CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

  • FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
  • Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
  • Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
  • FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
  • All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
  • All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.


Organizational Setting

In accordance with its Charter, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) provides oversight of FAO's programmes and operations through internal audit and investigation. The Internal Audit Branch carries out assurance and advisory activities designed to add value and improve the organization's operations by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes. The Internal Audit Branch conducts its work in accordance with the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), including the Code of Ethics and the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, promulgated by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and adopted by the Internal Audit Services of the United Nations agencies. The Investigations Branch investigates allegations of misconduct involving FAO personnel and allegations of sanctionable actions involving third parties. OIG's investigation mandate covers misconduct such as fraud, corruption, abuse of privileges and immunities; sexual exploitation and abuse; sexual harassment; workplace harassment and abuse of authority; retaliation against whistle blowers; or any other conduct not in conformity with the Standards of Conduct of the International Civil Service.

This call for expressions of interest is for the purpose of identifying suitably qualified candidates for rostering purposes, who may be invited to undertake short-term assignments for OIG’s Internal Audit Branch or Investigation Branch ranging in length from three to a maximum of 11 months.

OIG is looking to hire audit/investigation technology specialist with expertise in Python, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Large Language Models (LLMs), and cloud infrastructure to support the Internal Audit Branch and Investigation Branch in developing, deploying, and maintaining advanced IT solutions.

The audit/investigation technology specialist may be based at the Organization’s headquarters in Rome (Italy) or may undertake home-based assignments.


Reporting Lines

The audit/investigation technology specialist reports to one of the Head of Units either in the Internal Audit Branch or the Investigation Branch.


Technical Focus

Development, implementation, and maintenance of IT solutions using Python, Large Language Models (LLMs), and Azure Cloud infrastructure to support internal audit/investigation efficiency and data-driven insights.


Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Inspector-General, OIG and the supervision of a Head of Unit, the incumbent, will support audit/investigation innovation projects, according to applicable FAO policies and the deadlines and deliverables set out in their TORs. Their assigned tasks and responsibilities will normally include several of the following elements:
• develop high-quality, maintainable code modules to assist the implementation of IT solutions;
• assist in the implementation of knowledge management solutions using LLM-based architectures (such as RAG) based on architectures and specifications defined by OIG;
• contribute to containerization and deployment activities (e.g., using Docker) on Azure Cloud or local servers;
• support technical documentation for codebase, deployment steps, and preparation of user manuals/trainings for auditors/investigators;
• support the implementation of security and scalability measures for audit/investigation IT solutions tailored for sensitive audit/investigation data; and
• perform other related duties as required.


CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree or specific technical specialization in software development, computer engineering, computer science, information systems or any other related field.
• At least one year experience in software development, computer engineering, or AI solution architecture (preferably in internal audit/investigation context): at least one year.
• Working knowledge of English (level C)


FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement


Selection Criteria

• Limited knowledge (level B) of other FAO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is an asset.
• Advanced knowledge of Python and popular AI and development frameworks (LangChain, OpenAI API, FastAPI)
• Proven experience with containerization and application deployment lifecycle
• Demonstrated ability to conduct technical research and evaluate the feasibility of new technologies
• Understanding of IT security (Encryption, SSL, OAuth2) and data privacy in a cloud context
• Demonstrated knowledge of investigation, auditing, business consulting, risk management or information technology
• Ability to identify technical bottlenecks and propose efficient, secure solutions
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical auditors/investigators and stakeholders
• Practical experiences with Azure Cloud infrastructure are desirable
• Practical development experiences with RAG and LLMs are desirable

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
  • Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
  • Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
  • For more information, visit the FAO employment website
  • Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application

• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.


• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.