ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a People, Risk and Compliance Lead to join us in Malta, in a role shared between our Human Resources and Finance departments. You will take ownership of employment contracts, payroll coordination and control, personnel records and HR compliance risk across our operations in Malta, the UK, UAE, Egypt, Libya, and any future jurisdictions we expand into, while supporting the CFO with corporate, contractual and regulatory compliance across the group. The role is split approximately 60% Human Resources and 40% Finance and corporate compliance, and is supported by the HR team on day-to-day administration.

Reporting primarily to the Chief People and Governance Officer (CPGO) and the CFO, you will work closely with the HR Manager and local advisors in each country to make sure our people are contracted correctly, paid accurately and on time, and that permits, visas and personnel records are always kept current. Ideally coming from a legal background, you will also be the in-house person both departments can bounce ideas off on legal, risk and compliance questions, helping us stay ahead of employment-law and regulatory risk in every jurisdiction we operate in.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Contracts

Draft, issue, manage and file employment contracts and related documentation for staff across all jurisdictions where the Company operates or is planning to establish a presence, ensuring each reflects local labour law and Company policy
Review and update existing contracts and contract templates as required
Stay informed of legislative changes affecting employment contracts and HR practices across all jurisdictions

People Compliance & Risk

Monitor employment-law, immigration, tax and regulatory changes across each jurisdiction, and identify, document and escalate compliance risks with clear, practical recommendations
Maintain a repository of country-specific HR legal requirements and compliance documentation (contracts, addendums, statutory forms) for each jurisdiction

Corporate Risk, Legal & Compliance (Finance and Company-wide)

Act as the in-house first point of reference and sounding board for HR and Finance on legal, risk and compliance questions, identifying when external counsel should be engaged
Carry out a first-line review of commercial and corporate documents (e.g. consultancy, supplier and service-provider agreements, NDAs), flagging risks before signature
Maintain a company-wide risk and compliance register and a calendar of statutory and corporate obligations for each group entity (filings, licences, insurance renewals), following up so deadlines are met
Draft and maintain Company policies and procedures across HR, finance and governance, and coordinate data protection (GDPR) compliance
Support audits, certification (e.g. ISO), KYC/due-diligence requests and the management of disputes or claims, coordinating with external counsel

Payroll Coordination & Control

Coordinate and control the monthly payroll cycle across all jurisdictions, liaising with local payroll providers and authorities as required, and verify together with the CFO as the final control, that statutory deductions, benefits, expenses and payments are accurate and submitted on time
Ensure, with support from the HR team, that all day-to-day inputs needed for accurate, on-time payroll (new hires, terminations, pay adjustments and required documentation) reach payroll before each cut-off
Track key dates across all contracts, following up proactively so each contract is actively managed
Identify and propose ways to streamline and improve the payroll process across jurisdictions

Personal Records & Mobility

Oversee, with support from the HR team, centralised, accurate personnel records for every employee, including employment history, licences, work visas, permits and residence status, keeping the HRIS updated at all times
Ensure relocating employees and their families are supported with related administrative matters where applicable (e.g. family reunification, change of address, schooling arrangements), with the HR team handling the day-to-day administration
Oversee the offboarding process for resignations and terminations, coordinating with IT and other teams for timely account deactivation

Liaison & Reporting

Act as the day-to-day point of contact with external legal, tax and payroll advisors across all locations
Prepare regular HR, payroll, risk and compliance status reports for the HR Manager, CPGO and CFO
Support other HR, payroll, finance, risk and compliance duties as required

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Must-have

5+ years' experience in a legal, risk, compliance or compliance-focused HR role, with proven working knowledge of employment law, employment contracts and payroll fundamentals, ideally spanning more than one jurisdiction
Degree in Law (e.g. LL.B. or equivalent) strongly preferred; alternatively, a degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field combined with substantial hands-on employment-law and compliance experience
Strong understanding of Maltese employment and immigration laws or payroll practice
Demonstrated ability to read, draft and review contracts, and to translate legal and regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance for managers
Experience identifying, assessing and documenting risk, and maintaining compliance registers, policies or controls
Excellent attention to detail and organisational discipline, comfortable managing multiple recurring deadlines across different countries each month
Sound judgement and discretion in handling confidential employee, contract, payroll and financial data
Hands-on experience with an HRIS that includes payroll, and proficiency in MS Office/Excel; prior experience with Indigo would be an advantage
Experience with immigration, relocation, or international assignments/engagements (visas, work permits, cross-border moves)
Solid written and spoken Business English; Arabic is an advantage
Ability to work closely and communicate clearly with both internal managers and external local advisors
Strong negotiation skills: able to hold firm on company processes and standards while bringing stakeholders on board through clear, persuasive communication

Good-to-have

Genuine eagerness to learn and self-direct research into unfamiliar legal/regulatory frameworks
Comfortable working with colleagues and advisors across different time zones and cultures, adapting to local norms and communication styles
Awareness of data protection principles (e.g. GDPR) when handling personal employee data across jurisdictions
Warrant to practise, or a postgraduate qualification in employment, corporate or compliance law
Exposure to corporate or company-secretarial compliance, KYC/due-diligence or audit processes

WHAT WE OFFER

A newly created role with real ownership: you will shape how people, risk and compliance work across the group
Direct exposure to senior leadership, reporting to the CPGO and CFO
International scope across Malta, the UK, the UAE, Egypt and Libya, with new jurisdictions as we grow
Breadth that is rare at this level: employment law, corporate compliance, contracts and governance in one role
Entry at Associate Partner grade in a multidisciplinary consultancy spanning architecture, engineering, interior design and project management

People, Risk and Compliance Specialist

Job Description