Vice President - Global Head of Compliance

Wood Mackenzie is seeking a V.P. Global Head of Compliance to join our Global Legal, Compliance and Safety, Security & Resilience (LCG) team. This broad role is responsible for leadership, compliance oversight, framework, ensuring the organization meets its regulatory, legal and ethical obligations across all jurisdictions. It provides strategic leadership on regulatory and non-regulatory compliance, enterprise governance, risk management, inclusive global sanctions, anti‑bribery & anti‑corruption, data privacy, export control, policy management, compliance audit & investigation, training management, whistleblower, and ethics, while embedding a strong pragmatic compliance culture across the business.

Main Responsibilities

• Own and lead the global compliance programme covering regulatory & non-regulatory compliance, sanctions, ABAC, data privacy, ethics, export control, third‑party risk.
• Establish the compliance function as a proactive, trusted partner to the business.
• Maturity and maintenance of the Enterprise Strategic and Operational Risk Management Framework, aligned to the Three Lines of Defence model.
• Planning, designing and delivering risk‑based compliance activities through efficient allocation and management of resources.
• Oversee and lead compliance with jurisdiction‑specific regulatory requirements across targeted locations in which the organisation operates.
• Oversee and ensure end‑to‑end compliance with regulatory requirements across jurisdictions, including filings, licence management, monitoring regulatory developments, establishing compliance tracking processes, and coordinating engagement with regulators, audits, and inspections.
• Experience leading and inspiring a small team of compliance including data privacy and physical safety, security & resilience professionals, building capability and succession, fostering personal accountability for development, and positioning the function as a trusted and valued advisor delivering commercially aware and timely compliance outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong internal and external relationships to support the effective development and delivery of high‑quality, timely compliance monitoring activities, including robust prioritisation of workloads.
• Promote a culture of integrity, transparency and knowledge sharing within the department and across the wider organisation.
• Taking a proactive and risk‑based lead in the maintenance of corporate policies & procedures, training, whistleblower and other routine programmes that are practical, scalable and embedded into business processes.
• Leading complex Customs, AML, Fraud specific risk review and provide constructive commercially viable advice to the stakeholders.
• Lead the implementation and ongoing enhancement of an integrated GRC framework, including Audit, Privacy, Risk Management modules.
• Drive continuous improvement by leveraging data‑driven insights, incorporating lessons learned, and responding proactively to evolving regulatory developments.
• Provide critical advisory services to key stakeholders to ensure the compliant delivery of new and existing corporate initiatives, strategies, products, systems and processes.
• Lead or oversee sensitive or high‑profile ethics & compliance investigations, ensuring appropriate escalation, remediation and governance.
• Undertake ad‑hoc independent reviews at the request of senior management and the Global Leadership Team.

About you and how you can excel in the role

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (e.g. LLB, LLM) in a related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant senior level experience leading a small / medium size team.
• Firm expertise in regulatory and non-regulatory risk or governance within a complex, international privately held organisation.
• Proven experience in implementing and maturity of enterprise GRC frameworks, including policies, controls, monitoring and assurance.
• Demonstrated strong leadership capabilities, including the ability to inspire and develop high‑performing teams, influence senior stakeholders, drive organisational change, and embed a culture of accountability, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Solid understanding of global sanctions regimes, Anti‑Bribery and Anti‑Corruption (ABAC) regulations (e.g., FCPA, UK Bribery Act), Data Privacy and other applicable regulations.
• Experience leveraging AI‑driven solutions and emerging technologies to enhance and mature compliance processes, including automation, monitoring, and risk analytics, reducing manual intervention, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening overall effectiveness.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including proficiency with online search tools.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to explain conclusions clearly to colleagues at all levels.
• Self‑motivated, proactive, pragmatic, and detail‑oriented mindset.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer. This means we are committed to recruiting the best people regardless of their race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. You can find out more about your rights under the law at www.eeoc.gov. If you are applying for a role and have a physical or mental disability, we will support you with your application or through the hiring process.