Risk & Compliance Specialist

Position Title	Risk and Compliance Specialist
Technical supervisor	Global Risk Management advisor
Line manager	Country Director, Nigeria
Duty station	Abuja, Nigeria
Area of Operation	Nigeria
Employment Period	Starting May or June 2026 – 1 year renewable
Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee)	National
Salary & Benefits	Employment Band: G – Non Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organisation with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organisation.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1. Background

A country of around 230M inhabitants, with over 129 million currently living in poverty, Nigeria faces one of the world's most complex humanitarian crises in the world. The fifteen-year conflict in the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, driven primarily by the Boko Haram insurgency and its splinter groups (ISWAP and JAS), has resulted in widespread displacement, violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, and acute protection needs. More than 2.3 million people remain internally displaced in the northeast, while in the Northwest region an additional 1.3M people have been forcibly displaced due to banditry, kidnapping, and herders -farmers conflict. Northern Nigeria is heavily impacted by climate change, including lengthening lean seasons and erratic rainy seasons and droughts, resulting in food production shortfalls and more population displacements. Severe acute malnutrition is affecting a world-high total of 1.8 million children across BAY and northwestern states.

In 2026 Nigeria’s humanitarian system will be transitioning from UN-led toward nationally owned coordination, with some lack of clarity regarding concrete mechanisms to be it in place and amid a funding crisis.

DRC has been operating in Nigeria since 2016. The Country Office is in Abuja and has 2 area offices in Maiduguri and Sokoto with sub offices in Gusau, Bama and Banki and a mobile team in Katsina. DRC Nigeria's multi-sectoral response addresses core Strategic Priority Interventions: Hard-to-Reach populations, Economic Recovery, Protection, and increasingly climate resilience. The operation focuses on both emergency response and solutions programming with expanding partnerships with local actors.

2. Purpose

• Ensure compliance to Nigerian public regulatory bodies laws and regulations, to donor requirements and to DRC procedures and guidelines.

• Contribute to the development of country strategies, translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks.

• Provide support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country activities.

• Nurture and promote a culture of compliance and risk management in collaboration with managers and staff.
• Review, plan and implement capacity building plans on risk management.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

• Strengthen, further develop, and ensure implementation of the Risk and Compliance strategy and action plan.
• Develop and implement the various training courses as per the action plan for all full-time, casual, and volunteer staff.
• Work closely with the DRC Head of Support to ensure internal compliancy within HR, Finance and Supply Chain procedures.
• Support Country and Area Office Support Staff, including development of a training and capacity building plan and regular field trips to provide technical support and guidance.
• Work closely with the DRC Head of Programmes to ensure all sector coordinators and/or managers are adequately supported to develop and adapt the country risk and compliance strategy and mainstream it throughout their programmes.
• Working closely with the CD and SMT, ensure internal compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standards and Code of Conduct.

Risk Management:

• Regular risk assessment and provide systematic follow-up guided by DRC’s Risk Management process.
• Develop action plans based on the Risk Mitigation plans agreed by SMT and follow-up on implementation.
• Organize regular training/refreshers on Risk management framework for DRC and Partners to ensure staff awareness.
• Take lead on new staff induction regarding Risk and Compliance processes.
• Conduct internal audits of risk mitigation measures.
• Coordinate Risk Register process with the County SMT and HQ focal points.
• Prepare briefings for SMT on risks, considering legal opinions, so that they are able to take informed decisions.

Compliance

• In consultation with SMT, develop compliance framework and processes for all business areas as required.
• Develop tools and provide training to specific staff with a role in day-to-day compliance.
• Conduct Compliance reviews/audits on a periodic basis in all field offices.
• Assist management to conduct specific non-compliance investigations at CO level.
• Take lead on Compliance section of Result Contract and provide quarterly report/update.
• Establish external resources i.e., Legal consultants, regarding compliance initiatives.

External Representation (Legal Compliance)

• Ensure DRC operations follow the local legislations, advise SMT on any changes in NGO law or risks associated with the operations in due course.
• Act as a focal point to DRC’s legal team regarding areas of legal compliance with staffing, operations, and laws.
• Lead on developing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) process of ministerial, state and federal government agencies, as required.
• Ensure timely registration of the DRC projects as required by the current legislation.
• Coordinate and lead the process of the timely submission of the mandatory reports to Government.
• Provide support to teams on field level regarding implementation of local legal compliance requirements.
• Provide accurate and timely feedback to the SMT on any change in government legislation.

Audits

• Work closely with the DRC Head of Support ensure that the workplans, timeframes and support are given to any internal or external audits as required.
• Advise Senior Management on gaps identified thorough any internal and external audit reports.
• Support the DRC archives and ensure that files are received from the area offices and country team and that they are filed and stored appropriately in DRC Nigeria Archives.

Required Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience managing risks and compliance issues.
• Demonstrate experience with Risk and Compliance or similar in a large or local organization, influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders effectively across the organization and within complex contexts.
• Prior experience in Finance, Grants, Legal Advisory or Government Liaison positions preferred.
• Demonstrate experience with developing and delivering successful training sessions, facilitating meetings.
• Previous experience from an international NGO
• Demonstrating integrity, diplomacy, professionalism, reliability, and resilience at all times.
• Able to always work professionally and with a high degree of confidentiality.
• Full professional proficiency in English

5. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required.

6. General Regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorisation
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorisation
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request

7. Application Process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) on DRC website. Both must be in English.

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.

However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case, Nigeria).

Applications close on 30th March 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

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