Ethics Policy Specialist
Organizational Context
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is dedicated to cultivating a culture of ethics and an inclusive work environment, emphasizing integrity, accountability, transparency, respect, and professionalism. The Ethics Office, operating as an independent body under the Senior Ethics Officer, plays a crucial role in this endeavor. This call for expressions of interest aims to build a diverse pool of candidates to support the Ethics Office's varied needs.
Job Purpose
The role provides substantial support across all facets of the Ethics Office's mandate. Key areas of focus include the development and refinement of ethical policies, conducting prima facie reviews of retaliation complaints, and executing comprehensive training and outreach initiatives. The incumbent will contribute to fostering an ethical organizational culture and ensuring adherence to ethical standards throughout the FAO, aligning with its strategic objectives and operational realities.
Responsibilities
The incumbent will collaborate closely with Ethics Office personnel to support the formulation of FAO-wide ethics policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, field realities, UN reform, and the work environment. Responsibilities include reviewing and advising on policy matters for other departments, assessing individual cases related to conflicts of interest and protection from retaliation, and providing recommendations for retaliation complaints. The role involves monitoring ethical best practices, developing outreach materials to promote ethical principles, and supporting the creation of ethics training programs. Additionally, the incumbent will assist in developing project documents, reports, presentations, and webinars for staff and management, and undertake any other tasks essential to the Ethics Office's mandate.
Work Experience
A minimum of one year of relevant experience is required for Category C, and at least five years for Category B. Experience should focus on ethics, compliance, UN administrative law, policy drafting and development, and risk assessment and management.
Skills
Essential skills include strong analytical and conceptual thinking, with the ability to efficiently collect and analyze data. Demonstrated written skills in legal policy drafting and report writing are crucial. Excellent communication and negotiation abilities are needed for providing advice, giving presentations, and building relationships. A solid understanding of UN administrative law and the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service is required. Experience in supporting protection against retaliation assessments and working within a UN or multilateral organization is highly desirable. High ethical standards, integrity, and confidentiality are paramount.