Compliance Specialist/Advisor

Job Posting Organization:
The Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) is a vital part of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) dedicated to ensuring that countries and partners are well-prepared to respond to food and agricultural threats and crises. Established to coordinate the development and maintenance of corporate tools and standards, OER plays a crucial role in assisting member countries in emergency preparedness and response. The organization collaborates with various humanitarian partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP), to lead global initiatives such as the security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security Cluster (FSC). OER is committed to enhancing nutrition" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food and nutrition security through assessments and early warning activities, and it aims to increase the resilience of livelihoods against food and agricultural crises. The compliance team within OER focuses on supporting decentralized offices in managing compliance during crises, promoting best practices, and ensuring adherence to organizational standards.

Job Overview:
The Compliance Specialist/Advisor position is designed to provide specialized support in establishing risk management, compliance, and quality assurance activities within the OER framework. The role involves working under the supervision of senior officers and collaborating closely with various teams to ensure compliance with operational rules and regulations. The Compliance Specialist will engage in both short-term assignments and longer-term missions, contributing to the organization's efforts in crisis contexts. The position requires a proactive approach to identifying risks and implementing strategies to mitigate them, ensuring that compliance processes are effectively integrated into emergency and resilience programming. The specialist will also be responsible for advising FAO representatives on compliance measures and supporting the implementation of audit recommendations, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the organization's response to emergencies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Compliance Specialist/Advisor will undertake a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including: supporting decentralized offices in the formulation and analysis of internal documents related to risk management; shaping the development and implementation of compliance processes to mitigate operational risks; contributing to the establishment of robust risk management solutions; advising FAO representatives on strategies to strengthen controls; supporting the implementation of audit recommendations; establishing processes for compliance with fiduciary requirements; advising on measures to ensure adherence to FAO's policy framework regarding protection from sexual exploitation and abuse; conducting due diligence reviews of implementing partners; contributing to capacity building initiatives; supporting compliance-related reporting and monitoring; promoting online guidance and best practices; and performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet several minimum requirements, including a university degree in business/public administration, economics, or a closely related field. Additionally, candidates should have a significant amount of relevant experience, with at least 10 years for category A, 5 years for category B, and 2 years for category C positions. Experience should encompass administration, finance, evaluation, audit, and program/project operations, particularly in field contexts. A working knowledge of English is mandatory, while knowledge of French is desirable. Candidates should also demonstrate core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, relationship building, and knowledge sharing.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in a relevant field such as business/public administration, economics, or a closely related technical area. This foundational education is essential for understanding the complexities of compliance and risk management in humanitarian contexts.

Experience:
The level of experience required varies by category: candidates for category A must have at least 10 years of relevant experience, while category B requires a minimum of 5 years, and category C necessitates at least 2 years. This experience should include practical knowledge of operational, financial, and administrative procedures within the UN system, as well as field experience in compliance management and monitoring.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English (level C) is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of French is considered desirable, and limited knowledge of a second FAO language (such as Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, or Russian) would be an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to operate in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
The position may involve short-term assignments or longer-term missions, depending on the needs of the organization. Candidates should be prepared to work under pressure and adapt to evolving humanitarian contexts. The role is likely to be full-time, and the organization may consider candidates from various countries, reflecting its international recruitment policy. Compensation and benefits details are typically aligned with FAO standards, which may include competitive salaries and allowances based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.