START NETWORK

We are tackling what we believe are the biggest systemic problems that the humanitarian sector faces. Start Network’s vision is for a locally led humanitarian system that is accountable to people affected by and at-risk of crises. We aim to see:

LOCALLY-LED ACTION: We believe that a more balanced international aid system, which shifts power to those closest to the front-line, will generate more effective and appropriate responses for people affected by crises.

NEW FORMS OF FINANCING: Our pooled funds enable fast and early action to tackle the
kind of crises that are often overlooked by other funding mechanisms. Our risk financing
pilots are introducing new ways of working that can save even more lives.

COLLECTIVE INNOVATION: New ways of working are needed to tackle the challenges we
face. By innovating collectively, we can share expertise, insights and perspectives to shape a more effective humanitarian system.

We are evolving into a decentralised “network of networks” in line with our vision. We are
currently working with five national and regional hubs made up of civil society
organisations in Pakistan, DRC, Guatemala, India and the Pacific. They are developing
locally owned ways of anticipating and responding to humanitarian crises. We aim to support the emergence and development of further hubs in the coming years. Our ultimate ambition is to devolve leadership and decision making to the hubs, while the central team transitions to become a service provider.

For more information, please visit our website.

JOB PURPOSE

The key purpose of the role is to oversee and manage the assurance function, focusing on
provision of internal risk management and due diligence for members, while ensuring
compliance to regulations, including legal and donor requirements.

The role provides an assurance service to the senior management and wider team,
including Hubs. Internally, the role is responsibility for ensuring risk policies and processes are in line with our vision and values, as well as regulation. At a network level, the role will work with colleagues to develop risk models and frameworks involving strategic, programmatic and operations risks.
The role is required to bring innovation to our assurance function and to challenge the
status quo.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Team Management
• Build, manage and lead the assurance team, as part of the wider support functions
of Start Network enabling team members to perform to their strengths and to develop
• Provide leadership and professional advice to drive a strategic approach to the
operations and risk function, and act as an internal advisor to different parts of the
charity, including senior leaders
• Provide reports and advice to the Senior Management Team, and Board Committees as needed
• Management of the budget related Assurance Function Risk Management Framework and Organisational Compliance
• Maintain and improve a robust risk management strategy and framework that
integrates with our existing strategy and plans
• Promote a risk management culture that aligns our approach to risk with our mission, vision and values, balancing risk, reward, and opportunity, including design and delivery of training
• Ensure effective controls and mitigation measures are in place, including ongoing
compliance with the charity’s Compliance Plan and Code of Conduct, updating relevant policies
• Lead on disaster recovery planning and critical incident management planning and
processes, making improvements based on learning
• Together with CFOO be the main contact point with the Risk and Compliance Committee, which oversees operational functions including compliance, legal, risk
and internal audit
• Lead any investigations for complaints / whistleblowing / safeguarding including
carrying out investigations and Board reporting
• Ensure the organisation has all necessary insurance cover in place etc.
• Oversee and support the Assurance Advisor in coordinating internal audit and
responsible for overseeing implementation and reporting of internal audit recommendations across the organisation
• Ensure the Operations function are managing safety and security risk for staff
international travel and provide sign off for travel to high risk environments against
travel risk assessments

Compliance in Humanitarian Work
• Support the design of risk and compliance infrastructure for our humanitarian work,
such as a financing mechanism that pools risk and a network of Hubs
• Oversee the Due Diligence Manager and Assurance Advisor to improve the
processes, tools and guidance for due diligence compliance
• Support on response to due diligence requests from external partners
• Support the Due Diligence Manager to design and implement non-membership due
diligence and vetting framework
• Ensure Resource Mobilisation meet institutional donor reporting and compliance
requirements
Legal Oversight
• Responsible for keeping updated on legal requirements for charities
• Oversee the Assurance Advisor, who in collaboration with external counsel, delivers
legal advice, including drafting and reviewing contracts and agreements

Governance management & Company Secretary

• Responsible for the efficient and compliant management of Start Network’s governing bodies, and providing strategic input in all areas related to governance.

• Responsible for the effective operation and constitution of the organisation’s governing bodies (Board of Trustees and its governance sub-committees). This includes overseeing the organisation, agenda preparation and follow up of, governance meetings; and the smooth operation of the Board and committees

• Responsible for all trustee and committee recruitment, including overseeing the annual trustee skills audit; the development of trustee briefs; the appointments and elections in line with Start’s Articles & Byelaws; and onboarding and induction.

• Responsible for identifying governance best practice recommendations, seeking to improve the decision making and accountability of Start’s governance mechanisms – such as governance evaluations, Board reviews, officer appraisals etc.

• Senior Company Secretary duties, including the organising and running of the Annual General Meeting of the members, keeping track of Start Network’s responsibilities to its regulatory bodies, and maintaining and updating the Company’s Articles & Byelaws.

PERSON PROFILE
Education, Experience and Technical skills
• Proven experience in compliance and assurance, probably gained through work in audit, compliance or risk
• Ability to think creatively and innovatively, developing solutions to challenge the status quo
• Experience of working in an agile, complex environment with an ability to work at strategic and operational level
• Proven ability to develop and implement organisation-wide risk management strategy and framework
• Proven ability to successfully build, coach, and motivate high performing, remote, diverse and inclusive teams to deliver an effective assurance function
• Sound leadership, strategic thinking, management and planning skills
• Membership of a professional body such as the Institute of Risk Management or similar is desirable
• Charity sector knowledge and experience is desirable

Key Competencies
• Influence stakeholders to address difficult or complex issues by listening to diverse perspectives, finding common ground and avoiding criticism or complaint
• Generate and support implementation of ideas that have impact at organisational, network and/or humanitarian systems-level by promoting these ideas to relevant internal and external stakeholders
• Provide leadership by inspiring and unlocking motivation in others across the
network to lead and hold them accountable for the results
• Create and promote a learning culture, authentically sharing own learning and
supporting others to do the same at organisational, team and network level
• Bring in best practice from a range of external sources to drive innovation to
advance our work, connecting with diverse stakeholders and perspectives outside the sector
• Identify opportunities and take calculated risks to capitalise on opportunities that further our purpose and mission without compromising our vision

Effective communicator, experienced working in cross-cultural settings and explaining concepts using simple English avoiding jargon
• Excellent relationship builder internally and externally
• Strong collaboration and listening skills to maximise the strengths from a diverse team

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
Our roles are open to discussion about flexible working. For part-time working and job-shares, please get in touch with us for a conversation about possibilities.

Start Network is committed to protecting people, particularly children, at-risk adults and affected populations from any harm that may be caused due to their encountering the Start Network as well as responding effectively should any harm occur. We are also committed to safeguarding staff from any forms of bullying, harassment, sexual
harassment, discrimination, and abuse of power as outlined in the Dignity at Work policy.

Start Network embraces diversity, promotes equality of opportunity and eliminates unlawful discrimination. We are an equal opportunities employer and treat every application on merit alone. We particularly encourage applications from disabled, BAME, LGBTQ+ and non-binary candidates. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet our essential selection criteria set out in the Person Profile.

APPLICATION
We use Be Applied, an online recruitment platform. Rather than relying on CVs and cover letters, Be Applied allows you to demonstrate your skills and abilities through answering questions which are blind reviewed by our team to reduce bias.

If you have any questions or need support with your application, please email us using
peopleandculture@startnetwork.org
Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, so please apply early.

Any offer of employment is subject to relevant checks. Please refer to our candidate privacy notice regarding treatment of your data.