Who We Are
International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our global team of over 1,200 professionals are at work in over 30 offices. Together, we are catalyzing a global revolution that will rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.
Motivated by God’s call to seek justice for the oppressed, we believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We are a global community that cares for one another. We value joy and celebration, and we strive to provide professional excellence to all those we serve.
The Need
After 25 years of continued growth and operational success in pioneering the work of protecting those who are experiencing poverty from violence, IJM has become a $100+ million organization. As IJM continues this trajectory of growth and scaling of its impact, with the Vision to protect 500 million people by the year 2030, IJM’s Vice President, General Counsel is seeking an Officer, Safeguarding and Ethics.
The Officer, Safeguarding and Ethics is accountable for enhancing IJM’s effectiveness in preventing and responding to wrongdoing. He or she will oversee implementation of and compliance with IJM’s key ethical policies, as well as build and oversee a center of excellence providing IJM with the resources, systems and tools in to support and empower IJM in embodying a culture of safeguarding and accountability. This role will support key regional staff in preventing and responding to instances of ethical misconduct, ensuring IJM addresses matters appropriately and that lessons learned are assessed and implemented. This role will oversee internal investigations, supporting staff and periodically conducting directly.
This position can be based in any location where IJM currently has an office, is part of the Office of the General Counsel, and reports to the Washington DC-based General Counsel.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as IJM’s Safeguarding Officer where required, and in that capacity, ensuring appropriate notification of incidents as required (e.g., by law, grant requirements, etc.).
- Oversee enterprise implementation and monitoring of key ethical policies and procedures. In particular, support the timely implementation of Safeguarding policies and procedures and other key requirements for major grant requirements.
- Develop overarching strategy/implementation roadmap assessing priority order of specific initiatives and deliverables to develop and roll out.
- Pursuant to such strategy, establish and provide systems, training and tools to promote ethical conduct and appropriate handling of misconduct, including systems for reporting misconduct, tracking incidents, and conducting internal investigations. For example, develop safeguarding training series; implement a compliance hotline; develop an internal investigations toolkit.
- Provide oversight, coaching and support to internal investigations caseload handled by regional leads and directly handle or oversee particular matters where appropriate.
- Provide coaching and capacity building on ethical standards and internal investigations to IJM partners/sub-grantees where appropriate.
- Ensuring IJM’s ongoing improvement and maintenance of high ethical standards via training, internal reviews, spot checks etc.
- Providing professional and expert safeguarding advice and support to key internal stakeholders.
Requirements:
- 5+ years’ experience in a legal, risk, governance, compliance, or internal investigations team, preferably for an international organization and/or a non-profit;
- Previous background in a safeguarding or internal investigations role operating in low- and middle-income countries;
- Legal training (Juris Doctor or equivalent) preferred but not required;
- Cross-culture living or working experience in low-to-middle income countries preferred;
- Experience leading sensitive investigations (e.g., safeguarding) and utilizing survivor-informed care/procedures;
- Experience implementing safeguarding policy and best practice internally and externally with partners and in the programmatic context, with high awareness of relevant international standards and frameworks, e.g. UN, FCDO (UK);
- Experience enhancing organizational processes to prevent/deter wrongdoing and encourage reporting externally and internally;
- Excellent written and spoken English; and
- Right to work in one of IJM’s existing office locations.
Critical Qualities:
- Mature orthodox Christian faith as defined by the Apostles’ Creed;
- Ability to function as a strategic advisor;
- Ability to lead through influence;
- Collaborative, solutions-oriented, and creative problem-solver;
- Orientation to process & systems thinking;
- Clear and user-friendly communication and work product; making complex ideas easy to digest; and
- Strong coaching/training capacity.
What does IJM have to offer?
– Daily, quarterly and annual community spiritual formation
– Robust staff care resources
– Competitive salary and benefits package. Detailed salary and benefits offered will be dependent on the working location
Upload Resume, Cover Letter & Statement of Faith* in one document.
*What is a statement of faith?
A statement of faith should describe your Christian faith and how you see it as relevant to your involvement with IJM. The statement can either be incorporated into the cover letter or submitted as a separate document and should include, at a minimum, a description of your spiritual disciplines (prayer, study, etc.) and your current fellowship or place of worship.