The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. All people, no matter where their starting point in life, should have an equal chance to succeed. We believe that with access to education, financial services, and skills training, people can have that chance.

Read more about this company

Director, Incident Management & Investigations

Job Type

Full Time

Qualification

BA/BSc/HND , Professional Certificate

Experience

7 - 12 years

Location

Nairobi

Job Field

Legal and Regulatory

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

Leadership & Strategy

Lead the design and implementation of the Foundation’s incident management and investigations capability aligned with the organization’s safeguarding, program delivery, and ERM efforts.

Provide strategic direction and oversight for incident response and investigations across the Foundation.

Lead development of investigation methodologies (fact-finding, interviews, documentation, chain of custody) with emphasis on protecting vulnerable beneficiaries and whistleblower protection.

Collaborate with Assurance, ERM, and other functions to ensure cohesive and proactive risk management.

Policy & Framework Development

Develop and maintain policies, protocols, and procedures for incident management and investigations.

Ensure frameworks are aligned with legal and regulatory standards and the Foundation’s values.

Incident & Investigation Management

Oversee the intake, triage, and resolution of reported incidents.

Lead or coordinate internal or external investigations related to safeguarding concerns, fraud, misuse of funds, misconduct by staff/partners/volunteers, and program integrity incident and manage external investigative consultants.

Ensure investigations are conducted impartially, confidentially, and in compliance with legal/regulatory requirements and coordinate internally and external with Legal Counsel as needed.

Conduct root cause analyses and recommend corrective actions.

Lead incident response for high-risk or high-severity incidents affecting beneficiaries or program operations; coordinate with Programs, IT Security, Compliance, Legal, HR, and Communications.

Ensure timely containment, remediation, and transparent, appropriate communication to stakeholders as allowed by policy and law; conduct post-incident reviews (PIRs).

Maintain incident records, timelines, and dashboards; track remediation actions and closure.

Reporting & Governance

Prepare and present reports on significant incidents and investigations to senior leadership and governance bodies.

Ensure lessons learned are documented and shared across the Foundation to inform policy and practice improvements.

Training & Capacity Building

Develop and deliver training programs on effective management of fraud and incidents.

Build internal capacity and awareness to foster a culture of compliance and ethical conduct.

Stakeholder management

Build strong relationships with Program teams, Legal, IT Security, Compliance, Internal Audit, HR, Communications, and external partners.

Coordinate with external safeguarding bodies, sector networks, and, where applicable, law enforcement in line with policy and legal requirements.

People and risk culture

Lead, mentor, and develop the team; manage workload, performance, and professional development.

Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and learning from incidents across the organization and its programs.

WHO YOU ARE

7–12 years of experience in investigations, safeguarding, compliance, NGO operations, or related areas; leadership experience preferred.

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Criminology, Social Work, Public Administration, Human Rights, or a related field.

Certifications such as CFE, CISM, CISSP, GIAC, or specialized safeguarding certifications.

Experience in NGO sectors, development programs, or humanitarian settings.

Experience coordinating with external counsel, law enforcement, or safeguarding authorities.

Knowledge of data analytics for investigations and program integrity (eDiscovery tools, data visualization).

Strong knowledge of investigative techniques, interviewing, evidence handling, and documentation standards in humanitarian/philanthropic contexts.

Familiarity with safeguarding frameworks, incident response, risk management concepts, and donor reporting.

Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Strong written and verbal communication; ability to present to senior leadership and external parties while observing the Foundation values.

Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and sensitivity to beneficiaries.

Expertise in investigation and incident management principles.

Strong understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks governing investigations.

Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement, and reporting skills.

Demonstrated integrity, courage, and cultural sensitivity.

Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex, sensitive issues.

Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

Resilience and decision-making under pressure.

Collaborative across Programs, Legal, IT Security, Compliance, HR, Communications, and Partnerships.

• Lead the design and implementation of the Foundation’s incident management and investigations capability aligned with the organization’s safeguarding, program delivery, and ERM efforts.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight for incident response and investigations across the Foundation.
• Lead development of investigation methodologies (fact-finding, interviews, documentation, chain of custody) with emphasis on protecting vulnerable beneficiaries and whistleblower protection.
• Collaborate with Assurance, ERM, and other functions to ensure cohesive and proactive risk management.
• Develop and maintain policies, protocols, and procedures for incident management and investigations.
• Ensure frameworks are aligned with legal and regulatory standards and the Foundation’s values.
• Oversee the intake, triage, and resolution of reported incidents.
• Lead or coordinate internal or external investigations related to safeguarding concerns, fraud, misuse of funds, misconduct by staff/partners/volunteers, and program integrity incident and manage external investigative consultants.
• Ensure investigations are conducted impartially, confidentially, and in compliance with legal/regulatory requirements and coordinate internally and external with Legal Counsel as needed.
• Conduct root cause analyses and recommend corrective actions.
• Lead incident response for high-risk or high-severity incidents affecting beneficiaries or program operations; coordinate with Programs, IT Security, Compliance, Legal, HR, and Communications.
• Ensure timely containment, remediation, and transparent, appropriate communication to stakeholders as allowed by policy and law; conduct post-incident reviews (PIRs).
• Maintain incident records, timelines, and dashboards; track remediation actions and closure.
• Prepare and present reports on significant incidents and investigations to senior leadership and governance bodies.
• Ensure lessons learned are documented and shared across the Foundation to inform policy and practice improvements.
• Develop and deliver training programs on effective management of fraud and incidents.
• Build internal capacity and awareness to foster a culture of compliance and ethical conduct.
• Build strong relationships with Program teams, Legal, IT Security, Compliance, Internal Audit, HR, Communications, and external partners.
• Coordinate with external safeguarding bodies, sector networks, and, where applicable, law enforcement in line with policy and legal requirements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the team; manage workload, performance, and professional development.
• Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and learning from incidents across the organization and its programs.

• Data analytics for investigations and program integrity (eDiscovery tools, data visualization)
• Investigative techniques, interviewing, evidence handling, and documentation standards
• Safeguarding frameworks, incident response, risk management concepts, and donor reporting
• Analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Written and verbal communication
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and sensitivity
• Investigation and incident management principles
• Legal and regulatory frameworks governing investigations
• Communication, stakeholder engagement, and reporting skills
• Integrity, courage, and cultural sensitivity
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities
• Resilience and decision-making under pressure
• Collaborative skills

• 7–12 years of experience in investigations, safeguarding, compliance, NGO operations, or related areas; leadership experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Criminology, Social Work, Public Administration, Human Rights, or a related field.
• Certifications such as CFE, CISM, CISSP, GIAC, or specialized safeguarding certifications.
• Experience in NGO sectors, development programs, or humanitarian settings.
• Experience coordinating with external counsel, law enforcement, or safeguarding authorities.