Senior Ethics Officer, P5

The Senior Ethics Officer leads the Protection against Retaliation and Outreach Unit within the United Nations Ethics Office. The role involves conducting reviews of retaliation allegations, contributing to policy coherence and standard setting, developing ethics training and outreach strategies, advising on procurement ethics, and assisting in managing the Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Protection against Retaliation (PaR) and Outreach Unit, including conducting preliminary reviews of PaR requests, drafting prima facie case findings, reviewing investigation reports, and proposing retaliation prevention actions.
• Conduct secondary reviews requested by personnel of entities that are members of the Ethics Panel of the United Nations (EPUN).
• Formulate management recommendations and potential protections for review and approval by the Director.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to update and interpret the legislative and governance framework of the Ethics Office.
• Develop the Office's strategy for the prevention and protection of staff against retaliation.
• Prepare ad-hoc reports, position notes, and presentations on issues relating to protection against retaliation and accountability.
• Assist the Director in providing functional leadership to EPUN and represent the Office at the Ethics Network of Multilateral Organizations if requested.
• Prepare high-level policy advice and assist in conducting policy reviews and updates relevant to the Office's mandate.
• Develop ethics training content, public communication, and outreach strategy, including website materials and online communications.
• Design ethics training and information packages and coordinate the annual Secretariat-wide Leadership Dialogue series.
• Lead engagement with external entities in training and outreach activities.
• Act as liaison between the Office and the Procurement Division, review credentials of independent experts retained by sanctioned vendors, and provide advice on procurement ethics queries.
• Assist the Director in managing the Office, supervise colleagues in the Unit, and act as the Unit quality assurer.
• Coordinate drafting of reports for presentation to the General Assembly and other entities.
• Assist the Director in appearing before 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 organisation is required.
• A minimum of five years of experience in implementing whistle blower protections is required.
• 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

• Employee Relations
• Risk Management
• Audit Functions
• Anti-Corruption Programmes
• Whistle Blower Protections
• Governance Engagement
• Legislative Procedures
• Policy Development
• Ethics and Integrity Training
• Outreach Strategies
• Procurement Ethics
• Retaliation Allegation Review
• Organizational Ethics
• Public Sector Ethics
• Administrative Law
• Human Resources Management
• Staff Misconduct Investigation

Languages

English, French