Job Title: Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO)
Department: Ethics and Compliance
Reports to: President
No. of position: 1
Location: Kabul, Afghanistan
Vacancy #: AF-INT-27-2020
Position Announcement close date: June 20, 2020
About the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Position:
The CECO is a member of senior management responsible for leading and managing AUAF’s ethics and compliance program. Critical responsibilities include the evaluation, enhancement and implementation of a high impact, proactive ethics and compliance program to promote internal compliance with AUAF policies, procedures, and controls. The CECO shall monitor AUAF’s compliance with AUAF’s U.S. Government acquisition or assistance awards and with applicable Federal Law. This position will collaborate extensively with the Program Manager (USAID Cooperative Agreement), whose focus is on overall compliance with subject Cooperative Agreement, and the Head of Internal Audit. This position will report directly to the President of the university. AUAF is seeking candidates who demonstrate strong leadership, versatility, integrity and commitment to AUAF’s mission, values, and Code of Conduct.
Position Summary:
The incumbent will focus on the following areas:
1. Ensure that university management complies with all internal AUAF policies, procedures, and controls.
2. Serve as the focal point for all ethics matters.
3. Participate in the meetings of the Audit, Compliance, and Risk Management Committee of the Board of Trustees.
4. Work closely with the USAID Program Manager and Internal Auditor on compliance and ethics issues.
5. Communicate regularly with the Office of the Inspector General at the USAID Mission in Kabul.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
· Lead the AUAF ethics and compliance program which includes the key compliance mechanisms to prevent, detect, identify, and correct noncompliance with applicable law and regulations, donor requirements, and AUAF policies and standards.
· Develop, initiate, maintain, and revise policies and procedures for the general operation of the ethics and compliance program and its related activities to prevent illegal, unethical, or improper conduct. Manages day-to-day operation of the Program.
· Develop and deliver training and communications on ethics and compliance policies and procedures to ensure proper understanding across AUAF of regulatory related risks and responsibilities ensuring donor rules and regulations are incorporated.
· Develop and periodically review and update the university’s Code of Conduct and other relevant policies, to ensure continuing currency and relevance in providing guidance to management and employees.
· Collaborates with other departments (e.g., Risk Management, Internal Audit, Student Affairs, etc.) to direct compliance issues to the appropriate existing channels for investigation and resolution.
· Respond to alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and Standards of Conduct by evaluating or recommending the initiation of investigative procedures. Develops and oversees a system for uniform handling of such violations.
· Act as an independent review and evaluation body to ensure that compliance issues/concerns within the organization are being appropriately evaluated, investigated and resolved.
· Monitor, and as necessary, coordinate compliance activities of other departments to remain abreast of the status of all compliance activities and to identify trends.
· Identify potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk; develop/implement corrective action plans for resolution of problematic issues and provide general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar situations in the future.
· Provide periodic updates (at least quarterly) regarding compliance matters to the Board of Trustee’s Audit, Compliance & Risk Management Committee, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and the President of AUAF to keep the Board and senior management informed of the operation and progress of internal compliance efforts.
· Ensure proper reporting of violations or potential violations to duly authorized enforcement agencies as appropriate and/or required.
· Establish and provide direction and management of the Fraud and Ethics Hotline.
· Be available to provide staff with guidance on specific ethics related policy and practice issues and queries, including conflict of interest, financial disclosure, and protection against retaliation.
· Institute and maintain an effective compliance communication program for the organization, including promoting (a) use of the Fraud and Ethics Hotline; (b) heightened awareness of Standards of Conduct, and (c) understanding of new and existing compliance issues and related policies and procedures.
· Work with the Human Resources Department and others as appropriate to develop an effective compliance training program, including appropriate introductory training for new employees as well as ongoing training for all employees and managers.
· Coordinate and facilitate AUAF’s risk assessment on a regular basis (not less than annually) with functional experts and management to identify corporate risks and appropriate risk mitigation strategies; facilitate, monitor and report on the implementation of agreed responses to identified risks.
· Monitor the effectiveness of the ethics and compliance program and related activities on a continuing basis, taking appropriate steps to improve effectiveness.
· Participate on the “Sexual Misconduct Committee.”
· Develop strategic plans for executing AUAF’s ethics and compliance program, including annual division strategy and budget.
Required Qualification (experience and education):
o Demonstrated experience in working on U. S. government-funded projects and grants.
· A minimum of 10 years of work experience: at least 6 years of experience in a senior managerial/leadership position involving responsibilities relating to risk management, compliance and audit; 4-5 years international non-profit international experience, including with regulatory and legal requirements of grants and contracts funded by USAID and other donors
Required Skills:
o High-level of communication, interpersonal skills to cultivate and maintain relationships with AUAF’s senior management and key donor agencies.
· Excellent judgement with proven ability to identify issues and deal with complex issues.
· Strong analytical and problem solving skills, particularly on challenging, complex and difficult issues to develop solutions that address root causes.
o Excellent command of the English language–written and spoken.
· Ability to draft and finalize comprehensive written reports detailing the results of investigations.
· Knowledge of the laws, regulations and policies applicable to international entities working under grants and contracts funded by USAID, other government and donors.
o A general knowledge of federal government accounting and procurement practices.
o Ability to earn and keep respect of peers and colleagues.
· Demonstrate high level of personal and professional integrity, objectivity, impartiality and fairness.
o Initiative, dependability and adaptability, and ability to follow instructions and maintain attention to detail even under tight deadlines.
· Ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-paced environment.
· Ability to develop and deliver training to small and large groups.
· Strong program management skills (ability to orient tasks and resources to achieve program objectives on schedule and within budget), team building, and capacity development.
· Ability to manage multiple initiatives and activities in a calm and professional manner at the same time work cooperatively with multiple stakeholders.
Benefits and Environment:
This is an exceptional opportunity to work at a recently formed university in an emerging and rapidly changing society.
The American University of Afghanistan offers a generous benefits package that includes a competitive salary, air transportation, university-provided accommodation, and paid international health care insurance for international employees.
International faculty and staff live and work on AUAF’s 50-acre main campus or on the 5-acre campus across the street. The AUAF campuses utilize state-of-the-art security infrastructure and protocols and are protected by a large professional security corps. Transportation between the adjacent campuses or to approved locations and the airport is by armored, guarded vehicles.
To Apply
To apply, please send as a single PDF or Word (doc.) format: a cover letter and curriculum vitae (CV), to jobs@auaf.edu.af no later than June 20, 2020. Please, include AF-INT-27-2020 Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO) in the subject line of the email, otherwise, the application will not be considered. Applications in languages other than English will not be reviewed. Please be advised that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. A written test or example of work may be used as a form of screening.
If hired, the successful applicant is expected to provide official proof of academic degrees (transcripts sent from the degree-granting school directly to AUAF).
AUAF does not charge recruitment fees to applicants. If you are asked for a recruitment fee or offer employment in exchange for money, kindly bring this to our attention using email account hr@auaf.edu.af providing the details.
AUAF is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. AUAF follows a strict non-discriminatory policy in its selection and employment practices. All applicants will receive equal consideration and applicants from all ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
AUAF strives to ensure that all employees work in safe environments, but safety and security are to a great degree contingent on various factors within Afghanistan that are outside of AUAF’s control. Applicants should carefully consider and evaluate their personal safety and security in Afghanistan.
Founded in 2006, the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) is a private, non-profit, nationally-accredited university offering an American-style liberal arts education. We are a dynamic university with a student population of over 1,000 students.