Advisor, P-5, Temporary Appointment, Office of Internal Audit & Investigations (OIAI), New York #129656

Within the limits of delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of Investigations, the incumbent will support the Deputy Director and the Investigations Section to ensure the smooth running of the office, facilitate communications and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, and advance certain policy and strategic initiatives.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a Chance

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) is an independent office reporting to UNICEF's Executive Director and the Executive Board. The Investigations Section manages and conducts assessments and investigations of allegations of misconduct involving UNlCEF staff and other personnel, including fraud, theft, corruption, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, abuse of authority, workplace harassment, whistleblower retaliation, and other failures to observe prescribed regulations, rules, relevant administrative issuances and standards of conduct.

The Investigations Section has Investigation Units based in Budapest, Nairobi and New York, and a Strategy, Intake and Analysis Unit (SIA) based in New York. SIA has overall responsibility for managing the hotline for reporting allegations and conducting initial assessments of reports of misconduct and wrongdoing. SIA is also responsible for certain policy and strategic initiatives; quality assurance of investigation and other reports; and internal and external reporting of certain investigations-related data.

How can you make a difference? 

Within the limits of delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of Investigations, the incumbent will support the Deputy Director and the Investigations Section to ensure the smooth running of the office, facilitate communications and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, and advance certain policy and strategic initiatives.

Key Accountabilities:

1.    Liaise and facilitate communication, training and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders

• Serve as a focal point for managing communications with and preparing substantive responses to country and regional office management.
• Prepare and/or coordinate and review high-quality written outputs for internal as well as external use (as appropriate), such as country or region-specific portfolio reports and statistical reports of case-related information.
• Lead and contribute to investigations-related presentations and training to other UNICEF offices and divisions and external stakeholders, as appropriate.

2.    Support strategic and policy priorities and initiatives

• Support the Deputy Director, the Strategy, Intake and Analysis Unit and the Section overall by contributing to the development and revision of internal policies, procedures, templates and guidance materials.
• Assist with the advancement of any strategic initiatives and priorities identified and assigned by the Deputy Director (for example, related to responding to donor/partner queries for case-related information, or exploring the use of AI tools in investigations).

3.     Support operational needs of the Section

• Support the Deputy Director in ensuring the smooth functioning of the Section.
• Identify areas where investigations-related processes and procedures can be made more efficient and any gaps that need to be filled.
• Contribute to the identification of training needs for investigators and with the development of training curricula, as appropriate.

4.     Oversee and conduct other investigative-related activities, as appropriate

• Oversee and conduct assessments and investigations, as appropriate
• Prepare and review work products supporting the resolution of matters, including notes for the record, referral correspondence and reports.
• Perform other duties as required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education & Experience:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, criminal investigation, or related field. A first-level degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) with two additional years of relevant work experience (i.e. overseeing administrative investigations and/or providing legal and strategic advice for investigative decision) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in legal activities and/or criminal or administrative/internal investigations is required.
• Experience overseeing administrative investigations is an advantage.
• Experience providing legal and strategic advice for investigative decisions is an asset.
• Experience with an international or multilateral public institution is an advantage.
• Experience with international/cross-border investigation activities is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is considered as an asset.

Skills:

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment to achieve common goals and provide effective support and guidance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. High sense of confidentiality and sound judgment.
• Shows persistence, initiative, flexibility/adaptability, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to apply judgment independently to identify response actions and recommendations and to provide relevant guidance and advice.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment on high-priority cases and to manage competing priorities.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.