Ethics Officer

Posting Title: Ethics Officer, P3

Job Code Title: Ethics Officer

Organization: United Nations Ethics Office

Duty Station: New York, United States of America

Posting Period: 16 June 2023 - 30 July 2023

Job Opening Number: 23-Ethics-ETHICS OFF-209804-R-New York (G)

Staffing Exercise: N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Ethics Office was established by the Secretary-General as an independent Secretariat unit subsequent to the approval of the General Assembly at the 2005 World Summit (see Assembly resolution 60/1, para. 161 (d)). Having commenced operations on 3 January 2006, and in accordance with Secretary-General's bulletins ST/SGB/2005/22 and ST/SGB/2007/11, the United Nations Ethics Office's functions include: (a) Providing confidential advice and guidance to staff on ethical issues, including administering an ethics helpline; (b) Administering the Organization's financial disclosure programme; (c) Administering the Organization's protection against retaliation policy; (d) Developing standards, training and education on ethics issues, in coordination with the Office of Human Resources Management and other offices, and conducting ethics outreach; (e) Supporting ethics standard-setting and promoting policy coherence within the Secretariat and among the Organization's funds and programmes.

The position is located in the United Nations Ethics Office and the Ethics Officer will report to the Director through the Senior Ethics Officer.

Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Director and direct supervision of the Senior Ethics Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Implementation of the UN’s policy on Protection against Retaliation for Reporting Misconduct and Cooperating with duly authorized Audits or Investigations (PaR policy):
a. Advises UN staff on the UN's PaR policy and internal UN grievance mechanisms;
b. Conducts preliminary review of UN staff PaR requests - including speaking with complainants and other relevant staff and examining submitted documents - and prepare prima facie case findings;
c. Assist the Senior Ethics Officer in conducting reviews of determinations by other ethics offices in the Ethics Panel of the United Nations (EPUN);
d. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in developing management recommendations, after consultations with complainants, where appropriate;
e. Engages with UN's internal justice system bodies on retaliation cases, upon request;
f. Reviews retaliation investigation reports to assist in making determinations on whether retaliation occurred as alleged;
g. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in formulating recommendations when there is a finding of retaliation, consulting on potential remedies and the resolution process;
h. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in employing creative solutions to prevent retaliation and contributes to reducing instances of formal complaints;
i. Maintains strict confidentiality in communications with complainants and assists in management of relevant files and information.

2. Provision of ethics advice:
a. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in providing timely and confidential ethics advice to offices;
b. Provides guidance and advice to staff members on conflicts of interest matters as needed;
c. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in monitoring and responding to requests made to the ethics helpline, identifying trends and analyzing root causes of ethical dilemmas for staff, as needed;
d. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in management of relevant confidential files and information;
e. Conducts complex research on organizational, managerial and/or legal matters, consulting and liaising with relevant offices as required.

3. Implementation of Ethics Training and Outreach Activities:
a. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in developing engagement strategies and outreach materials for the Ethics Office;
b. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in developing ethics training materials and activities;
c. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in developing and improving public communications material on the Office through its website and other online communications;
d. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in fostering coherence of the ethics function within the UN system, in working towards a common ethics framework and policies within the Ethics Network of Multilateral Organizations (ENMO) and, upon request, the Ethics Panel of the United Nations (EPUN).

4. Administration of the UN's Financial Disclosure Programme (FDP):
a. Upon request, contributes to implementing the financial disclosure policy and developing position apers on FDP and related issues;
b. Assists the Senior Ethics Officer in providing guidance to staff members and the external reviewers on the provisions and application of the Financial Disclosure Policy and all matters related to FDP.

5. Performs other duties and tasks upon request and as directed by the Senior Ethics Officer and/or the Director of the UN Ethics Office.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to conduct independent reviews of complaints against applicable administrative policies and practices to reach a determination; Ability to understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality and handling evidentiary documents; Knowledge of internal justice systems and administrative adjudication processes in intergovernmental organizations. Research, analytical and problem-solving skills, in particular, on ethics-related issues at organizational and individual levels; Knowledge of public sector or business ethics and anti-corruption issues, policies and practices; Ability to assess and evaluate corporate compliance programmes for content and effectiveness; Knowledge of best practices in ethics training and outreach programmes.

Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations; Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be clients and seeks to understand clients’ point of view and concerns; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law, public administration, human resources management, investigations, or related areas. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the areas of law, corporate compliance, organizational ethics, staff misconduct and investigation, employee relations or other related fields in a governmental or public sector organization is required.

Experience in implementing whistle blower protection systems is desirable.

Experience conducting research and analysis of complex legal issues and interpreting conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, privileges and entitlements under the relevant Staff Regulations and Rules in a large international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. All staff of the Ethics Office are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon appointment and annually thereafter.

Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

United Nations Considerations

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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