🇬🇧 Compliance Due Diligence Intern ⚖️ Mercy Corps Internship in Edinburgh, United Kingdom 📋 (£13.45/hour)

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in over 30 countries around the world, Mercy Corps partners to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. The breadth and impact of its programmes make Mercy Corps a unique and truly rewarding place to work; its teams are proud of what they achieve in the field, and the organization is always looking for talented individuals who share its passion and commitment. This internship sits within the Ethics, Compliance and Safeguarding area and is based in the Edinburgh office.

About the Compliance Team

The Compliance, Governance and Risk department ensures that Mercy Corps fulfils its responsibility to donors, partners and other stakeholders, and is in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The award compliance team is spread across multiple locations globally. This internship is based out of the Edinburgh office to align with direct supervision from a team member and additional mentorship from the team based in Edinburgh.

Internship Description

This internship offers a unique opportunity to support the Compliance Department in strengthening and streamlining donor due diligence processes across the organisation, providing the intern with insight into policies, processes and approaches across various departments. Many funders undertake due diligence on Mercy Corps prior to or as a condition of funding, and Mercy Corps maintains suites of information to support these requests across various departments. The intern will lead the consolidation, review and update of standard due diligence responses, develop a donor due diligence Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), assess opportunities for AI-enabled automation, and support compliance-related updates associated with organizational rebranding and change initiatives. In addition, the intern will provide ideas to design a centralised repository for completed due diligence exercises, helping improve efficiency, consistency, knowledge management, and stakeholder responsiveness. The role will involve engaging with other teams across Mercy Corps departments (Award Management, Finance, Technical, Ethics, and others) throughout the internship, and will have the opportunity to join meetings (primarily calls) with colleagues across various departments and countries.

🗺️ Also based in the United Kingdom and worth a look: Business Assistant Internship at a music, media and digital company in 🇬🇧 the United Kingdom → https://youthworkshub.org/21051

Learning Objectives

🧭 Understand Mercy Corps' approach to compliance, particularly with regard to donors and the funding environment, and how teams collaborate across departments

🌍 Gain an understanding of how a compliance team works in a global humanitarian and development organisation

🔍 Develop document review, research and potentially automation skills

💶 Be exposed to grants and funding requirements, as well as projects, in a not-for-profit and humanitarian setting

🗂️ Build communication, planning and organisational skills

🤝 Gain experience in a multicultural work environment, coordinating and communicating with a global team across different time zones and geographies, many of whom operate in complex, challenging environments

Deliverables

📑 Consolidate current standard due diligence responses and recent due diligence exercises

🔄 Update the suite of standard due diligence responses, including reviewing the current package and coordinating with relevant functions to get updated responses

📋 Develop an SOP for the donor due diligence process

⚙️ Scope opportunities for automation or tools which can support a more efficient process

🏷️ Potentially deliverables in relation to rebrand-related activities for due diligence responses and/or for ongoing organisational due diligence exercises

🗄️ Develop a repository for completed due diligence exercises

🔎 Another business and operations internship worth exploring: Digital Marketing and Administrative Support Internship in 🇩🇪 Germany → https://youthworkshub.org/19826

The Ideal Candidate

Mercy Corps is looking for someone who is excited by its vision and mission and the opportunity to help deliver on a current organisational initiative. The ideal candidate is a highly organised and analytical student or recent graduate with an interest in compliance, governance and/or process improvement, possessing strong research, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, work independently, and explore innovative solutions such as AI-enabled process automation. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

🎓 A university degree in progress or recently completed, ideally in Law, business or a related subject

📄 Some experience working with policies and procedures and/or contracts would be beneficial

🗣️ Fluent in English, with excellent writing skills in English

🔍 Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members

⚡ Strong multi-tasking, organisational and prioritisation skills

💬 Excellent communication skills

💻 Highly developed computer skills and strong familiarity with Microsoft Office; experience with technology solutions/automation tools would be a plus

🌐 Demonstrated sensitivity to people and cultures globally

The Details

🗓️ Duration: 2 to 3 months, starting as soon as possible (depending on availability and hours per week, to be agreed)

🕘 Hours: flexible, a minimum of 20 hours, up to 4 days per week

💶 Funding: GBP £13.45 per hour (for UK, excluding London), in line with the Real Living Wage; the intern remains responsible for all costs associated with accommodation, travel and living expenses

📍 Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom

🤝 Support: for the duration of the internship, the intern will receive training and supervisory support, access to Mercy Corps online tools and learning courses, all other tools, materials and communication requirements for the project, and space for professional development and own initiative

How to Apply

Candidates interested in this internship should submit a CV and a short statement of interest (no more than one page) prior to the closing date. In the statement, you are encouraged to discuss any experiences relevant to the role, and you may wish to describe your career interests (specifically as they relate to humanitarian and/or development) and discuss your previous work and educational experiences demonstrating these interests. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview with two team members, which will include a range of experience, competency and motivation questions. All applicants should be able to demonstrate the ability to work in the UK by the start date of the internship.