Governance and Compliance Officer

Islamic Relief Malaysia; Bandar Baru Bangi; On-site; MYR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading humanitarian organisation in Malaysia seeks a Senior Officer, Governance & Compliance to support the CEO in strengthening governance framework and compliance. This role is pivotal in managing risk, ensuring organizational integrity, and liaising with various stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have 5–7 years of relevant experience, strong analytical skills, and fluency in English and Bahasa Malaysia. This position offers an opportunity to contribute significantly to organizational strategy and governance processes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in governance or compliance.
• Experience with senior leadership and governance committees.
• Strong command of English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Responsibilities

• Support the CEO in strategic management and governance.
• Liaise with legal consultants on governance matters.
• Conduct risk assessments and safeguard compliance.

Skills

Governance frameworks

Compliance processes

Legal documentation

Risk management

Strategic management

Analytical skills

Report writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law, Public Administration or related field

Professional certifications in Governance or Compliance

Job description

The Senior Officer, Governance & Compliance is responsible for supporting the CEO in strengthening Islamic Relief Malaysia’s governance framework, strategic management processes, and organisational compliance. The role ensures that IR Malaysia operates with integrity, transparency, and full adherence to internal policies, legal requirements, and global Islamic Relief standards.

The incumbent will serve as the primary liaison between the CEO, Management Committee (MC), Board of Trustees (BOT), legal consultants, regulators, and internal departments. This role also oversees reputation risk management, safeguarding, partner due diligence, policy development, and cross-organisational compliance monitoring. As a key member of the CEO Office, the position contributes to strategic decision-making, organisational performance monitoring, and effective governance practices.

Key Relationships

Internal Stakeholders:

• CEO
• Board of Trustees (BOT)
• Management Committee (MC)
• Senior Management Team
• Risk Management Committee (RMC)
• Legal & Compliance teams
• All divisions across IR Malaysia

External Stakeholders:

• Legal consultants (MahaLaw, SAHASS)
• Company secretary
• Regulators (SSM, government bodies)
• External partners
• DonorsAuditors
• Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) Global Strategy Working Group
• Visiting dignitaries

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Management

Support the CEO in the development, implementation, and monitoring of organisational strategies and business plans.

Serve as the Global Strategy PIC for IR Malaysia in communication with IRW Global Strategy Working Group.

Conduct research, data analysis, and benchmarking to support strategic decision-making.

Prepare reports, Board papers, management presentations, and proposals for strategic initiatives.

Track organisational and departmental KPIs, providing regular performance updates to the CEO.

2. Governance & Legal Oversight

Act as the main Governance & Compliance PIC for the CEO, MC, and BOT.

Liaise with legal consultants and company secretary on governance matters, including Board Resolutions, SSM matters, TOR updates, MoUs, SLAs, LoDs, and legal documentation.

Ensure organisation-wide adherence to governance frameworks, internal controls, and compliance requirements.

Coordinate and monitor the implementation of governance standards across all departments.

Manage preparation, filing, and submission of governance-related reports and documentation.

Serve as a liaison between the CEO Office and governance-related committees or boards.

3. Reputation Risk Management (RRM) & Safeguarding

Assist the BOT, MC, and CEO in the planning, execution, and monitoring of RRM and Safeguarding frameworks.

Act as Secretary to the Risk Management Committee (RMC), managing coordination, communication, and documentation.

Lead annual internal reviews, risk assessments, compliance checks, and safeguarding education.

Conduct organisation-wide due diligence and partner screening processes for collaborations.

Act as the main PIC for cross-division complaint handling procedures involving complex stakeholder engagement.

4. Policy Development and Compliance

Lead the development, review, and updating of policies to ensure alignment with legal requirements and organisational needs.

Conduct internal audits to assess compliance levels and identify improvements.

Recommend enhancements for governance and compliance processes, ensuring continuous improvement.

5. Operational and Strategic Support

Oversee and manage special projects assigned by the CEO, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with strategic objectives.

Organise, attend, and represent the CEO at internal and external meetings; prepare minutes, action plans, and follow-ups.

Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across departments.

Ensure confidentiality, accuracy, and professionalism in managing sensitive documents and information.

Assist in preparing and filing BOT meeting minutes and governance documentation.

Support BOT logistics, communications, and compliance requirements.

Act as PIC when attending to government officials, dignitaries, VIPs, and IRW international guests.

7. Planning & Business Development Support

Assist CEO and BOT in internal and external strategic engagements, meetings, visits, and partnership discussions.

Build and strengthen relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support organisational growth.

Represent the CEO Office in key meetings, ensuring timely communication and execution of follow-up actions.

8. CEO Scheduling & Internal Coordination

Support the CEO with daily communication, prioritisation, scheduling, and coordination.

Arrange appointments, manage stakeholder engagements, and conduct partner checks.

Ensure efficient day-to-day workflow for the CEO through proactive planning.

Requirements and Qualifications

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration, Governance, or related field.

Professional certifications in Governance, Compliance, Risk Management, or related disciplines are an advantage.

Experience

Minimum 5–7 years of experience in governance, compliance, policy development, strategic management, or legal coordination.

Experience working with Boards, senior leadership, or governance committees is highly preferred.

Prior experience in NGOs, humanitarian organisations, or regulated environments is an added advantage.

Technical Skills

Strong knowledge of governance frameworks, compliance processes, legal documentation, and risk management.

Familiarity with SSM requirements, corporate secretarial processes, and policy review cycles.

Strong analytical and research skills for strategy and policy development.

Proficiency in report writing, documentation, and presentation development.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Excellent command of written and spoken English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Strong interpersonal communication skills with experience engaging senior leaders and external stakeholders.

Ability to manage sensitive information with the highest level of confidentiality and professionalism.

Leadership & Competency Attributes

Detail-oriented, organised, and able to manage multiple priorities.

Strong critical thinking, risk awareness, and problem-solving ability.

Able to work independently, exercise sound judgement, and anticipate organisational needs.

Commitment to humanitarian values, ethics, and safeguarding standards.

Organisational Position

The Senior Officer, Governance & Compliance reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is a key member of the CEO Office, supporting strategic leadership, governance processes, and organisational compliance.