Lead - Ethics & Compliance

About EWEC

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) serves as the exclusive procurer and supplier of water and electricity within Abu Dhabi Emirate. EWEC is responsible for planning, forecasting, purchasing, and managing system dispatch to balance bulk supply and demand for distribution companies and entities in Abu Dhabi and other Emirates. Supporting government objectives, EWEC promotes cost reduction, security of supply, and a cleaner, integrated power system. It aligns with multiple UAE strategic initiatives including the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035, UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, UAE Energy Strategy 2050, and UAE Net Zero by 2050. EWEC is part of ADQ, a major holding company with diverse investments in Abu Dhabi’s economy.

Role Summary

The Ethics & Compliance Lead will design and implement ethics and compliance strategies, programs, and frameworks adhering to current and upcoming laws, regulations, and ADQ compliance standards. Reporting to the Head of Ethics and Compliance, the role involves managing business-as-usual activities and specific initiatives. Core focus is on overseeing the ethics and compliance program, policy frameworks, data privacy, disclosures, and incident management. Additionally, this position drives awareness and ethical culture through training, ensuring organizational compliance.

Key Duties

• Develop and maintain policies addressing Code of Conduct, anti-corruption, bribery, conflicts of interest, gifts, hospitality, and entertainment, ensuring regulatory and industry alignment.
• Manage employee disclosure processes including conflicts of interest and Board disclosures; assess disclosure risks and maintain thorough records.
• Implement compliance monitoring mechanisms such as audits and reporting procedures to identify and address Code of Conduct violations.
• Support adherence to ADQ’s minimum compliance standards and handle related engagements.
• Lead and coordinate confidential, prompt investigations into compliance breaches; analyze evidence, document findings, and recommend preventative measures.
• Communicate investigation outcomes to senior executives and oversee corrective action plans through to resolution.
• Maintain and monitor whistleblowing (Speak-Up) channels and manage comprehensive incident documentation and reporting to management and regulators.
• Conduct root cause analyses to determine underlying issues and implement effective corrective action plans.
• Maintain compliance registers and keep them updated per evolving legal and policy requirements.
• Perform compliance risk assessments jointly with business units and monitor mitigation strategies’ effectiveness.
• Regularly track organizational compliance with internal policies and external regulations and drive corrective efforts when needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in compliance, law, finance or related field.
• Preferred advanced degrees or certifications such as Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP), Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), or Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).
• At least 7 years of combined experience in ethics and compliance roles within large or mature global organizations.
• Strong knowledge of both regional and international regulatory frameworks and compliance best practices.
• Experience in the energy or utilities sector is advantageous.