Ethics Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization combines the resources and mandates of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM, to create a more significant impact on gender issues. UN Women operates globally, focusing on eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The organization is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring mutual respect among its personnel, and operates in multiple countries worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Ethics Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting UN Women's mission by ensuring that personnel adhere to the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior. Reporting directly to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Executive Director, the Ethics Specialist collaborates with the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff to promote a culture of ethics, transparency, accountability, and mutual respect within the organization. This position is responsible for implementing the UN Women Ethics function independently, providing advice and guidance to management and personnel, and developing training programs to enhance ethical awareness. The Ethics Specialist also manages the Financial Disclosure program and the policy on Protection from Retaliation, ensuring that personnel are protected when reporting misconduct. This role requires a proactive approach to developing policies and frameworks that support ethical practices and conducting annual reporting on the Ethics function's activities to the Executive Director and the Executive Board.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Ethics Specialist's duties include providing advice to management on ethical standards and practices, offering confidential guidance to UN Women personnel regarding ethical behavior and conflicts of interest, and developing training content for ethics awareness programs. The Specialist is responsible for rolling out the UN Ethics Office annual Leadership Dialogue and ensuring protection against retaliation for personnel reporting misconduct. Additionally, the Specialist assists in implementing the UN Financial Disclosure Programme and contributes to the development of policies and guidelines that support an effective ethical framework. Maintaining confidential records of guidance and advice, representing UN Women on various ethics panels, and providing annual reports on the Ethics function's activities are also key responsibilities of this role.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, public policy, business administration, human resources, or a behavioral science. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. The position requires a minimum of five years of experience at increasing levels of responsibility in developing, managing, or implementing ethics programs within large government, public sector organizations, or international organizations. Candidates should have experience providing advice on ethics standards, developing and implementing ethics training, and handling sensitive ethical issues with confidentiality and tact. A strong understanding of the UN system and ethical policies is highly desirable, along with a proven record of integrity and accountability.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) from an accredited institution in relevant fields such as law, public policy, business administration, human resources, or behavioral sciences. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by two additional years of qualifying experience, demonstrating the candidate's capability to fulfill the role's responsibilities effectively.

Experience:
The Ethics Specialist should have at least five years of progressively responsible experience in the development, management, or implementation of ethics programs. This experience should include providing advice on ethics standards and practices, developing ethics training programs, and handling complex ethical issues with discretion. Familiarity with the ethics function of the UN or other international organizations is considered an asset, as is a good understanding of ethical policies and regulations within the public service sector.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable, which would enhance the candidate's ability to communicate effectively within the diverse UN environment and engage with a broader range of stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and may involve international recruitment. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational needs. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct incompatible with its aims, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, and discrimination. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Applicants must complete all sections of the application form to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.