Senior Ethics Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Ethics Office was established as an independent entity within the United Nations Secretariat following the approval of the General Assembly at the 2005 World Summit. It commenced operations on January 3, 2006, and operates under the Secretary-General's bulletins ST/SGB/2005/22 and ST/SGB/2007/1

• The mission of the Ethics Office includes providing confidential advice and guidance on ethical issues, administering the financial disclosure program, protecting against retaliation, developing standards and training on ethics, and promoting policy coherence within the UN Secretariat and its various programs. The office aims to foster a culture of ethics, transparency, and accountability across the organization, ensuring that ethical standards are upheld in all operations and interactions.

Job Overview:
The Senior Ethics Officer will play a crucial role in the United Nations Ethics Office, reporting directly to the Director. This position involves leading the Advisory Services and Financial Disclosure Unit, providing confidential advice and guidance on ethics-related issues, and overseeing the financial disclosure process. The officer will also be responsible for managing the Protection against Retaliation and Outreach Unit, conducting preliminary reviews of retaliation requests, and formulating management recommendations. Additionally, the Senior Ethics Officer will contribute to policy coherence and standard setting, develop training and outreach strategies, and engage with external entities to promote ethical practices. The role requires a proactive approach to managing the office and ensuring the consistent provision of services to other UN entities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the Advisory Services and Financial Disclosure Unit, providing confidential advice on ethics-related issues, policy support, and overseeing the financial disclosure program.
• Conduct pre-appointment reviews for conflicts of interest and manage the engagement with external service providers.
• Lead the Protection against Retaliation and Outreach Unit, conducting reviews of retaliation requests and collaborating with stakeholders to update the legislative framework.
• Contribute to policy coherence and standard setting, preparing high-level policy advice and assisting in policy reviews.
• Develop training and outreach materials, coordinate the annual Leadership Dialogue series, and engage with external entities for training activities.
• Act as a liaison for procurement ethics, reviewing credentials of independent experts and providing advice on procurement ethics queries.
• Assist the Director in managing the office, supervising colleagues, and contributing to the drafting of reports for the General Assembly.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess proven analytical and evaluative capabilities, excellent knowledge of legal and administrative approaches to managing conflicts of interest, and the ability to provide guidance to senior managers. The role requires a strong understanding of ethics issues within an intergovernmental setting, demonstrated leadership experience, and the ability to inspire others. Candidates should also exhibit professionalism, effective communication skills, teamwork, and leadership qualities.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, organizational ethics, public or business administration with a focus on public sector ethics, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in public administration, human resources management, administrative law, ethics, compliance, and related areas within a governmental or public sector organization is required. Additionally, candidates must have at least five years of experience in providing confidential ethics advice and administering a financial disclosure program, as well as five years of experience in implementing whistleblower protections. Experience in governance and legislative processes at the international level is desirable.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is desirable, also requiring a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II.

Additional Notes:
The appointment is for an initial period of one year, subject to availability of the post or funds. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process will not involve any fees, and reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities upon request. Candidates under serious consideration will undergo reference checks to verify their qualifications.