UNICEF Hiring for Ethics Officer, P-2, New York, USA #126133 at New York, United States Full Time

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The past two decades have seen important progress on child rights, yet while much has been achieved, sharp disparities remain. In most countries, inequality is higher today than a generation ago, including in middle income countries where a majority of the world’s poor children now live. The rapid pace of urbanization and the growing youth bulge in Africa and parts of Asia will require significant expansion of the provision of essential services for children. These challenges are compounded by the scale and complexity of crises triggered by conflict, natural disasters or epidemics. The global community faces these challenges when the political and economic environments pose challenges of their own, testing the world’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable. In this environment, ethical leadership of UNICEF is critical to enable the achievement of results for children.

UNICEF’s Ethics Office was established in December 2007 and its activities are undertaken in the following mandated areas of work: (a) standard-setting and policy support; (b) training, education and outreach; (c) advice and guidance; (d) the Financial Disclosure Programme; (e) the protection of staff against retaliation; and (f) participation in the Ethics Panel of the United Nations and the Ethics Network of Multilateral Organizations.

How can you make a difference?

The guiding principles of the Ethics Office are independence, impartiality, and confidentiality. Under ST/SGB/200 7/11 of 30 Nov 2007, the Ethics Office seeks to cultivate and nurture a culture of ethics, integrity and accountability and thereby enhance the trust in, and the credibility of the United Nations and UNICEF, both internally and externally.

The Ethics Office was established in December 2007 based on the Secretary General’s bulletin on “United Nations System-wide Application of Ethics: Separately Administered Organs and Programmes” (ST/SGB/2007/11 of 30 Nov 2007). The Ethics Office works closely with the Ethics Offices of the other separately administered Funds and Programmes and the Ethics Office of the United Nations Secretariat, in order to establish a harmonized and coherent system across the UN Secretariat and the Funds and Programmes.

Under the direct supervision of the Ethics Manager and the Director, the Ethics Officer takes a key enabler role through administrative and budget support, internal controls and risk management, data and Financial Disclosure Programme management, and communications to support the Ethics Office nurturing the culture of ethics and integrity at UNICEF for proper conduct and sound business practices as established in the UN Staff Regulations and Rules, relevant and applicable UNICEF Executive Directives and the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service.

Key Functions, Accountabilities And Related Duties And Tasks

• Administrative Management: As the functional focal point, accountable for the accurate and consistent application of administrative policies and procedures. Manage contracts (consultants and services), payments, assets, supplies, financial systems and other immediate operations, in coordination with relevant offices as needed, including finance, human resources, ICT. Assist in monitoring the office’s workplan and priorities and identify matters that need to be brought to the attention of the office management to ensure that the office effectively and efficiently achieves its goals. Maintain the Director’s calendar and organize high-level meetings and missions, including production of invitations, presentation materials and minutes, and travel arrangements and perform other relevant duties.
• Budget Management: Contribute to preparing short- and long-term budget based on the office’s strategic direction and goals. Complete the administrative steps to secure and control the budget and periodically monitor the expenditures and report to the office management to ensure adequate implementation of the budget.
• Internal Controls, Risk Assessment and Business Continuity: Assist managing the internal controls procedures by performing regular monitoring to ensure that the controls are operating as prescribed and discrepancies, if any, are brought to the attention of the office management. Lead performing the annual risk assessment exercise and developing the risk mitigation action plan. Monitor and follow up with the risk mitigation action plan to confirm that the mitigation measures are in place and functioning. Support the office management in formulating, testing and maintaining the business continuity and contingency plan.
• Data Management and Reporting: Perform data management and analytics using the office systems (e.g., case management database, FDP system, etc). Conduct data analysis for achievements, areas of improvement and projections to assist strategic planning, allocation of resources and reporting. Ensure integrity and safeguarding of the data in coordination with relevant offices. In collaboration with the Ethics Manager/Specialist and other personnel, prepare the statistical data, analysis and data visualization for the Ethics Office annual report to be presented to the Executive Board in accordance with the Executive Board decisions 2010/18 and 2014/12.
• Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Program (FDP): In close coordination with the Ethics Manager, assist in administering the UNICEF Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Program and provide guidance on issues that have been disclosed to prevent or manage possible conflicts of interest. Support the filers to resolve troubleshooting or technical issues in the FDP system. Assist the Ethics Manager on policy and emerging initiatives around conflict of interest matters.
• Additional responsibilities: Conduct any other tasks assigned by the Director and Ethics Manager in support of the efficient functioning of the Ethics Office.

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

Education

• A university degree in business or public administration, social science, finance, accounting, auditing, or any other relevant field of discipline.

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional work experience in ethics, administrative support, operations, financial/budget management, data management, internal control, ERM or any other relevant function.
• Some exposure to supporting the administration of financial disclosure and conflict of interest systems is an asset.
• Familiarity with UNICEF or UN financial, control, budgetary and risk policies and procedures and practices is an asset.
• An impeccable record for integrity and ethical behaviour is required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Proven organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to tactfully manage multiple priorities;
• Proven conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills; and an ability to conduct independent research and analysis; and,
• Experience and demonstrated sensitivity in working with cross-cultural aspects of human relations and the ability to influence appropriately is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Language

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF Competencies Required For This Post Are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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