Senior Programme and Policy Officer

Organizational Context

The position is within the Office of the Director, Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA) at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna. The role reports directly to the Director and collaborates closely with DTA leadership and relevant UNODC divisions. UNODC is dedicated to promoting international cooperation to combat illicit drugs and crime.

Job Purpose

This role provides senior-level management support and strategic advice to the Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA) at UNODC. The primary purpose is to advance UNODC's mandates and corporate policies by developing, coordinating, operationalizing, and monitoring the division's work program across thematic areas such as corruption, crime prevention, cybercrime, and organized crime. The incumbent will contribute to the overall management, financial performance, and oversight of these areas, ensuring the timely implementation of strategic decisions and identifying innovative responses to emerging challenges. This includes advising on policy, coordinating joint programming, representing the division, managing resources, and overseeing human rights activities to support the UNODC Strategy.

Responsibilities

Provide senior-level management support and strategic advice to the Director, promoting UNODC mandates and policies. Develop, coordinate, operationalize, and monitor the division's work program across thematic areas including corruption, crime prevention, cybercrime, and organized crime, while overseeing human rights coordination. Offer policy advice and strategic guidance on developing and implementing divisional strategies and inter-divisional policies. Lead consultations and coordination meetings to identify joint programming opportunities and SDG alignment. Represent the Division in interdivisional meetings and task forces. Organize and participate in programme coordination missions to field offices. Support consultative meetings and conferences by preparing documents and presentations. Lead the preparation and submission of funding proposals, monitoring fund utilization and donor compliance. Act as First Reporting Officer and support managerial oversight of thematic branches. Oversee the management of human and financial resources, proposing process improvements. Supervise and guide staff responsible for financial and administrative tasks. Advise the Director on work program priorities and resource allocation, promoting gender and human rights mainstreaming. Lead budget preparation, coordination, and performance reporting. Provide guidance on strategic frameworks and technical cooperation programs. Conduct managerial oversight and quality assurance for program approvals. Lead enterprise risk management activities. Coordinate and consolidate policy documents and prepare division-level contributions for reports and guidelines. Respond to requests for briefing materials and background documentation. Interact with internal and external stakeholders to stay abreast of developments. Represent the organization at events and participate in assessments, evaluations, and audits. Lead the monitoring, analysis, and evaluation of technical reports and facilitate dissemination of best practices. Lead data analysis efforts for planning and decision-making.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in project or programme management, administration, or a related area is required. Experience in mainstreaming human rights and gender-sensitive approaches in program development and implementation is necessary. Experience in coordinating policy-oriented documentation and inputs to reports is required. Familiarity with UN policies, procedures, and budgetary practices is essential. Experience with complex international organizational issues is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Teamwork, Accountability, Managing Performance, Judgement/Decision-making, Policy Advice, Strategic Guidance, Programme Management, Financial Management, Human Rights, Gender Mainstreaming, Negotiation, Problem-Solving, Data Analysis.

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