Senior Evaluation Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is a part of the United Nations system, established to promote and protect human rights globally. The OHCHR works to ensure that the rights of individuals are upheld and that governments are held accountable for their actions. The organization operates in various countries, engaging with different stakeholders to foster a culture of respect for human rights. The OHCHR is committed to addressing human rights violations and promoting fundamental freedoms, and it employs a diverse workforce dedicated to these goals.

Job Overview:
The Senior Evaluation Officer position is critical within the Strategic Planning, Programme Management, Evaluation and Change Management Service of the OHCHR. The incumbent will lead the design and management of evaluations, ensuring they are conducted impartially and credibly. This role involves integrating gender and other cross-cutting issues into the evaluation system, providing guidance and technical support to staff, and ensuring evaluations meet the highest professional standards. The Senior Evaluation Officer will also participate in performance evaluations and cooperate with other UN evaluation units to share lessons learned. The position requires a strategic approach to ensure evaluation results inform decision-making at all levels, and the incumbent will prepare reports and action plans to monitor the implementation of evaluation recommendations. This role is pivotal in enhancing the evaluation capacity within the organization and ensuring that evaluation principles are widely recognized and applied.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Evaluation Officer include: conducting impartial and credible evaluations; leading the design and management of evaluations in collaboration with relevant divisions; integrating gender and cross-cutting issues into evaluations; providing guidance and technical support for evaluations; ensuring evaluations meet UN standards; participating in performance evaluations; cooperating with other UN evaluation units; preparing reports and briefings for senior management; coordinating management responses to evaluation results; preparing follow-up action plans; maintaining liaison with divisions responsible for implementing recommendations; ensuring evaluation results inform strategy and policy design; developing evaluation capacity; conducting training on results-based management; supervising evaluation colleagues; and ensuring effective application of evaluation functions within the organization.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a detailed knowledge of the UN's role and its components, with a strong understanding of human rights issues and the ability to develop evaluation designs and methodologies. The position requires original thinking, independent judgment, and discretion in handling complex problems. Candidates should demonstrate professional competence, efficiency in meeting commitments, and the ability to lead and incorporate gender perspectives in their work. Strong planning and organizational skills are essential, along with accountability for responsibilities and decision-making capabilities. Building trust within the organization and with stakeholders is also a key qualification.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in social sciences, international relations, development studies, or related fields is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in programme management is required, along with at least seven years of recent experience as an Evaluation Officer within the UN system or a similar international organization. Experience related to evaluation and programming in the field of human rights is desirable, as is experience in knowledge management, results-based management, and organizational change.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, proficiency in English is required, while either French or Spanish is desirable. Candidates must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in these languages, as per the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
The position is subject to the availability of funds and the extension of the mandate. Applicants from unrepresented or under-represented Member States are strongly encouraged to apply. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from individuals regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment, and staff members are subject to mobility requirements.