Compliance Officer

Location: Umhlanga, South Africa On site 5 days a week
Company: Darwin Recruitment

About Darwin Recruitment

Darwin Recruitment is an international specialist recruitment business with over 25 years of success connecting exceptional talent with leading organisations across highly technical markets. Headquartered in Billericay, Essex (UK), we employ over 120 professionals across our offices in the UK, the Netherlands and South Africa.

We specialise in delivering recruitment solutions across engineering, technology, renewable energy and other specialist sectors, supporting contractors and clients on projects throughout Europe and internationally.

As our contractor workforce continues to grow, we are looking for an organised, detail-oriented Compliance Officer to join our Umhlanga office and play a vital role in ensuring our contractors are fully compliant before, during and throughout their assignments.

The Role

The Compliance Officer will be responsible for managing the end-to-end contractor compliance process, ensuring all workers meet client, legal and regulatory requirements before commencing projects.

This role requires someone who is highly organised, proactive and comfortable managing multiple contractors across different countries and client requirements. You will work closely with our recruitment consultants, contractors and clients to ensure a smooth mobilisation process and ongoing compliance throughout each assignment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full contractor compliance process from placement through to project completion.
• Collect, review and approve all compliance documentation prior to contractor start dates.
• Obtain and verify right to work documentation relevant to the country of assignment.
• Gather and validate certifications, licences, qualifications and competency records.
• Conduct employment reference checks and maintain accurate records.
• Liaise with contractors to obtain outstanding documentation and ensure deadlines are met.
• Coordinate pre-start compliance checks in accordance with client and legal requirements.
• Arrange refresher training and certification renewals where required.
• Monitor certification expiry dates and proactively manage renewals.
• Carry out regular contractor check-in calls during assignments to ensure continued compliance and contractor wellbeing.
• Maintain accurate compliance records within internal systems.
• Support mobilisation activities for international contractors.
• Assist with visa and work permit documentation where required.
• Ensure compliance processes align with internal standards, client expectations and relevant legislation.
• Work collaboratively with recruitment consultants and management to ensure contractors are project-ready within required timescales.

Skills & Experience

We’re looking for someone who has previous compliance experience within a recruitment agency environment, ideally supporting contract or temporary workers.

Experience in one or more of the following sectors would be highly advantageous:

• Engineering
• Construction
• Blue Collar Recruitment
• Renewable Energy
• International Workforce Recruitment
• Healthcare

We would particularly like to hear from candidates with experience in:

• Contractor mobilisation
• International compliance
• Visa and work permit administration
• Right to Work verification across multiple countries
• Contractor onboarding
• Compliance auditing
• Certification and training management

About You

You will be:

• Exceptionally organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Confident communicating with contractors, clients and internal stakeholders.
• Proactive and solution-focused.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced recruitment environment.
• Experienced in handling confidential documentation.
• Highly competent using Microsoft Office and CRM/ATS systems.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working with international contractors.
• Knowledge of compliance requirements across European markets.
• Experience supporting engineering or renewable energy projects.
• Familiarity with mobilisation processes for overseas assignments.
• Experience working with contractor management or compliance platforms.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to join a well-established international recruitment business with over 25 years of success.
• A collaborative and supportive team environment.
• Career development opportunities within a growing global organisation.
• Exposure to international projects and clients.
• Modern offices based in Umhlanga.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

If you thrive on organisation, enjoy working with people and have a passion for ensuring the highest compliance standards, we’d love to hear from you.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Danny Arnold