Ethics Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East, established to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees. With over 30,000 staff members, UNRWA operates in five areas of operation, focusing on delivering education, health care, social services, and emergency assistance to the most vulnerable communities. The agency is committed to helping Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development despite the challenging circumstances they face. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations, and individual contributions. For more information, visit https://www.unrwa.org/

Job Overview:
The Ethics Officer plays a crucial role in developing and enhancing the ethical framework within UNRWA. This position involves contributing to the creation and improvement of policies, directives, guidelines, and procedures that support a culture of ethics and compliance. The officer will be responsible for drafting the annual Ethics Office strategy and work plan, suggesting activities aligned with the overall strategy, and keeping abreast of new developments in ethics to ensure the continual enhancement of UNRWA's policies and training initiatives. The role also includes designing and delivering training and outreach programs to raise awareness about ethical issues among staff, managing the Ethics Focal Points Network, and providing confidential ethics advice to management and personnel on various ethical dilemmas. The Ethics Officer will also support the administration of conflict of interest disclosures and conduct assessments of retaliation cases, ensuring effective risk management practices are in place.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Ethics Officer's duties include:

• Developing and improving internal documents to support an ethical framework.
• Reviewing and providing input on policies and practices related to ethics and compliance.
• Drafting the annual Ethics Office strategy and work plan.
• Designing and delivering training and outreach programs on ethical issues.
• Managing the Ethics Focal Points Network and providing guidance and support.
• Administering conflict of interest disclosures and assisting with the Area Staff Declaration of Interest Programme.
• Providing confidential ethics advice to management and staff on workplace issues, conflicts of interest, and outside employment.
• Supporting the Case Management System by analyzing trends and recommending improvements.
• Conducting assessments of retaliation cases and drafting assessments for protective measures. 1
• Developing key ethics risk indicators and ensuring effective risk management practices. 1
• Drafting the Ethics Office annual report and other relevant documentation. 1
• Participating in inter-agency discussions and forums related to ethics.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in law, international law, public administration, human resources management, behavioral sciences with a focus on ethics, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have at least five years of progressively responsible experience in managing ethics issues and integrity training, including law, corporate compliance, employee relations, and staff misconduct investigations. Candidates must also have a minimum of two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and their country of citizenship, unless they are already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable, and familiarity with the UN system and its regulations is also preferred.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) from an accredited institution in law, international law, public administration, human resources management, behavioral sciences with a focus on ethics, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage ethical issues within the organization.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least five years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in areas related to ethics management, integrity training, law, corporate compliance, employee relations, and staff misconduct investigations. Furthermore, candidates must have a minimum of two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and their country of citizenship unless they are currently serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System. This level of experience is crucial for understanding the complexities of ethical issues in an international context and for effectively contributing to the organization's ethical framework.

Languages:
For this position, proficiency in English is required, with a minimum level of proficiency at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable, with a minimum level of proficiency at UN Level I. Familiarity with French is also beneficial, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. The ability to communicate effectively in these languages is essential for the role, as it involves drafting reports, conducting training, and providing guidance to staff.

Additional Notes:
The contract for this position is for one year, with the possibility of extension based on the availability of funds. The incumbent may be required to travel to other locations within UNRWA’s area of operations. Applications must be submitted through UNRWA's online e-recruitment system, and only fully completed applications will be considered. The agency is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. A roster may be created from this selection process, and successful candidates may be eligible for appointment to similar posts in the future. UNRWA does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and is committed to maintaining a non-smoking work environment.