Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer (Prison Reform)

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located at the UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP), in Bangkok, Thailand. The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the UNODC Representative, ROSEAP, and the direct supervision of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, located in Bangkok. The incumbent will receive additional guidance from the prison team at the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section at headquarters in Vienna.

For more information on UNODC, please visit the following website: www.unodc.org.

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority, the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer (Prison Reform) will be responsible for the following specific duties:

• Provide substantive expertise and support to the overall planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of UNODC technical assistance mandate on prison reform.
• Review, monitor and analyze, on an ongoing basis, social, economic and/or political developments and trends in Southeast Asia and the Pacific which are relevant to prison management in general, and to the implementation of international norms and standards in particular.
• Develop, implement and monitor activities in the region, including by conducting needs assessment, programming and other technical missions to the countries and by organizing a variety of technical assistance activities aimed at strengthening the management of prisoners and the full application of international norms and standards on prison management.
• Coordinate and liaise closely with government counterparts and other key stakeholders, including UN entities and other international and regional organizations, civil society and the private sector, when appropriate and as necessary, for the effective organization and delivery of technical assistance and capacity-building activities on prison management-related matters.
• Participate, facilitate and/or provide substantive expertise at conferences, seminars, workshops, roundtable discussions, consultative meetings, and any other relevant fora on prison management-related matters in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
• Provide substantive and operational guidance to Programme Assistants and external consultants supporting the implementation of the project under the incumbent’s purview.
• Contribute to and/or prepare various written outputs such as, inter alia, briefing notes, concept notes, agendas, project proposals and progress reports, and exercise quality-control over technical inputs to publications and other technical assistance tools on prison reform.
• Keep regular track of projects’ expenditures to ensure alignment with initial budget allocations.
• Promote and strengthen a human rights and rule of law-based approach to prison reform, as well as a gender perspective, into UNODC overall delivery of services in these areas.
• Perform any other work-related duties as required/assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence, knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to crime prevention and criminal justice issues, in particular to prison management and penal reform and corresponding practical challenges. Has knowledge of the international policy and legal frameworks on prison management and penal reform, and a sound understanding of the institutional architecture around these matters. Has knowledge of the mandate of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in criminal justice. Has demonstrated competence in planning, coordinating and providing management support for the delivery of technical assistance activities (especially: needs analysis, programme conceptualization and write-up; programme coordination, liaison and reporting; and budgetary and financial monitoring). Is able to contribute to designing, organizing and conducting technical assistance activities. Has sound analytical skills and is able to identify problems and to contribute to problem-solving. Shows commitment to achieving high quality outputs, timeliness, conscientiousness, attention to detail and ability to bring matters to closure. 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 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.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political or social science, criminal justice or closely related fields is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in areas relevant to crime prevention and criminal justice is required.

Substantial work experience with governmental or intergovernmental organizations in the field of prison management, the treatment of offenders and/or penal reform is required.

Work experience in delivering workshops/training courses for criminal justice officials, including prison staff, is required.

Work experience in project management and on the implementation, on the ground, of international norms and standards on prison management is required.

Work experience in developing, strengthening or improving partnership and cooperation between Member States and international organizations is desirable.

Experience in applying standards and norms in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice related to the treatment of prisoners is desirable.

Experience in Southeast, East Asia and/or the Pacific is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This is a project post. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

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 an A and a family duty station.

United Nations Considerations

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

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.