Senior Ethics Officer

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems to improve production, nutrition, the environment, and livelihoods. FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to its strategic objectives and operations. The Ethics Office (ETH) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, is mandated to promote high standards of ethical conduct, integrity, transparency, and accountability within the organization.

Job Purpose

The Senior Ethics Officer will provide confidential advice and guidance to staff on ethical issues, including conflicts of interest and outside activities, and will coordinate ethics training and briefings. The role aims to foster a workplace culture that upholds the Organization's values, ethical and functional integrity, and respect for staff dignity, diversity, and rights, in compliance with FAO's regulations, rules, and policies, as well as the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service. The incumbent will be guided by principles of objectivity, accountability, and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

The Senior Ethics Officer is responsible for developing and implementing FAO's ethics strategy, policies, and programmes to strengthen ethical standards, transparency, and accountability. This includes providing guidance to management and staff on compliance with policies related to fraud, harassment, abuse of authority, and whistleblower protection. The role involves designing and managing ethics and compliance tools, outreach, and training programmes. The officer will develop strategic plans and work programmes for the Ethics Office, establish Key Performance Indicators, and ensure effective risk management practices. Specific duties include providing confidential advice on ethical issues, administering the annual disclosure programme, reviewing whistleblower complaints, and preparing reports for the Finance Committee and the Director-General. The officer will also stay updated on best practices in ethics, participate in inter-agency forums, and undertake travel as required.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of experience in international or multilateral settings within public or private institutions is required. This experience should focus on ethics and compliance, conflicts of interest, developing standards, policies, compliance frameworks, codes of conduct, accountability, and financial disclosure programmes.

Skills

Key competencies include Results Focus, Leading Engaging and Empowering Others, Communication, Partnering and Advocating, Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement, and Strategic Thinking. Essential technical/functional skills involve experience in more than one work location, particularly in field positions. Demonstrated experience in developing and executing ethics training and awareness programmes, implementing communication strategies on ethical matters, and managing financial disclosure policies is crucial. Familiarity with UN System rules and practices is an asset. The role requires client and service orientation, the ability to plan and prioritize work independently under deadlines, and strong report-writing skills.

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