The position
The Global Safeguarding Manager is a senior technical specialist in AKF’s global safeguarding team, working under the supervision of the Global Safeguarding Lead. The postholder leads day-to-day delivery of investigations and case management, provides hands-on technical support to unit Safeguarding Managers/Focal Points, and turns learning from cases into practical improvements across AKF and, where applicable, the wider integrated AKF.
Hybrid working, based in our London office, with an expectation to attend in person on a regular basis. This global role reports to HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, with regular international travel (approx. 20%), including to fragile contexts. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK; AKF will not sponsor visa applications.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND CORE TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Investigations and Case Management (approx. 50%)
- Intake and Triage: Manage intake, triage and risk assessment of concerns received by the global function.
- Investigations: Plan and conduct complex, sensitive investigations into sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), bullying, harassment, discrimination and related workplace misconduct, producing clear, evidence-based reports.
- Oversight of Investigations: Scope, commission and quality-assure investigations by unit and external investigators, and develop the internal investigator pool.
- Case Management: Manage the global case register, ensuring cases are handled in a survivor-centred, fair and confidential way, with outcomes followed through with HR and management.
- Case Support to Units: Provide case supervision to unit Safeguarding Managers/Focal Points and support units, in person or remotely, in responding to serious incidents.
- Reporting and Learning: Prepare routine incident notifications to donors and regulators, and analyse case trends to recommend improvements.
- Technical Support, Capacity Building and Policy Development (approx. 40%)
- Technical Advice: Advise and support unit Safeguarding Managers/Focal Points, on site and remotely, in putting global standards into practice, such as risk assessments, safeguarding in programmes, and community-level safeguarding and reporting mechanisms.
- Capability Building: Identify capability gaps among unit Safeguarding Managers/Focal Points and provide mentoring, coaching and technical learning.
- Training and Awareness: Develop training content and lead awareness and capacity building across AKF, including specialised training for different stakeholder groups, to reinforce a culture of integrity and ethics.
- Policies and Procedures: Lead the review and improvement of safeguarding policies, procedures, guidance and tools, drawing on case learning and sector, donor and regulatory standards.
- Partners: Advise on safeguarding due diligence and capacity strengthening for partners and contractors.
Assurance (approx. 10%)
Assurance Support: Support delivery of the safeguarding assurance framework, including unit reviews and follow-up of improvement actions.
The requirements
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, BEHAVIOURS, ATTRIBUTES
Qualifications
- Degree in law, criminology, social work, psychology, human rights, international development or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Recognised investigation qualification, such as CHS Alliance IQTS Tier 3 or equivalent (essential).
- Ethics and compliance certification, such as CCEP or ISO 37301/37002 (desirable).
- Experience
- At least seven years’ safeguarding, ethics and compliance or workplace investigations experience in international development, humanitarian or comparable multi-country organisations, covering both technical support and investigations (essential).
- At least five years leading complex, high-risk investigations into SEAH, bullying, harassment, discrimination or related workplace misconduct, including cases involving senior staff, and quality-assuring investigations by others (essential).
- Demonstrated experience providing technical support on general safeguarding to country or field teams, such as risk assessments, safeguarding in programmes, community reporting mechanisms and partner safeguarding (essential).
- Proven experience designing and delivering safeguarding training and capacity building for different audiences, and mentoring safeguarding staff across countries (essential).
- Experience developing practical safeguarding procedures, guidance and tools (essential).
- Experience in ethics and compliance, speak-up/whistleblowing programmes or workplace investigations, including in corporate, public or regulated sectors (desirable).
- Donor and regulatory reporting; experience in humanitarian, development, health, education or child-focused settings (desirable).
- Knowledge and Skills
- Expert knowledge of safeguarding and PSEAH frameworks and sector standards (e.g. IASC Six Core Principles, CHS, Keeping Children Safe), survivor-centred practice and procedural fairness.
- Excellent investigative interviewing, analytical and report-writing skills, and sound judgement under pressure.
- Ability to coach, influence and constructively challenge colleagues at all levels and across cultures.
- Fluent English essential; French, Portuguese, Russian, Dari, Urdu, Arabic or Swahili an asset.
- Behaviours
- Politically aware and discreet: Navigates complex, multicultural environments with strong stakeholder awareness, sound judgement and a high level of confidentiality.
- Clear and effective communicator: Communicates complex information clearly, adapts messaging to diverse audiences, and ensures timely, transparent communication.
- Collaborative, low-ego mindset: Builds strong relationships, works seamlessly across teams, and takes a hands-on approach focused on collective outcomes over hierarchy.
- Reliable execution and accountability: Ensures cases and agreed actions move forward with local management in each country, manages multiple priorities with attention to detail, and follows through consistently.
- Agile and resilient under pressure: Adapts to changing priorities and contexts, operates effectively in high-pressure environments, and stays solution oriented.
Sector: Social Development
About the Agency
The Aga Khan Foundation is a leading global development organisation working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For more than 50 years, we have helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. By combining local knowledge with global best practices, we strive to bring about transformative and long-lasting improvements to quality of life.
Working alongside the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and through partnerships with local communities, civil society and business as well as governments and international aid agencies, we are building a future where we all thrive together.
Region: Europe
Location: United Kingdom
Salary: Salary and package to attract the best candidate
Job Expires: 30-Nov-2026
Closing date: 2026-11-30
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online via the Aga Khan Foundation careers site (Quick Apply). Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK; AKF will not sponsor visa applications.