Investigations Officer

Vacancy Announcement

Investigations Officer, P-3

Jerusalem or Amman

Deadline for Applications

18 June 2018

(4 June 2018 for internal applicants)

Duration

2 years, with the possibility of further extension

Vacancy Announcement Number

18-HQ-JR-24

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified women.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed professionals wishing to make a change.

UNRWA’s strategic objectives

The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. In line with this mission, the Agency works towards five strategic outcomes: (a) Palestine refugee rights under international law are protected and promoted; (b) Palestine refugee health is protected and disease burden is reduced; (c) school-age children complete quality, equitable and inclusive basic education; (d) Palestine refugee capabilities are strengthened for increased livelihood opportunities; and (e) Palestine refugees are able to meet their basic human needs of food, shelter and environmental health. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions.

Do you want to make a lasting difference? 

If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. In this role, you will provide leadership, technical guidance and strategic management to UNRWA’s audit, investigation, evaluation, inspection, and advisory functions.

The main responsibilities include:

•        Performing the following independently or as a member of a team:

•         Undertaking or coordinating as appropriate, misconduct investigations into potential violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures and standards including sexual exploitation and abuse, fraud, corruption, harassment (including sexual), abuse of authority, and breaches of neutrality, applying and ensuring objectivity, impartiality and fairness throughout investigative processes in accordance with generally recognized international investigative standards and Agency guidelines;

•         Reviewing and assessing complaints and allegations; formulating investigation plans, reviewing and analyzing all information to determine its relevance and reliability, conducting interviews of staff and other involved parties, recording interviews, obtaining and analyzing potential documentary and electronic evidence, conducting investigative research and determining the appropriate presentation of investigative results;

•         Preparing reports and ad-hoc briefs pertaining to investigations;

•         Preparing recommendations for corrective action and improved controls and effectiveness or efficiency of UNRWA systems and operations;

•          Appraising progress of investigations and assessing probable impact of investigation outcomes relative to strategies and advising colleagues accordingly;

•         Coordinating with local officials, governments, and outside organizations and obtaining internal support such as interpreters to facilitate investigative work; reporting outcomes of investigations to Chief, Investigations Division;

•        Supporting investigations carried out in other offices in the Agency, including participation in Intake Committees, review of Terms of Reference and related plans for investigations; providing guidance on the conduct of such investigations in accordance with generally recognized international investigative standards and Agency guidelines;

•        Providing advice on best-practice with respect to investigations;

•        Providing support in the preparation of work plans and the establishment of priorities for the investigation function including the prioritization of implementation plans of investigative work in consultation with his/her supervisor;

•        Contributing to the development of the office’s policy and procedural framework and best practices and other lessons learned from investigative work; making recommendations and assisting in ensuring that lessons learned from investigations, in particular investigations related to breaches of neutrality, are incorporated into the Agency’s  policies and procedures; assisting in the implementation of investigators training.

Conditions of service 

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $59,151 net tax free with post adjustment of 55.9% (for Jerusalem) and 46.1% (for Amman) (subject to change without notice). All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

•  Dependency allowances

•  Rental subsidy

•  Education grant for children

•  Home leave travel

•  6 weeks (30 working days) annual leave

•  Pension fund entitlements under the

    UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

•  International health insurance; optional

    life insurance

•  Disability protection

Additional information

The incumbent may be required to travel in UNRWA’s Area of Operations in the Middle East.

To qualify for this position, you will need:

Education

A university degree from an accredited educational institution in law or a related field;

Formal training and/or certification in various law enforcement methodologies/fraud examination or investigations;

Work

experience

At least six years of relevant experience applying internationally recognized investigation techniques in criminal or administrative inquiries  and two years of relevant experience at international level outside your home country;

Language(s)

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Desirable qualifications:

•        Fluency in written and spoken Arabic; working knowledge of Hebrew;

•        Working knowledge of UN financial rules, regulations and procedures;

•        Good knowledge of the conditions prevailing in the Agency’s area of operations with the ability to appraise and evaluate the implications of economic, political, cultural and historical variables in those regions.

You will also need to demonstrate the following competencies:

•        Professionalism: knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to investigations (e.g. acceptability and protection of evidence); familiarity with the use of various research methodologies and sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases; ability to apply good judgement in the context of assignments given; ability to plan work and manage conflicting priorities;

•        Communication: excellent communication skills in both spoken and written English, including ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and other studies, and ability to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style, with excellent presentation skills;

•        Technological awareness: fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications involved in criminal and administrative investigations ; 

•        Teamwork: good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance;

•        Proven ability to gather and review evidence; analyze large amounts of information and to provide reports that are factually correct, impartial and objective, concise, complete and logically organized.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews:

          https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

How to apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted. The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General information

UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality at all times. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

Date of issue: 21 May 2018/CX