Consultant - Prison and Penal Reform

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. It serves as the lead United Nations entity supporting Member States in combating illicit drugs, transnational organized crime, corruption, and terrorism, while also strengthening justice and rule-of-law institutions. UNODC operates through a global network of 54 regional and country offices, including the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean (ROPAN) based in Panama City. The organization has been active in the Caribbean region for over 15 years, providing technical assistance on crime prevention, criminal justice reform, prison management, and social reintegration. UNODC's work is guided by international standards, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) and other relevant guidelines.

Job Overview:
The consultant will be responsible for producing multiple deliverables aimed at developing operational, organizational, and policy instruments necessary for managing a new correctional facility in Sint Maarten. This includes drafting a comprehensive Prison Operations Manual, updating the Function Book, creating an organizational structure, developing two priority Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and implementing a tailored training program for both current and newly recruited corrections staff. The consultant will work closely with prison management, the Ministry of Justice of Sint Maarten, UNODC, UNOPS, and other stakeholders to ensure that all outputs are aligned with local contexts and international standards. The consultancy is expected to take place from January 19 to July 31, 2026, with specific travel dates to Sint Maarten and the Caribbean region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties include drafting a comprehensive Prison Operations Manual that covers all core prison functions, conducting consultations and workshops with prison management and staff, co-developing an organizational structure for the new facility, updating the existing Function Book, and identifying priority areas for Standard Operating Procedures. The consultant will also be responsible for providing training for new recruits and existing staff on core custodial skills, prison safety and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and the practical application of the Operations Manual and SOPs. The consultant will document all activities, consultations, and deliverables in a final assignment report, summarizing the work undertaken and proposing next steps.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminology, law, social sciences, education, training and development, business administration, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in a similar discipline, combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A minimum of 10 years of professional work experience in management responsibilities related to strategic and operational planning in the criminal justice field is required. This includes experience in drafting and implementing operational frameworks, staffing models, and performance systems for prison services or other criminal justice institutions. Professional experience in developing and delivering training programs on prison management and leadership is also required.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminology, law, social sciences, education, training and development, business administration, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in a similar discipline, combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
At least 10 years of professional work experience in management responsibilities in the field of strategic and operational planning, particularly in drafting and implementing operational and competency frameworks, staffing models, and performance systems for prison services or other criminal justice institutions is required. Direct involvement in the development, delivery, and/or evaluation of operational workflows across criminal justice institutions is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English with excellent drafting, presentation, and communication skills is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is considered an advantage. French is also a working language of the United Nations Secretariat, making proficiency in it beneficial.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based with travel to Sint Maarten and the Caribbean region scheduled for specific dates in 202

• The expected duration of the consultancy is from January 19 to July 31, 202
• The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and applicants should be cautious of any requests for bank account information.