Senior Ethics Officer

Organizational Context

The United Nations Ethics Office, established in 2006 within the UN Secretariat, operates independently to provide confidential ethical guidance, administer the financial disclosure program, and manage the protection against retaliation policy. It also develops ethics standards, training, and outreach, promoting policy coherence across the Secretariat and its funds and programmes. This Senior Ethics Officer role reports to the Director of the Ethics Office.

Job Purpose

The Senior Ethics Officer will lead the Protection against Retaliation (PaR) and Outreach Unit, conducting preliminary reviews of retaliation requests, assessing findings, and proposing prevention actions. The role involves secondary reviews of determinations made by other Ethics Offices, formulating management recommendations, and collaborating with stakeholders to interpret and update the ethical framework. The officer will develop the Office's strategy for preventing retaliation and protecting staff, prepare reports on accountability, and contribute to policy coherence and standard-setting. Additionally, the position involves developing ethics training content, outreach strategies, and coordinating Secretariat-wide initiatives like the Leadership Dialogue series, while also advising on procurement ethics and supporting the Director in managing the Office and its strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

Lead the Protection against Retaliation (PaR) and Outreach Unit, including conducting preliminary reviews of PaR requests, drafting prima facie case findings, and reviewing investigation reports. Assess and propose retaliation prevention actions, and conduct secondary reviews of determinations from other Ethics Offices. Formulate management recommendations and potential protections, collaborating with stakeholders like the Administrative Law Division and Office of Legal Affairs to update the ethical framework. Develop the Office's strategy for staff protection against retaliation and prepare reports on related issues. Contribute to policy coherence and standard-setting by providing functional leadership to the Ethics Panel of the UN (EPUN) and preparing high-level policy advice. Develop ethics training content, outreach strategies, and coordinate Secretariat-wide leadership dialogues. Act as a liaison for procurement ethics, reviewing credentials of independent experts and advising on queries. Assist the Director in managing the Office, supervising colleagues, coordinating reports for the General Assembly, and representing the Office before policy-making organs.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressive experience in public administration, ethics, compliance, administrative law, or related fields within a public sector organization is required. Five years of experience implementing whistleblower protection mechanisms is also mandatory. Experience with governance and legislative processes in an international organization is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, analytical and evaluative capabilities, ethics advice, protection against retaliation, public procurement, corporate compliance, business ethics, whistleblower protection, leadership, communication, teamwork, managing performance.

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