Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Ethics & Compliance Manager

🎯 Role Definition

As our Ethics & Compliance Manager, you will be the cornerstone of our commitment to integrity and ethical business practices. You are a strategic professional responsible for developing, implementing, and managing our global ethics and compliance program. This high-visibility role involves partnering with leaders across the company to mitigate risk, ensure adherence to laws and regulations, and champion a culture where every employee feels empowered to do the right thing. You will not just enforce rules; you will build a framework that enables sustainable, responsible growth and protects our company's reputation.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Compliance Analyst / Specialist
Legal Counsel / Corporate Counsel
Internal Auditor or Risk Advisor
Experienced Paralegal (with a compliance focus)

Advancement To:

Director, Ethics & Compliance
Senior Director, Global Compliance
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
Associate General Counsel, Compliance

Lateral Moves:

Enterprise Risk Manager
Privacy Program Manager
Senior Internal Audit Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and continuously enhance the global ethics and compliance program to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with business objectives.
Lead and conduct comprehensive, enterprise-wide compliance risk assessments to identify, analyze, and mitigate potential areas of legal and regulatory risk.
Draft, review, and operationalize key corporate policies and procedures, including the Code of Conduct, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption (ABAC), and Conflicts of Interest policies.
Manage the company's whistleblower and internal reporting channels, overseeing the intake, triage, and lifecycle of reported concerns through a formal case management system.
Conduct and/or oversee objective, thorough, and timely internal investigations into allegations of misconduct, ethical breaches, and non-compliance with company policies.
Design, develop, and deliver engaging, role-based ethics and compliance training programs for employees, management, and relevant third parties.
Serve as a trusted subject matter expert, providing pragmatic and timely advice to business units on complex compliance issues, including those related to FCPA, UK Bribery Act, and other global anti-corruption laws.
Proactively monitor the legal and regulatory landscape for changes affecting the business, and translate those changes into actionable program enhancements.
Oversee and refine the third-party risk management program, including risk-based due diligence, screening, and ongoing monitoring of vendors, agents, and business partners.
Prepare clear and concise reports and presentations on compliance program activities, key performance indicators (KPIs), and investigation outcomes for senior leadership and the Board/Audit Committee.
Administer the company's conflicts of interest disclosure process, from submission and review to advising on effective mitigation and management plans.
Act as a key driver in championing a "speak-up" culture and promoting a strong sense of organizational integrity through targeted communication campaigns and awareness initiatives.
Collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners, including Legal, Human Resources, Internal Audit, and Finance, to ensure a cohesive and integrated approach to compliance and risk management.
Lead the implementation and management of compliance-related technology solutions, such as GRC platforms, policy management software, and case management systems.
Develop and execute a compliance monitoring and testing plan to assess the effectiveness of internal controls and confirm that policies are being followed in practice.
Support corporate development activities by conducting thorough compliance due diligence on potential M&A targets and assisting with post-acquisition integration efforts.

Secondary Functions

Manage the annual Code of Conduct certification process, tracking completion and following up on exceptions to ensure 100% participation.
Develop, track, and analyze key metrics to measure the effectiveness of the compliance program and inform future strategic priorities.
Act as a central point of contact and trusted advisor for employees at all levels seeking guidance on ethical dilemmas or policy interpretation.
Oversee the company’s Gifts, Travel, and Entertainment (GTE) approval process to ensure adherence to anti-corruption policies and local regulations.
Assist in responding to inquiries, audits, and requests for information from government agencies or external auditors.
Participate in industry forums and professional groups to stay current on compliance best practices, trends, and enforcement actions.
Manage relationships with external vendors that provide compliance-related services, such as background check providers or e-learning content creators.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep Regulatory Knowledge: Expert-level understanding of key anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK Bribery Act.
Internal Investigations: Proven experience in leading or significantly contributing to complex internal investigations, including evidence collection, witness interviews, and report writing.
Risk Assessment Methodologies: Proficiency in designing and executing formal compliance risk assessments to identify and prioritize key enterprise risks.
Policy Management: Skill in drafting, implementing, and maintaining clear, concise, and practical corporate policies and procedures.
Third-Party Risk Management: Experience developing and managing due diligence and ongoing monitoring programs for vendors, suppliers, and other business partners.
Compliance Technology: Familiarity with Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) platforms, case management systems, and third-party screening tools.
Training Program Development: Ability to create and deliver effective and engaging compliance training content for diverse audiences.

Soft Skills

Unquestionable Integrity: A strong ethical compass and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion.
Analytical & Critical Thinking: Superior ability to analyze complex situations, identify root causes, and develop practical, business-oriented solutions.
Communication & Influence: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly and persuasively to stakeholders at all levels.
Judgment & Decision Making: Sound, independent judgment and the confidence to make difficult decisions in ambiguous situations.
Stakeholder Management: A collaborative mindset with a proven ability to build strong relationships and credibility with cross-functional partners and business leaders.
Project Management: Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, from conception to completion, under tight deadlines.
Resilience & Composure: The ability to remain calm, professional, and focused when dealing with high-pressure situations and sensitive matters.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or college.

Preferred Education:

Juris Doctor (J.D.), LL.M., or a Master's Degree in a relevant field.
Professional certification such as CCEP (Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional) is highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Law
Business Administration
Finance
Public Policy

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

A minimum of 5-8 years of direct experience in a corporate ethics and compliance function, a law firm focusing on compliance matters, or a related risk management field.

Preferred:

Experience working within a global, publicly-traded company.
In-house experience is strongly preferred.
Experience managing direct reports or leading project teams.