Ethics & Compliance Manager, SSA

Role overview

This position is responsible for leading business integrity efforts across a large country footprint and/or multiple countries within Sub Saharan Africa. The role focuses on shaping compliance and integrity learning, overseeing compliance investigations, and advising the business using risk intelligence so that emerging internal and external risks are identified and addressed early.

What you will do

• Create and roll out a compliance and integrity framework that encourages lawful and ethical conduct, strengthens the culture of compliance, and safeguards the organization’s reputation.
• Use governance forums such as risk, controls, and compliance committees to review risk intelligence and help leaders make informed decisions about compliance exposure.
• Design and deliver compliance and integrity training programs, and supervise or carry out investigations in line with company policies and procedures.
• Support the Head of Ethics & Compliance for AMEA in executing the global Ethics & Compliance program and adapting it to address local risk priorities.
• Promote the Code of Conduct and its 10 Guiding Principles through ongoing training and strong partnerships with senior and middle management across SSA.
• Monitor the program continuously through risk-event identification and tracking, working closely with Internal Audit, Controls, Legal, Finance, MSC, Supply Chain, and the People team.
• Ensure investigations are completed promptly and thoroughly, coordinating with functional investigators who are not dedicated full-time investigators and aligning outcomes with local management.
• Help deliver the annual global Ethics & Compliance strategic objectives under Vision 2030.
• Run the SSA ethics and compliance program with a focus on training, investigations, and risk intelligence, while tailoring global and regional initiatives to local needs.
• Maintain a learning and communication program for compliance policies, including induction training, ongoing learning in local languages, live sessions, e-learning, and creative awareness campaigns.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, CGA, HR, and other teams to design education programs, customize content, manage systems, and support internal communication efforts.
• Ensure all new hires complete mandatory global compliance training and become familiar with compliance standards within 60 days of joining.
• Support functions in building a visible culture of compliance awareness and encourage employees to speak up and act responsibly.
• Manage investigations with fairness and consistency, and educate other functions on how to support the investigative process.
• Coordinate with relevant teams to keep case handling effective and ensure all investigations follow global investigation protocols.
• Present case results to senior leaders and track completion of action plans arising from compliance investigations.
• Take part in quarterly enterprise risk reviews for critical and high risks, including assessments and updates with country, function, and category leaders.
• Participate in business-unit and regional/global risk and compliance forums and prepare country and project-specific risk profiles when needed.
• Serve as the main contact for compliance queries, including conflicts of interest disclosures and policy interpretation requests.
• Provide timely advice on compliance topics such as the Code of Conduct, Speak Up and investigations, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, conflicts of interest and gifting, sanctions compliance, and data privacy.
• Respond quickly to concerns, requests for guidance, disclosures, and related consultations, including matters raised through the Speak Up channel by employees, management, and third parties.
• Carry out restricted party screening reviews for SSA customers and vendors, and for other segments as assigned.
• Maintain the EthicsPoint database, compile metrics, prepare management reports, and support other country, business-unit, regional, or global projects as assigned.

Requirements

• A graduate-level qualification in compliance, governance, controls, law, or a closely related discipline is preferred, with business, finance, political science, government, or law being especially relevant.
• Professional experience in law, internal controls, audit, regulatory affairs, or quality is expected.
• Strong command of English, both written and spoken, is required.
• At least 10 years of experience in a related corporate role with hands-on ethics and compliance exposure across the SSA markets.
• Minimum 7 years in an ethics and compliance leadership role within a similar FMCG environment.
• Proven experience managing and transforming ethics and compliance programs across multiple jurisdictions and risk areas.
• Experience with FCPA, anti-bribery and corruption, sanctions, data privacy, competition law, fraud risk management, internal investigations, employee relations, ethics training, communications, enterprise risk management, coaching, and dispute resolution.
• High personal integrity, strong credibility, and the confidence to speak up when needed.
• Excellent analytical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to work collaboratively, present to senior stakeholders, and respond quickly to incidents.

Additional information

Country-to-country relocation support is available under the company’s global mobility policies.

About the business unit

The Sub Saharan Africa business unit covers Southern Africa, West Africa, and the Rest of Africa markets. It includes around 1,000 employees who work on well-known global brands and local favorites. The region has repeatedly earned Top Employer certification and has also been recognized as a Top Employer in Africa.

Equal opportunity statement

The company is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job type

This is a regular full-time position in business integrity and security governance, aligned to the legal function.