Data, Risk and Compliance Officer

The Data, Risk and Compliance Officer will coordinate Muslim Aid’s organisational approach to data protection, risk management, compliance and assurance coordination. The role will provide oversight of key registers, trackers, records, reports and action plans, including the corporate risk register, compliance obligations register, policy review schedule, data protection records, information-rights requests, breach records, audit action trackers and assurance follow-up. The postholder will work directly with the COO, leadership team and functional owners across the organisation to strengthen governance, ensure risks and compliance actions are actively managed, support timely escalation and drive continuous improvement in organisational controls and accountability. The postholder will own coordination, tracking, records, follow-up and administrative support for these areas, while supporting senior colleagues with design, judgement, quality assurance and insight.

About the Role

• Maintain the corporate risk register and ensure risks, controls, actions, owners and deadlines are kept up to date.
• Gather regular updates from functional owners and support teams to articulate and record risks clearly and consistently.
• Maintain the compliance obligations register, policy review schedule and evidence of compliance activity.
• Work with departments to record legal, regulatory, donor, funding agreement, data protection and internal policy requirements.
• Maintain data protection policies, procedures, templates, records of processing activities (ROPAs), data-flow records and information asset registers.
• Prepare regular reports, exception reports, committee updates, action summaries and briefing notes on risk, compliance, data protection, audit actions and overdue matters.

About You

You must currently hold the right to work in the UK. Muslim Aid is not offering sponsorship for this role. This role operates on a hybrid working basis, with a current requirement to work from the office for two/three days per week, and additional days where required to meet organisational needs.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• Law degree, equivalent legal qualification or equivalent experience in legal, compliance or regulatory matters.
• Significant experience in data protection, risk, compliance, governance, assurance or a related area, including responsibility for improving organisational processes and controls.
• Experience managing risk registers, compliance trackers, policy schedules, action logs and organisational records, with responsibility for quality, timeliness and escalation.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, oversee several trackers, manage deadlines and deliver high-quality reports.
• Ability to influence and follow up actions firmly and professionally, make sound judgements, identify issues requiring escalation and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to write clear reports, updates, guidance, action summaries and recommendations for managers, the Leadership Team, committees and the Board.

Why you should Apply

Join Muslim Aid as our Data, Risk & Compliance Officer and play a key role in strengthening our approach to data protection, risk management, compliance and organisational assurance. Working closely with the COO, Leadership Team and colleagues across the organisation, you’ll help ensure key risks, compliance obligations and data protection responsibilities are effectively monitored, managed and addressed. You’ll oversee essential registers, records and action plans, support audit and assurance activity, and help strengthen organisational controls and accountability. If you’re passionate about good governance, effective risk management and using robust processes to drive continuous improvement, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits you will enjoy working for us:

• 25 days annual leave + 4 Privilege days
• Hybrid working – 2/3 days per week in the office
• Paid time off for medical appointments
• 2 hours lunch break on Fridays

Pre-employment Checks: Due to the nature of our work with children and vulnerable communities, Muslim Aid operates rigorous safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) procedures in our recruitment process. We are committed to the prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to SEA, as a result, any employment with Muslim Aid is subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• Satisfactory professional references, including safeguarding-specific enquiries.
• A Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International Criminal Record Check where applicable.
• A review of right-to-work documentation for the country in which the role is based.

We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children and vulnerable people are recruited to work for us. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, or age. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications will be accepted until the closing date, however, Muslim Aid reserves the right to initiate interviews and the selection process on a rolling basis with the aim of identifying an appropriate candidate as quickly as possible.