Acting Head of Legal & Compliance

Are you an experienced leader ready to take on senior responsibility for legal and compliance matters, where sound judgement, clear prioritisation and timely decision-making are essential? 

As Acting Head of Legal & Compliance, you will lead the Legal & Compliance Division and provide trusted advice to senior management during a maternity cover of approximately 10 months, starting September 2026. The position is based at our Head Office in Oslo, within the Department for Finance and Organisation, reporting to the Director for Finance and Organisation. 

About the role 

The Legal & Compliance Division consists of experienced specialists working within defined legal, compliance and integrity areas, data protection, sanctions compliance, governing frameworks and legal advisory.  As acting head you will lead the division, ensuring continuity, high quality delivery and sound judgement within the division’s mandate. 

The role is highly operational. A significant part of the work involves hands‑on legal assessments and decision support, you will coordinate the division’s work, ensure appropriate escalation and quality assurance, and step in where senior judgement or management decisions are required. 

You will work in a context with multiple parallel cases and competing priorities, where issues often require prompt attention and clear decisions. The role is not intended to drive major new initiatives, but to maintain stability and deliver on agreed priorities in a complex organisational context. 

Who you are 

You are a confident, hands‑on leader who is comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment with multiple ongoing issues, and who can prioritise, decide and follow through. You work systematically and deliver consistent, high‑quality results. 

You communicate clearly, work independently when required, and balance attention to detail with an understanding of the bigger picture. You remain composed under pressure and approach challenges with sound judgement and a solution‑oriented mindset. 

Strong analytical skills and the ability to provide clear, well‑reasoned guidance are essential. 

Key responsibilities 

• Lead and coordinate the Legal & Compliance Division, with line management responsibility for six professionals 
• Advise senior management on complex and sensitive legal and compliance matters 
• Ensure appropriate escalation, documentation and reporting in line with governance and accountability requirements 
• Oversee and actively support complex workstreams within the divisions mandate, including complaints and response handling, safeguarding (SEAH), data protection (GDPR), sanctions compliance and governance frameworks. 
• Coordinate and manage the use of external legal counsel and represent the organisation in relevant external forums 

Qualifications 

• Legal qualification (Master of Law or equivalent) 
• Experience from leadership or senior advisory roles involving judgement‑based decision‑making 
• Solid experience in legal work and defined compliance and integrity areas, such as complaints handling, safeguarding, anti‑corruption, data protection (GDPR) or sanctions compliance, including application of Norwegian law 
• Strong integrity, discretion and leadership skills 
• Ability to exercise independent judgement in complex and sensitive matters 
• Fluency in English; Norwegian language skills are considered an asset 

What we offer 

This role offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen your leadership profile by taking on senior responsibility in a complex organisational context. You will work closely with senior management and gain hands‑on experience in governance, risk management and executive‑level decision support. For the right candidate, this role offers significant professional growth through hands‑on exposure to complex issues and senior‑level decision‑making. You will join a competent and engaged professional environment in Oslo, with autonomy, flexibility and conditions aligned with the level of responsibility. 

Does this sound like you? 

To apply, submit your CV — no cover letter is required. In the application portal, you will answer three questions about your background and relevant experience. This helps ensure that you are the right fit for us – and that we are the right fit for you. 

Before submitting your application, we kindly ask you to read the  ACT Code of Conduct for the prevention of misconduct, including corruption, fraud, exploitation and abuse, including sexual; and to ensure child safeguarding and policy on prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment and Child Safeguarding. All staff are required to sign these policies as a condition of engagement with NCA.  

In accordance with core humanitarian principles, NCA implements a range of safeguards to prevent or reduce the possibility of humanitarian aid falling into the wrong hands. This includes those individuals and groups who are subject to sanctions by the United Nations Security Council. As part of this process, NCA will screen the details of the successful candidates for this post against the sanction’s lists maintained by the UN and by some of NCAs governmental donors.