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 is a broad role that is responsible for leadership, providing compliance oversight, framework, ensuring the organisation meets its regulatory, legal and ethical obligations across all jurisdictions in which it operates and advisory support across Wood Mackenzie’s global business activities, resources and employees.   

This role provides strategic leadership on regulatory and non-regulatory compliance, enterprise governance, risk management, global sanctions, anti‑bribery & anti-corruption (AB&AC), data privacy, export control, Policy management, Compliance audit & investigation, training management, whistleblower, and ethics, while embedding a strong, pragmatic compliance culture across the business. The role will also lead the design, implementation and maturity of an integrated Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) framework, aligned to Wood Mackenzie’s risk profile, strategy and values. 

As a senior leader, the role will partner closely with the Executive Team, senior business leaders and functional heads, balancing compliance risk management with commercial and operational objectives. 

Main Responsibilities 

• Own and lead the global compliance programme covering regulatory & non-regulatory compliance, sanctions, AB&AC, 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 the effective and efficient allocation and management of resource. 

• Oversee and lead compliance with jurisdictional-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 programme 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 highprofile 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. 

• Demonstrable experience with risk management frameworks, and governance 

• A pragmatic and proportionate approach to compliance and risk management 

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders 

• Excellent understanding of the 3 Lines of Defence model and how it should be deployed 

About you and how you can excel in the role 

You will have: 

• 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 (AB&AC) 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.