Lead, Regional Investigations (ESA)

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Lead Regional Investigations (ESA) to join our global team.

Team and Job Purpose

Case Management Response and Investigations team is dedicated to developing and implementing comprehensive policies and procedures for counter fraud and safeguarding investigations ensuring thorough and impartial handling of all high-risk or sensitive cases. Through continuous improvement stakeholder engagement and capacity building we aim to ensure organizational readiness to respond effectively to crises.

Role purpose

Lead and oversee all critical safeguarding and counter-fraud investigations in the ESA region ensuring timely high-quality and consistent investigative responses while strengthening regional investigation capacity and country office readiness.

Job Title: Lead Regional Investigations (ESA)

Reports To: Global Head of Investigations

Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available

Contract Length: Permanent

Grade:M3

Location: East and Southern Africa (ESA) - Any existing approved SCI office location in the ESA Region. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in please visit: SCI Careers

Time Zone(that the role holder mustbe available to work in): Europe WCA ESA MENAEE Time Zones (UTC/GMT + / - 3 hours)

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment.

Language Requirements:English

International Travel Requirements: Yes up to 20%

People Management Responsibility: Number of people managed in total: 1 : Matrix leadership and functional oversight of Country Office FFPs across the region

Manager of a team: Yes

Team Manager (manager of multiple teams): No

Principal Accountabilities

Investigative Leadership

• Field Investigations: Conduct on-site investigations in various country offices within the region as needed.
• Ensure thorough evidence collection and documentation during field investigations.

Country Office Engagement Oversight and Continuous Improvement

• Act as the primary regional focal point for country office leadership on all safeguarding and counter-fraud investigation matters.
• Provide timely guidance and technical oversight to country offices on handling allegations initiating investigations and managing investigation-related risks.
• Maintain regular communication with country office leadership to provide updates on ongoing investigations and agree next steps including corrective and preventive actions.
• Support country offices in strengthening local safeguarding and counter-fraud policies procedures and investigation practices.
• Establish and maintain a structured feedback loop with country offices to capture lessons learned and continuously improve investigation processes tools and capacity-building initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary point of contact for external agencies partners and stakeholders in the region during investigations.
• Represent the organization in regional forums legal proceedings and regulatory inquiries related to investigations.

Training and Capacity Building

• Staff Training and Development: Identify regional training needs and coordinate with the Head of Investigations to address them.
• Deliver training programs on investigation processes ethical conduct and safeguarding for regional and country office staff.
• Mentor and support country office staff (FFPs) involved in investigations to enhance their skills and capabilities.

Compliance and Documentation

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure regional investigations comply with local laws regulations and internal policies.
• Stay informed about regional legal and regulatory developments affecting investigations and report these to the Head of Investigations.

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of all regional investigations.
• Prepare regular regional reports on investigation activities and outcomes for the Head of Investigations.

Risk Management

• Lead regional initiatives to raise awareness about reporting mechanisms whistleblower protections and safeguarding policies.

Experience and Skills

Essential

1. Leadership and Team Management:

Demonstrated ability to mentor support and develop country office staff involved in investigations fostering accountability ownership and high professional standards.

2. Communication and Collaboration:

Proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively with country office leadership senior stakeholders and external partners building trust and maintaining constructive working relationships.

3. Analytical and Problem-Solving:

Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with demonstrated ability to assess complex situations develop proportionate investigation approaches and provide clear guidance on handling allegations and initiating investigations.

4. Regulatory and Compliance Knowledge:

In-depth knowledge of local and regional legal and regulatory frameworks relevant to investigations with proven ability to ensure compliance with internal policies and external requirements.

5. Cultural Competence and Inclusivity:

Demonstrated ability to work effectively across diverse cultural contexts applying an inclusive and survivor-centred approach and actively recognising and mitigating unconscious bias in investigative processes.

6. Investigative Experience:

Significant experience conducting safeguarding and/or counter-fraud investigations including on-site field investigations evidence collection analysis and documentation.

7. Regional Coordination and Support:

Proven experience working with regional and country office leadership to strengthen investigation coordination consistency and quality across multiple locations.

8. Stakeholder Engagement:

Extensive experience acting as a liaison with external agencies partners auditors and regulators including representing an organisation in legal proceedings regulatory inquiries and multi-stakeholder forums.

9. Training and Capacity Building:

Demonstrated experience in identifying capacity gaps and designing and delivering training on investigation processes safeguarding ethical conduct and reporting mechanisms.

10. Experience working in complex high-risk or fragile operating environments including humanitarian or development contexts.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Educational Background: A Bachelors degree in a relevant field such as Law Criminology Social Sciences International Relations Public Policy or a related discipline or an equivalent combination of education and substantial professional experience in investigations safeguarding or counter-fraud.
• Professional Qualifications: Formal training in safeguarding protection ethical standards and investigative practices including trauma-informed and survivor-centred approaches.

Desirable

• Advanced Education: Masters degree in Law Criminology International Development Human Rights Security Studies or a related field
• Professional Certification: Professional certification in investigations or fraud (e.g. Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or equivalent) or advanced training in safeguarding investigations forensic interviewing or regulatory compliance.

Working at Save the ChildrenInternational

Save the Childrenis the worlds leading organisation for children employing save childrens lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their our work in 116 countries we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.

We know that great people make a great organisation and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition creativity and integrity are highly valued.

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children you will be in good company working with talented like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive learn and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure childrens voices are heard at the highest levels and that we achieve our global strategy Ambition for Children 2030 and reach every last child.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

DEI is core to our vision values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse equitable and inclusive organisation and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival protection development and participation.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of gender sexual orientation race colour ethnic origin nationality disability marital or civil partnership status gender reassignment pregnancy and maternity caring or parental responsibilities age or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.

Application Information

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found herevia the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates who are successfully shortlisted should expect to hear from us within 2 weeks of the advert deadline.

Our recruitment process:

1. Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
2. Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
3. Some recruitmentmay include an additional assessment or case study stage or a third stage interview
4. If successful you will receive a conditional offer of employment followed by your contract subject to passing background checks

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment Health and Safety Safeguarding and DEI and Equal Opportunities.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.