Risk and Compliance Coordinator at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Job Description

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) established the Risk Management and Compliance (R&C) function to strengthen organisational readiness, safeguard programme delivery, and ensure compliance with internal and external requirements. In Nigeria, the R&C function plays a central role in supporting risk owners, improving internal controls, monitoring high‑risk areas, and building awareness on risk, compliance, and accountability across the Country Office.

• The Risk and Compliance Coordinator provides technical leadership in risk identification, compliance monitoring, reporting, document management, and organisational learning. The role works closely with the Risk and Compliance Manager, senior leadership, programme teams, and support departments to embed risk‑informed practices at all levels. The Coordinator supports the implementation of NRC standards, ensures compliance with regulatory obligations, and contributes to proactive risk mitigation strategies.
• This position also drives operational improvement by conducting spot checks, facilitating follow‑up on recommendations, supporting partnership assessments, and promoting strong documentation and archiving systems. The Coordinator provides critical support on issues related to data protection, anti‑corruption, safeguarding, sanctions, and staff conduct, contributing to a safe and compliant working environment.

Responsibilities

Role and responsibilities

• The Risk and Compliance Coordinator will assist the Risk and Compliance Manager in supporting the Nigeria CO's efforts to effectively manage risks; promoting a risk management culture within the CO, for supporting the Country Director (CD) in ensuring the CO’s compliance within high-risk areas and with regulations not specific to a given function (i.e. document management and archiving, COTER, sanctions); and responding to any issues or questions that arise relating to the CO’s work on data protection regulations, legal and Code of Conduct . It is important to note that the Risk and Compliance Manager supervising this position will be partially remote.

Generic Responsibilities

Support the CMG and the Country Director (CD), via the R&C Manager, by ensuring:

• That risks in the CO’s operations are identified, assessed and controlled effectively; and
• CO’s compliance within high-risk areas/issues, by:
• identifying such high-risk areas/issues;
• conducting regular compliance checks on the said areas/issues (e.g. spot checks);
• reporting regularly to the CD and the CMG on compliance issues; and
• leading the implementation of compliance improvement measures throughout the CO.
• With the R&C Manager, hold the risk management and compliance related CO registers, namely the CO Risk Register, Waiver Register, Recommendations Tracker and Standards Operating Procedures (SOPs) Register.
• Advise and support in-country function leaders (Head of Support, Area Managers, Head of Programmes, Humanitarian Access and Safety Manager) in implementing compliance improvement measures related to high-risk areas/issues.
• Ensure that SOPs in the CO, not related to a specific function, are aligned with policies and regulations and are coherent with other SOPs throughout the CO and NRC and follow basic quality principles.
• Work with management to ensure that mechanisms to report, process and respond to complaints on staff behaviour from internal stakeholders (whistleblowing) are in place in the CO and in line with existing NRC requirements.
• Provide advice, training and support to CO staff on the following: i) Areas of expertise held by the R&C function at HO (i.e. Risk management, compliance, Anti-corruption, Data Protection, legal and complaints management) and ii) compliance with regulations not specific to a given function (i.e. document management and archiving, COTER, sanctions).
• Contribute to the development of NRC’s RM framework by documenting lessons learned and best practices in the CO.

Specific Responsibilities

• Provide support in facilitating and following up on risk management, including ensuring the Risk Register is kept up to date and relevant to the context and prioritising risks and mitigation measures for follow up with Risk Owners
• Contribute in efforts to identify and ensure mitigation measures are in place related to the risks faced by NRC in relation to partnerships modality, as well as supporting in identifying and implementing strategies to manage the risks that partners face
• Support in conducting spot checks/key controls on some of the mitigation measures that the CMG has identified as critical for high risks
• Take part in key activities related to partnerships to ensure that a risk and compliance perspective is taken into consideration, including the Organisational Assessment, training for partners, completing controls and spot checks – with other departments, and support on improving R&C subjects
• In collaboration with programme and support staff, support in developing document management systems, including the development of a standard filling and referencing system, including training and advising the responsible departments.
• Conduct spot checks and field visit reports on various aspects of NRC operations and functions based on a high risk-based approach, as agreed and requested; following field visits, complete risk-based reports for senior management and support in the tracking of recommendations.
• In synergy with the Finance Advisor (Internal Controls), perform spot checks to ensure compliance with national legislation, NRC policies, procedures, and regulations.
• In coordination with line manager, carry out trainings & refreshers for staff and local Partners about relevant NRC policies, for example NRC Data protection policy, Securing Supporting Documentation Initiatives (SSDI), Compliance Awareness etc.
• Contribute in efforts to facilitate and follow up on Recommendations Tracker with Recommendations Owners
• Manage and provide guidance to the risk and compliance staff under his/her responsibility
• Develop proactive ways of working with the departments to implement creative solutions to the risk and compliance challenges facing the mission
• Other tasks as necessary

Critical interfaces

By interfaces, NRC means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• Function leaders at CO (HoS, HoP, HAS Manager, Partnerships Manager/Grants Coordinator, Finance Manager, Logistics Manager, HR Manager, Advocacy Manager/Coordinator) for identification, assessment, mitigation and monitoring of CO risks, development/adaptation of verification methods, development/revision of SOPs, implementing compliance improvement measures on high risk areas and responding to complaints; following up on recommendations.
• Area Offices’ Managers and Field Coordinators for implementing CO measures to improve compliance in high-risk issues.
• Internal Control Manager in Nigeria who will take the lead in audits, internal controls, spot checks, regulatory compliance, and partner audits.
• Investigator in Nigeria who is the main focal point for corruption, SEA, and fraud investigations, in order to ensure recommendations are implemented, identified weaknesses are addressed, etc.
• Donors in Nigeria as requested;
• Other relevant stakeholders including the local lawyer and various government ministries and bodies – as requested and under the supervision of the R&C Manager

Scale and scope of position

Staff:

Expected to manage 1 R&C staff in Nigeria

Stakeholders:

R&C or similar staff in peer organisations in CO (INGOs, UN), donors, lawyer firm, government entities

Budgets:

R&C Budget in the CO

Information:

Agresso, NRC archives (for spot checks), Cycles, GORS. Holder of CO registries related to R&C (see responsibility above) and CFM data base

Legal compliance:

Responsible for legal and regulatory compliance in Nigeria

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Generic Professional Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Audit, Economics, Business, International Development, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in risk management, compliance, or auditing OR 4+ years in cross‑cutting humanitarian functions.
• Professional certifications (CFE, CIA, ACCA, CRCMP) are an advantage.
• Strong understanding of international NGO compliance frameworks.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, accountability, data protection, partnerships, Code of Conduct, or sanctions is an asset.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and provide solutions‑oriented guidance.
• Fluency in English; Hausa is an advantage.

Behavioural Competencies

• Analysing information and drawing clear conclusions
• Planning and delivering results
• Working with people and promoting teamwork
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Influencing and facilitating consensus
• Being proactive and solutions‑oriented