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Job Title: Global Audit Assurance Senior Manager
Reports To: Director of Ethical Trade and Environmental Sustainability - Operations
Team: Ethical Trade & Environmental Sustainability – Operations
Location: Reading or Dublin
Job-Type: Full time

Purpose of the Role:

• To protect the reputation of the brand for the longer term, through ensuring integrity of the global programme
• Owns the global quality control of the audits conducted by in-house teams and 3rd party contractors as well as other audit tools/platforms e.g., Better Work under ILO
• To drive global alignment for Primark’s social monitoring team standards and integrity
• Focused on training, developing and quality assurance for Primark’s internal auditors and 3rd party contractors including managing the 3rd party audit companies’ contracts
• Creates and develops global auditing requirements, templates, SOPs, KPIs and behavioural standard for all auditors
• Ensuring systems chosen and used is fit for purpose for analysis and reporting
• Overseeing and managing the external assurance required by ABF and conducted by appointed assurance partner
• Bring in and implement best practices and continuous improvement / requirements from the industry and legislations

Scope:
All Primark operations, products and services

Implements the ET/ES Programme ensuring rigour and integrity. This includes:

• Ensuring audit programme integrity and reviewing, setting and implementation of global audit SOPs.
• Input into global ethical trade policies and implementation.
• Working closely with product team on any data analysis required.
• Ensuring availability and timeliness of reporting on relevant KPIs to external stakeholders e.g. ETI and ACT.
• Investigation on any non-compliances
• Licencing requirements

Key Internal Contacts:

• Works as one team with Primark.
• Frequent contact with the Regional, Central Support and Technology & Systems teams within ETES Operations.
• Regular contact with commercial teams in relation to audit content queries.
• Regular contact with various Heads of within the wider ETES team reporting to ABF CR Director
• Regular contact with the B&M, Central Merchandising and New Business Development functions to define new and/or expansion of audit scope.

Key Responsibilities:

• Builds an annual review/refresher program for all Primark internal and external auditors
• Understand the requirements for due diligence as it evolves and incorporating these requirements into the audit scope
• Ensure effective worker interviews, continuous improvement and understanding of risks in relevant region/supply chain level and prevalence of vulnerable workers within the supply chain
• Creates a global team of super auditors and report reviewers, who implement KPIs on a day to day basis
• Quarterly visits/ reviews with each regional lead on performance of auditors and report reviewers- creating a feedback loop within regions and Central Support and Technology & Systems
• Plan and implement shadow global audits to provide feedback and training, as well as maintaining the standard
• Develops and implements a global behavioural standard for all Primark auditors
• Works with Central Support/Regions and ABF ABC to ensure all auditors go through mandatory training e.g., on ABC and auditor accreditation
• Works closely with GDPR lead to ensure auditors do the correct housekeeping and are compliant with data protection legislations
• Plan and scope resource requirements to increase due diligence scope for the business in different areas e.g., Goods not for Resale / Concessionaries, etc.

Requirements and Behavioural Competencies:
Requirements:

• Experienced and qualified senior auditor with extensive management experience across several geographies and facility types
• In depth knowledge of designing and implement training programme for auditors
• Breadth of knowledge on different due diligence approaches, not just limiting to audits
• Understanding of codes of conducts and how to relate different audit approaches with each section
• Gives clear and understandable feedback, whilst being aware of cultural sensitivities
• Can demonstrate the ability to attract, develop, engage and retain talent to build organisational capability
• Builds and develops high performing teams
• Supply chain experience in developing countries is required, along with significant CR experience
• Is tenacious and focused on execution of actions to meet business goals, follows through on own commitments and energises others
• Experience of operating in a successful profit focussed business

Behavioural Competence:

• High level of interpersonal skills enabling understanding of the operating styles of main contacts, to modify personal style to influence and build positive relationships.
• Compelling communication which inspires positive action.
• Comfortable with and sensitive to cultural diversity.
• Optimises work processes, relentlessly delivering the most effective and efficient processes to get things done with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Leading and managing issues within supply chains which are complex and unprecedented.
• Manages complexity and navigates ambiguity.
• Prioritises work and copes under pressure.
• Strong and rigorous attention to detail.
• Self-starter with tenacity and resilience.
• Shows discretion and able to manage sensitive data in an ethical and confidential manner.
• Operates with unquestionable integrity.
• Understands and can demonstrate the need for strong governance and KPIs
• Appreciates, anticipates and manages the trade-offs involved in the ethical trade programme of a global retailer
• Team player, mentor, presents a model for others to follow