This position is located at the Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Bangkok, Thailand. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Representative and receive overall substantive guidance from the Chief, Drugs, Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch (DLSSB), Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs (DPA), with additional supervision from the Drug Control Officer (Illicit Synthetic Drugs) in the Laboratory and Scientific Services (LSS/DLSSB/DPA) of UNODC, both based in Vienna. For more information on UNODC, please visit www.unodc.org

The Global Scientific and Forensic Services Programme aims at enhancing scientific and forensic capacity worldwide. It builds upon past and current UNODC activities in the scientific and laboratory sector with a focus on sustainable, integrated forensic science services in support of criminal justice, the rule of law as well as the health sector. Within assigned authority and under substantive guidance from LSS/DLSSB/DPA, UNODC Headquarters, Vienna, the incumbent will perform the following specific duties: • Develop and coordinate the implementation of scientific strategies and methodologies for physical profiling and related activities in Southeast Asia, including the identification, selection, validation and procurement of equipment, supplies and services. • Facilitate the collection, documentation, and analysis of physical characteristics of synthetic drugs, the precursor chemicals used in their illicit manufacture, and packaging as well as concealment methods. • Promote cross-border cooperation, sharing and use of drug profiling data/information among law enforcement and forensic institutions in East and Southeast Asian countries. • Advocate for the integration of drug profiling into broader drug control strategies. • Coordinate, liaise and partner with other experts in the field (e.g. governments, forensic laboratories, academia, other international organizations, civil society, etc.), exchange views on latest findings, policy responses, new trends and development in illicit manufacture and trafficking of drugs. • Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Support the implementation/advancement of the SMART Forensics programme in East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific region and contribute to fund-raising activities. • In close consultation with DLSSB/LSS, expand the reach of ongoing activities in the East and Southeast Asian and Pacific region, including on forensic laboratory collaboration, and contribute to related fund-raising activities. • Organize and conduct capacity building workshops, awareness raising events and expert meetings. • Supervise and guide the work of junior staff members and affiliate personnel as required. • Participate in conferences and meetings as required, including preparing and delivering presentations; and • Perform other work-related duties as required.

Professionalism: Knowledge of various research methodologies and sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Good analytical, planning, and organizational skills. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in law, criminology, public administration, applied science or related disciplines, criminal justice and/or law enforcement is required. A first-level degree in similar fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree in the specified fields of studies.

Not available.

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in illicit drug issues, including extensive experience in addressing illicit drug crimes and investigations is required. Work experience in physical profiling of synthetic drugs or precursor chemicals is required. Work experience in analysing trends and developments pertaining to synthetic drugs and related precursor chemicals is desirable. Work experience with counterparts in or on East and Southeast Asia is desirable. Work experience with governmental or intergovernmental law enforcement-related institutions is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Knowledge of one or more languages used in East and Southeast Asia is an asset. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

This temporary position is available for 364 days. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection may be administered as a temporary assignment.  While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.  Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.  Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.  At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.  All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs.  The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff 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 when requested and indicated in the application.  The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff.  Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.   Bangkok is classified in the A category (family duty station). 

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.