Senior Ethics Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Ethics Office was established by the Secretary-General 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 guidance of 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 Organization's financial disclosure programme, and developing standards and training on ethics issues. The office aims to support ethics standard-setting and promote policy coherence within the Secretariat and among the Organization's funds and programmes. The office is staffed by a dedicated team of professionals committed to upholding the highest ethical standards within the UN.

Job Overview:
The Senior Ethics Officer will play a pivotal role in leading the Protection against Retaliation (PaR) and Outreach Unit within the United Nations Ethics Office. This position involves conducting preliminary reviews of PaR requests, drafting findings, and collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the Office's strategies for preventing retaliation against whistleblowers. The Senior Ethics Officer will also contribute to policy coherence and standard-setting, assist in providing functional leadership to the Ethics Panel of the United Nations (EPUN), and prepare high-level policy advice. Additionally, the role encompasses developing ethics training materials, coordinating outreach activities, and acting as a liaison with the Procurement Division to address procurement ethics queries. The Senior Ethics Officer will report directly to the Director of the Ethics Office and will be responsible for supervising colleagues within the Unit, ensuring the consistent provision of services, and contributing to the drafting of reports for presentation to the General Assembly.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the Protection against Retaliation (PaR) and Outreach Unit, including conducting preliminary reviews of PaR requests, drafting findings, and proposing appropriate actions.
• Conduct secondary reviews of determinations made by Ethics Offices of UN entities and formulate management recommendations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to update and interpret the legislative framework of the Ethics Office.
• Develop strategies for the prevention and protection of staff against retaliation and prepare reports on related issues.
• Assist in providing functional leadership to EPUN and prepare high-level policy advice.
• Develop contents for ethics training and outreach strategies, including materials for the Office's website.
• Coordinate the implementation of the annual Secretariat-wide Leadership Dialogue series.
• Act as a liaison with the Procurement Division and provide advice on procurement ethics queries.
• Supervise colleagues in the Unit and assist the Director in managing the Office effectively. 1
• Contribute to the drafting of reports for the General Assembly and assist in preparing position papers for presentation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess proven analytical and evaluative capabilities, excellent knowledge in ethics advice, particularly in protection against retaliation, public procurement, and corporate compliance. They should have a strong understanding of the complexities of the UN mandates and ethical risks, along with the ability to provide guidance and produce analytical notes for senior managers. Candidates should demonstrate leadership experience, particularly in an international organization, and possess the ability to inspire others and build effective working relationships. Professional competence, efficiency in meeting commitments, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are essential.

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 or administrative ethics is required. A first-level degree in the specified fields combined with two additional years of relevant work 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, a minimum of five years of experience in implementing whistleblower protections is necessary. Experience engaging with governance and legislative processes at the international level within the UN System or similar organizations is desirable.

Languages:
English is required for this position, while French is desirable. The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French, and candidates should meet the minimum required level for each skill in these languages according to the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and located in New York City. The role involves significant responsibilities and requires a high level of professionalism and commitment to ethical standards. The UN Ethics Office is committed to promoting gender balance and ensuring equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.