Investigation Officer, P-2, New York, USA, #86112

Under the guidance of the Chief of Investigations, the Investigation Specialist ensures the timely investigation of allegations of fraud, abuse of authority, mismanagement, harassment, sexual harassment, and/or retaliatory actions in or affecting UNICEF and makes recommendations for corrective action and improved controls.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, a future

This position is based in New York, USA, reporting to the Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI), with occasional travel including to UNICEF offices in the field and other headquarters locations.

OIAI conducts independent investigations into allegations of corrupt and fraudulent practices and other misconduct involving UNICEF staff, consultants, non-staff personnel, and institutional contractors and partners. The Office's investigations cover all forms of misconduct including fraud, corruption, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, mismanagement and retaliation.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Chief of Investigations, the Investigation Specialist ensures the timely investigation of allegations of fraud, abuse of authority, mismanagement, harassment, sexual harassment, and/or retaliatory actions in or affecting UNICEF and makes recommendations for corrective action and improved controls.  Specific duties include:

• Perform forensic analysis of data to support investigations: Secure, organize and analyze complex and voluminous sets of documents and facts to identify indicators of fraudulent activities.
• Maintain the Investigations Database: Maintain the restricted-access database used by the Investigations Section to receive, log, provide status reports of all complaints of suspected fraud, abuse of authority, mismanagement, harassment (including sexual harassment), and/or retaliatory actions in or affecting UNICEF. When necessary, follow up with other OIAI Investigations Specialists to obtain missing information in order to ensure the database is complete and accurate at all times. Prepare overview reports on the status and nature of investigation cases. If so delegated by the Chief of Investigations, coordinate with DHR or other HQ divisions as required.
• Prepare Statistical Reports and Analyses on Investigation Cases: Periodically, and upon request by Investigation Section team members or Director, conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses of investigation cases and prepare statistical and other reports. Periodically, and upon request, advise and/or prepare reports for the Chief of Investigations or Director on issues and trends emerging from the data analyses.
• Provide Support to Field Missions: When requested by the Chief of Investigations, participate as a team member in conducting field missions related to investigation cases.  Some of the missions may be in hardship countries.
• Prepare Investigation Closure Memos: Prepare closure memos for cases that do not warrant a formal investigation, or where misconduct could not be proven, for approval by the Chief of Investigations or Director.
• Conduct remote investigations, as case owner.

Perform other Duties, as Needed: Undertake any research or other tasks as assigned by the Chief of Investigations, in support of the work of the Investigations Section.

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Investigations, Audit, Law, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Financial Administration, or related field(s) is required; or
• a first level university degree (Bachelor’s) in combination with four (4) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree; or
• an equivalent qualification (i.e. considered equivalent to a Bachelor`s degree) from a recognized national police academy for criminal investigations, with six (6) years of specific hands-on experience in conducting criminal and/or administrative investigations (as an investigator), may be accepted in lieu of a university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in financial investigations, operational investigation, and/or conducting investigations in either government, non-profit organizations, and/or the private sector is required.
• Experience in analyzing computer information systems, data analytics and using computer assisted investigation techniques.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity; Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results; and Functional Competencies of Analyzing, Deciding and Initiating Action, Applying Technical Expertise, Following Instructions and Procedures.

View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.