Chief Compliance Officer

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I Partner with organisations to recruit top Legal and Compliance talent across Germany | Director

Head of Global Compliance & Ethics (London or Germany – 50% Travel to Germany)

Location: London, United Kingdom

Travel Requirement: Up to 50% travel to Germany

Reports to: Chief Legal Officer / General Counsel / Executive Board

Direct Reports: Regional Compliance Leads, Investigations Team, Ethics & Integrity Program Managers

Role Overview

The Head of Global Compliance & Ethics leads the design, implementation, and continuous enhancement of the organisation’s global compliance and ethics framework. Based in London with significant travel to Germany, this leader will drive a strong culture of integrity, oversee ethics programme design, and ensure the development of effective compliance systems across all regions.

The successful candidate will be a strategic business partner who can navigate complex regulatory environments in Europe and globally while delivering a consistently high-quality Compliance & Ethics programme.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a global Compliance & Ethics strategy fully aligned with business objectives and values.
• Advise senior leadership and the Board on emerging compliance risks and regulatory developments.
• Lead enterprise-wide compliance and cultural transformation initiatives.

Ethics Programme Design & Implementation (Must-Have)

• Design, implement, and continuously improve a global Ethics & Integrity Programme, ensuring that ethical conduct is embedded into organisational culture, decision‑making processes, and leadership behaviour.
• Develop and roll out global ethics communications, behavioural frameworks, and integrity‑led leadership initiatives.
• Oversee global policies, procedures, and controls across key risk areas including:
• Anti‑bribery & corruption (ABAC)
• Competition/antitrust
• Trade compliance
• Conflicts of interest
• Whistleblowing and speak‑up systems
• Ensure the programme meets both global consistency and local German regulatory requirements.

Training & Culture

• Build and deliver global training frameworks, including targeted ethics and compliance training for high‑risk functions.
• Champion a speak‑up culture and promote ethical leadership throughout the organisation.

Monitoring, Audits & Investigations

• Oversee internal investigations, ensuring independence, rigour, and confidentiality.
• Lead global compliance audits, monitoring activities, and risk assessments.
• Ensure timely implementation of remediation actions.
• Perform global compliance risk assessments and implement risk‑based controls.
• Provide regular reporting on compliance and ethics risks, trends, and programme maturity to senior leadership and the Board.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnering

• Build strong relationships with leadership teams in Germany and across global business units.
• Partner closely with Legal, Internal Audit, HR, Finance, and operational leaders to ensure compliance is integrated into business processes.
• Engage with regulators and external specialists as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Law degree, compliance certification (CCEP, CCEP‑I), or equivalent.
• 10–15+ years of experience in compliance, ethics, legal, audit, or risk roles within multinational organisations.
• Must have industrial experience; pharmaceuticals and banking is not desired.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing an Ethics Programme is essential.
• Strong understanding of European and international compliance frameworks including FCPA, UK Bribery Act, GDPR, antitrust and trade regulations.
• Experience managing internal investigations and interacting with regulatory authorities.
• Experience working closely with stakeholders in Germany is highly desirable.
• Able to travel 50% to Germany as part of the role.