How to apply for Compliance Lead

About Natural Resource Governance Institute

The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) is a leading international non-profit that helps resource-rich countries achieve sustainable, inclusive development through better governance of oil, gas, and minerals. At a time when the energy transition is reshaping economies, NRGI's work is more urgent than ever. Working here means joining a mission-driven, globally distributed team that operates across nine legal entities and around 20 countries, offering a rare chance to shape compliance and risk systems at the intersection of finance, law, and sustainable development.

About the role

As Compliance Lead, you will be NRGI's in-house expert on donor compliance and enterprise risk management, owning the compliance and risk frameworks, procurement and contracting systems, and key operational policies. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, you will bring a strong financial lens to ensure donor financial requirements and internal controls are consistently met across a complex, multi-country structure. This role is pivotal in safeguarding NRGI's resources and reputation, enabling the organization to deliver on its mission without operational disruption.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing a new donor agreement for compliance risks, updating the enterprise risk register, advising a country manager on a procurement issue, and leading a training session for finance staff on internal controls. You'll collaborate closely with the Finance Director, HR Lead, and regional directors to ensure policies are practical and followed, while also preparing reports for the COO and board on compliance and risk status.

Who Natural Resource Governance Institute is looking for

• 7+ years of experience in compliance, risk management, or audit within international non-profits, with deep knowledge of major donor regulations (e.g., USAID, FCDO, EU, UN agencies, private foundations).
• Proven track record of designing and implementing compliance and enterprise risk frameworks across multiple legal entities and countries, ideally in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience with donor financial reporting, internal controls, and procurement/contracting systems; familiarity with grant management software and ERM tools.
• Exceptional cross-cultural communication and training skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and build compliance capacity in diverse teams; fluency in English required, French or Spanish a plus.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your CV to highlight specific donor compliance experience (e.g., USAID, FCDO, EU) and quantify results, such as 'led compliance for a $20M USAID-funded program across 5 countries'.
• Use the cover letter to explicitly address the multi-entity, multi-country complexity of NRGI's operations and describe how you have managed similar complexity.
• Demonstrate familiarity with NRGI's mission and the energy transition context; mention how compliance enables effective natural resource governance.
• If you are based in the Global South, emphasize your regional experience and ability to navigate local regulatory environments, as NRGI prefers candidates from these regions.
• Show a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on implementation; provide examples of policies you have drafted and systems you have rolled out.

What to cover in your cover letter

Key points to emphasize: (1) your direct experience with donor compliance across multiple donors and countries, including financial monitoring and reporting; (2) your ability to design and implement enterprise risk management frameworks in a complex INGO; (3) your skills in procurement and contracting systems, including policy development and training; (4) your commitment to NRGI's mission and how you can support it through robust compliance and risk management.

Research before applying

• Review NRGI's website, especially their 'About us', annual reports, and donor list to understand their funding sources and compliance obligations.
• Research the energy transition and its impact on natural resource governance to contextualize NRGI's mission and the importance of compliance in enabling their work.
• Learn about NRGI's organizational structure, including their nine legal entities and key countries of operation, to understand the scale of the compliance challenge.
• Familiarize yourself with major donor regulations (e.g., USAID, FCDO, EU) and current trends in INGO compliance and risk management.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach harmonizing compliance across nine legal entities with varying local laws and donor requirements?
• Describe a time you identified a significant compliance risk and how you mitigated it; what was the outcome?
• What is your experience with enterprise risk management (ERM) frameworks, and how would you adapt one for NRGI?
• How do you ensure procurement and contracting processes are both compliant and efficient in a remote, multi-country setting?
• Give an example of how you have trained or built compliance capacity among non-compliance staff, especially senior managers.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on private-sector compliance without demonstrating understanding of donor regulations and non-profit accountability.
• Being vague about multi-country experience; candidates should provide concrete examples of managing compliance across different legal and cultural contexts.
• Overemphasizing enforcement over enablement; NRGI seeks a compliance lead who can build systems that support program delivery, not just police rules.