Senior Ethics Officer

The Senior Ethics Officer will assist the Director in delivering the mandate of the United Nations Ethics Office, focusing on fostering a culture of ethics, transparency, and accountability across the Organization. The role includes leading the Advisory Services and Financial Disclosure Unit, providing confidential ethics advice, administering the financial disclosure programme, contributing to policy coherence and standard setting, and managing the Office's strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Advisory Services and Financial Disclosure Unit, providing confidential advice and guidance on ethics-related issues.
• Provide policy support and advice on professional ethics standards and issues, including input into the review of ethics-related policies.
• Develop position papers, reports, presentations, and deliver staff briefings on ethics and integrity issues.
• Conduct pre-appointment reviews for conflicts of interest for senior positions and provide advice and recommendations to hiring offices.
• Administer the UN financial disclosure programme and oversee the financial disclosure process and confidential database system.
• Provide guidance on conflict-of-interest detection, mitigation, and management to participants in the financial disclosure programme.
• Oversee the implementation of the Secretary-General’s Voluntary Public Disclosure Initiative and assist with financial disclosure by the President of the General Assembly.
• Manage engagement and contract management with external service providers related to the financial disclosure programme.
• Assist the Director in providing functional leadership to the Ethics Panel of the United Nations and represent the Office at the Ethics Network of Multilateral Organizations if requested.
• Prepare high-level policy advice on professional ethics standards and related issues for review by the Director.
• Assist the Director in conducting policy reviews and updates relevant to the Office's mandate.
• Assist the Director in managing the Office effectively and supervise colleagues in the Unit.
• Contribute to and coordinate drafting reports of the Office for presentation to the General Assembly and other entities.
• Assist the Director in appearing before the General Assembly and other policy-making organs by providing substantive input.
• Ensure consistent provision of services by the UN Ethics Office to other UN entities.
• Help develop and implement the strategic priorities of the Office.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law, organizational ethics, public or business administration with a significant focus on public sector or administrative ethics or other relevant field is required.
• A first-level degree in the specified fields of studies in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in public administration, human resources management, administrative law, ethics, compliance, staff misconduct and investigation, employee relations, risks management, audit functions, anti-corruption programmes or other related areas within a governmental or public sector organization is required.
• A minimum of five years of experience in providing confidential ethics advice is required.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging with senior officials, including preparing and delivering briefings, is required.
• A minimum of five years of experience in administering a financial disclosure programme is desirable.
• Experience in engagement with governance and legislative processes at the international level within the United Nations System or similar international organization is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level II proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• French is desirable at UN Level II proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Skills

• Organizational Ethics
• Public Administration
• Administrative Law
• Ethics Advice
• Compliance Management
• Staff Misconduct Investigation
• Employee Relations
• Risk Management
• Audit Functions
• Anti-Corruption Programmes
• Financial Disclosure Administration
• Confidential Ethics Advice
• Policy Development
• Briefing Material Preparation
• Senior Official Engagement
• Governance Processes
• Legislative Procedures
• Public Sector Ethics Policies
• Human Resources Management

Languages

English, French