement.
• Safeguarding the impartiality and independence of IPAM work while at the same time establishing and maintaining strong working relationships and credibility with a wide selection of stakeholders.
• Working in close collaboration with the CAO and other team members to ensure that the guiding principles of the PAP are realised in every one of the activities and outputs of IPAM.
• The Mechanism is reactive by nature and therefore workload is often unpredictable, making it difficult to identify or prioritise upcoming tasks or plan for the allocation of resources.

To safeguard the independence of the IPAM, this role is not open to CCTs of EBRD who have been involved in the Bank transactions within the last five (5) years.

What is it like to work at the EBRD?

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in. 

The EBRD environment provides you with:

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in;
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity;
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital  transformation at the heart of what we do.

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.  As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.

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