Head of Investigations

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SOS Children's Villages, founded in 1949, is the world's largest non-governmental organization focused on supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it.

Child neglect, abuse and abandonment is everywhere. Families are at risk of separation. Locally led, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families who are under pressure so they can stay together. When this is not in a child or young person's best interests, we provide quality care according to their unique needs.

Together with partners, donors, communities, children, young people and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop and become their strongest selves. We speak up for each child's rights and advocate for change so all children can grow up in a supportive environment.

**Location**:
***Innsbruck, Vienna (Austria), Faridabad (India), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya, only home office from official home address in Kenya)

**Duration**:
***Full time, unlimited

**Mission**

SOS Children’s Villages strives to create and ensure a safe environment for everyone who engages with us internally or externally. An environment that does not expose children, young people and adults to harm, sexual exploitation and abuse. It also strives to manage its financial and other assets free from fraud and corruption.

All aspects of the work of the Investigations Team must be in line with the SOS Safeguarding approach and be victim/survivor and whistle blower centred. Individuals raising allegations must be protected, including their identities, and always in control of the sharing of all information relating to themselves. Therefore, the Investigations Team and investigators need to ensure that individuals know and can access the relevant victim support pathways.

The main high-level purposes of the Investigations Team area are:
a) To develop and roll out high quality investigations across the Federation.

b) To identify, build capacity and deploy from a pool of staff for the investigation of safeguarding or fraud allegations.

c) To ensure that a single incident management register and a secure document management system are in place and used.

d) To work with the Safeguarding Team and Internal Audit Team to ensure that each investigation in the overall incident management process is conducted according to agreed Terms of Reference and produces reports and clear recommended management actions.

e) To liaise with the Safeguarding Team and relevant managers on victim support pathways.

d) To gather and share learning from investigations to support a safe environment for children, youth and adults, counter fraud and corruption.

e) To liaise with the Ombuds persons across the Federation where complaints about the investigation process have bene raised and to learn from Ombuds assessments.

f) To participate in, share with and learn from external networks to improve internal practice and to influence sector wide thinking and initiatives related to investigations.

The Head of Investigations plays a key global role in helping to ensure that the organisation conducts high quality investigations into incidents relating to child and adult safeguarding allegations, fraud, corruption and other criminal activity.

The incumbent is responsible for continuously ensuring the independence of the Investigations Unit. In this context, the position reports to the Director of Audit and Investigations and through them to the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee.

The Head of Investigations is responsible for developing and managing the Investigations function within SOS Children´s Villages International and to provide investigation support to other parts of SOS Children’s Villages not managed by the General Secretariat (e.g. independent member associations).

Where very complex, multi-incident cases occur the Head of Investigation will conduct the investigation.

**Tasks & Responsibilities**
- Management of the Investigations Function in line _
- with key_
- principles and behaviours_
- :_
- The incumbent manages, champions, enables and supports mainstreaming of high-quality investigations across the organisation’s functions, geographies and its programmes.
- Ensures all aspects of the Investigation Units work are always led by a victim / survivor centred approach.
- Champions and models the organisational values, behaviours and Code of Conduct.
- Maintains independence of the Investigations Team.
- Ensures high quality investigation processes_
- :_
- Defines and updates investigation processes with the input of Child and Adult Safeguarding, Asset Protection and Anti-Corruption and Internal Audit.
- Applies globally recognised professional principles as outlined in investigation regulations for the conduct of investigations.
- Develops a consistent process across different incident types, for high quality investigations.
- In accordance with misconduct an