Legal, Risk & Compliance Manager

About the Agency

The Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) is one of the largest private, not-for-profit, non-denominational educational networks in the Global South. AKES currently operates over 190 pre-primary, primary, secondary and higher secondary schools and more than 100 non-formal education programmes in diverse geographic locations in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates. Most schools offer their respective country's national curricula, with some schools in East Africa and Bangladesh also offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). AKES employs over 6,500 teachers and staff and educates over 104,700 students. More information...

The position

The Legal, Risk & Compliance Officer will be responsible for ensuring that AKS in India operates in full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, governance standards, and internal policies. The role will oversee legal matters, statutory compliance, risk management frameworks, child protection compliance, and regulatory reporting across all schools and associated facilities (including residential and hostel operations).

This position will work closely with the CFO, senior leadership, school principals, HR, and external legal advisors.

Legal & Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with:

• Companies Act, 2013 (Section 8 Companies)

• Income Tax Act (including 12A, 80G compliance)

• FCRA (if applicable)

• State Education Department regulations

• Labour laws (PF, ESI, gratuity, POSH, etc.)

• Child Protection & POCSO Act (as applicable)

• Hostel & residential school regulations

• State-specific Shops & Establishments Act (where applicable)

• Maintain statutory registers and filings in coordination with Company Secretary (if applicable).

• Liaise with regulators, auditors, legal counsel, and government authorities.

• Monitor changes in applicable laws and advise management on implications.

Risk Management:

• Develop and implement an organization-wide Risk Management Framework.

• Conduct periodic risk assessments across:

• Academic operations

• Residential/hostel operations

• Safeguarding & child protection

• Financial & donor compliance

• Reputational risk

• Maintain a Risk Register and present periodic updates to CFO and Board.

• Recommend mitigation strategies and internal controls.

Policy Development & Governance:

• Review and update policies including:

• Child Protection Policy

• Safeguarding & POCSO Policy

• POSH Policy

• Whistleblower Policy

• Code of Conduct

• Conflict of Interest Policy

• Vendor/Procurement Compliance

• Support Board governance processes.

• Ensure proper documentation of contracts, MoUs, leases, vendor agreements, and partnership agreements.

Contract Management:

• Draft and vet:

• Employment contracts

• Vendor agreements

• Service contracts

• Lease agreements

• MoUs with partners/donors

• Maintain contract repository and renewal tracker.

• Coordinate litigation matters, if any, with external counsel.

Safeguarding & Child Protection Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with POCSO Act and related child protection laws.
• Oversee mandatory reporting protocols.
• Support training initiatives for staff on child safety and compliance.
• Ensure hostel and residential school compliance standards are maintained.

Internal Controls & Audit Support:

• Work with Finance and Internal Audit teams to strengthen internal controls.
• Ensure compliance observations are addressed in a timely manner.
• Support statutory, internal, and donor audits.

Training & Awareness:

• Conduct periodic compliance awareness sessions for:

• School Principals

• Administrative staff

• Hostel wardens

• HR teams

• Build a compliance-oriented culture across campuses.