Senior Compliance Officer

Responsibilities

• Further develop and maintain the global risk management and internal control system (ICS)
• Coordinate the overall internal audit plan and conduct/participate in some internal audits in international subsidiaries
• Coordinate the group audits and external audits abroad in collaboration with our Group Auditor
• Carrying out operational risk management, establishing the internal control system and implementing internal controls
• Prepare and implement management responses to group auditors
• Lead compliance projects, e. g. the rollout of due diligence processes for donors and partner institutions
• Establish and implement a globally applicable data protection standard (Swiss Data Protection Law), take over the role as a Swiss Data Protection Officer
• Design and deliver training sessions on compliance policies and internal guidelines
• Support projects by advising on compliance and risk management aspects, as needed

• University degree in business, law, finance, compliance, audit or a related field
• At least 7 years in compliance, risk management, or internal audit at an international level – ideally within NGOs, development cooperation, or international/multinational organisations
• Strong expertise in governance, risk management, compliance, and internal audit – both nationally and internationally
• Experience in enterprise risk management (ERM) and ICS: implementation, development, and operational execution
• Analytical and conceptual strength combined with a proactive, results‑oriented hands‑on approach
• Excellent communication skills and confidence when interacting with different departments and committee levels
• Well understanding of Swiss legislation and regulations related to compliance and risk management relevant for Swisscontact (e. g. Swiss Data Protection Law, Swiss GAAP FER, ZEWO)
• Good understanding of e‑compliance, ERPs and AI‑tools is an advantage
• Proficiency in English and German, knowledge of French and/or Spanish is a plus

Swisscontact offers attractive working conditions in an international and multicultural context. We see our work as a joint effort in an agile organizational culture: mutual respect, trust and teamwork.

We look forward to receiving your online application by 11

January 2026
, with the following documents: cover letter, resume, certificates, and references.

Swisscontact is an independent non‑profit development organisation established in 1959 by representatives of the Swiss private sector and civil society.

Our development work focuses on unleashing the potential of private initiatives in developing and emerging countries. We foster sustainable and inclusive economic development with the objective of improving the quality of life for all.

Our work is based on three foundational pillars:
We strengthen the competencies of individuals so they can improve their income and their opportunities for employment; we enhance the competitiveness of businesses to help them grow and become more resilient; we promote socio‑economic systems that favour comprehensive development for widespread prosperity.

The organisation is currently active in over 130 projects in 41 countries with around 1400 employees. It is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

Team

The abilities and readiness for action of our employees are decisive for our projects’ ability to achieve sustainable impact, as well as our long‑term success. As an attractive employer, Swisscontact invests in a positive management and work culture. This is defined by our fundamental understanding of development intended to serve not only our beneficiaries in project countries but our employees as well.

With a clear focus on vocational education, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and green economy, we implement projects that generate income, foster employment, and enable structural changes. All locally anchored, impact‑oriented, and in partnership.