Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for an Ethics Advisor

🎯 Role Definition

As our Ethics Advisor, you will be the cornerstone of our commitment to responsible business conduct. You will champion our ethical culture, develop robust frameworks to guide decision-making, and provide expert counsel on a wide range of complex issues, from corporate governance to the responsible development of emerging technologies like AI. This pivotal role involves proactively identifying and mitigating ethical risks, ensuring compliance with global standards, and empowering every member of our organization to act with integrity. You are not just a compliance expert; you are a strategic partner to leadership and a trusted guide for our entire team, ensuring our growth is both successful and sustainable.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Legal Counsel / Corporate Attorney
Senior Compliance Manager / Analyst
Public Policy Advisor
Senior Internal Auditor or Risk Manager

Advancement To:

Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (CECO)
Director of Corporate Governance
Head of Responsible Innovation / AI Ethics
Vice President of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)

Lateral Moves:

Director of ESG Strategy
Senior Privacy Counsel
Head of Public Policy

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and continuously refine the company-wide ethics and compliance program to ensure alignment with our core values and global standards.
Serve as the primary subject matter expert and trusted advisor to senior leadership, business units, and product teams on complex ethical dilemmas, providing actionable guidance.
Conduct comprehensive ethical risk assessments across all business functions to proactively identify, analyze, and mitigate potential compliance and reputational risks.
Design and lead the development of robust ethical frameworks and governance structures, particularly for emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning.
Oversee the entire investigation process for alleged ethical violations and breaches of company policy, ensuring fairness, confidentiality, and thoroughness from intake to resolution.
Create and deliver engaging and impactful ethics training, workshops, and communication campaigns to foster a strong ethical culture and awareness at all levels of the organization.
Monitor, interpret, and analyze evolving global regulations, industry standards, and socio-political trends in corporate ethics, translating them into practical internal policies and procedures.
Manage the company's conflict of interest disclosure program, providing clear, confidential guidance to employees and resolving potential conflicts with integrity.
Prepare and present detailed, insightful reports on the status of the ethics program, key risk indicators, and investigation outcomes to the executive team and the Board of Directors.
Collaborate with key cross-functional partners including Legal, HR, Internal Audit, and Cybersecurity to ensure a cohesive and integrated approach to corporate responsibility.
Act as a key liaison with external stakeholders, including regulators, industry groups, and civil society organizations, on matters related to business ethics and responsible conduct.
Champion the integration of "Ethics by Design" principles into the product development lifecycle, from initial concept and data sourcing to deployment and post-launch monitoring.
Provide strategic counsel on the ethical implications of major business decisions, including mergers, acquisitions, and new market entries, to ensure alignment with our ethical commitments.
Lead the drafting, review, and lifecycle management of the Code of Conduct and other key ethics-related policies to ensure they remain relevant, accessible, and effective.
Establish, promote, and manage confidential reporting channels (e.g., ethics hotlines) and ensure all concerns raised are addressed promptly, respectfully, and appropriately.
Facilitate and guide ethical decision-making workshops and case-study forums for leaders and employees to build their capacity for navigating moral ambiguity.
Drive initiatives to measure and enhance the organization's ethical culture through surveys, focus groups, sentiment analysis, and other data-driven methods.
Advise on the ethical implications of data collection, usage, privacy, and algorithmic bias, working closely with the Data Protection Officer and data science teams.
Represent the company at external conferences, roundtables, and industry events, articulating our commitment to ethical conduct and responsible innovation.
Guide the development of public-facing communications and reports concerning the company's ethical positions, performance, and long-term commitments.
Lead and facilitate the organization's Ethics Committee, setting strategic agendas, guiding discussions on critical issues, and ensuring that decisions are documented and actioned.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc inquiries and exploratory analysis on ethical trends, landmark cases, and academic research to inform strategic decisions and policy development.
Contribute to the organization's broader corporate governance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy and reporting roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate high-level ethical principles and policy needs into actionable operational requirements and process improvements.
Participate in long-range strategic planning and review cycles to ensure ethical considerations and potential risks are embedded in future business objectives.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep expertise in developing, implementing, and managing corporate ethics and compliance programs.
Comprehensive knowledge of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks (e.g., FCPA, UK Bribery Act, GDPR, emerging AI regulations).
Proven proficiency in conducting sensitive internal investigations and comprehensive ethical risk assessments.
Advanced skills in policy drafting, implementation, and lifecycle management.
Strong understanding of corporate governance principles, board reporting, and best practices.
Familiarity with "Ethics by Design," responsible innovation frameworks, and their application in a technology or product-driven environment.
Ability to analyze complex qualitative and quantitative data to measure program effectiveness and identify emerging trends.
Experience with case management systems and ethics reporting software.

Soft Skills

Unquestionable personal integrity, impartiality, and the ability to handle highly sensitive information with absolute discretion.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to influence, persuade, and build trust at all organizational levels, from the board room to the front line.
Superior critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and complex problem-solving abilities.
High emotional intelligence and the ability to navigate sensitive and confidential situations with empathy, professionalism, and courage.
A strong moral compass and the fortitude to challenge the status quo and make difficult, principled recommendations.
Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across diverse, cross-functional, and global teams.
Outstanding presentation and facilitation skills, capable of making complex topics accessible and engaging.
Resilience, composure under pressure, and sound judgment in high-stakes situations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university.

Preferred Education:

Advanced degree such as a Juris Doctor (JD), PhD, or Master's Degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Law
Philosophy
Public Policy
Business Administration (with an ethics focus)
Political Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 7-12 years of progressive experience in an ethics, compliance, legal, or risk management function.

Preferred:

Experience working in-house within a complex, global organization.
Background in a regulated industry (e.g., technology, finance, healthcare).
Direct experience developing or advising on AI ethics or responsible technology programs.
Professional certification (e.g., CCEP, LPEC) is a strong plus.