Ethics Advisor

The UNDP Ethics Office cultivates and nurtures a culture of ethics, integrity and accountability at UNDP, thereby enhancing the trust in, and the credibility of, the United Nations, both internally and externally. The Ethics Office assists the UNDP Administrator in ensuring that all personnel perform their functions consistent with the highest standards of integrity as required by the Charter of the United Nations. The Office is a confidential resource where personnel may consult on ethics issues and seek protection against retaliation for reporting misconduct.

Position Purpose

In collaboration with the other Ethics Advisor and other UNDP Ethics Office personnel, the Ethics Advisor will advise and support the Director of the Ethics Office in carrying out his/her responsibilities in the following areas:

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide Confidential Ethics Advice and Guidance to Staff, Non-Staff Personnel and Management (Including Senior Management):

• Provide confidential advice and guidance on ethics and standards of conduct to individual staff and business units, ethical business decision making, ethical behavior, and on organizational resources available to them.
• Advise of possible avenues to address sensitive situation and ethical dilemmas facing the individual. Work with the Director, or at the Director’s request, on responding to various questionnaires and/or requests for information received by the organization where Ethics’ input is required or warranted.
• Ensure a more informed and engaged staff (and other personnel) committed to embedding and living the values of an ethical culture in UNDP.
• Advise staff and non-staff personnel on the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and how ethical decision-making must be a part of daily activities at work.
• Based on the facts presented by an individual seeking advice and guidance, the Ethics Advisor provides advice on various courses of action a staff member or non-staff personnel may take in his or her personal or professional life to avoid compromising his or her official duties.

Administer the Financial Disclosure Programme (FDP) and Address Potential Conflicts of Interest:

• Administer the rollout of the annual Financial Disclosure Programme and serve as initial provider of advice and guidance under the FDP Policy.
• Raise awareness within UNDP on what constitutes a conflict of interest (COI) and support staff and non-staff personnel with advice and guidance on how to resolve any cases of COI that are reported by or detected in the activities or disclosures of individuals working for UNDP.
• Prepare all memos and bulletins to announce and roll-out the annual programme.
• Draft and issue memos to all FDP focal points to identify annual filers.
• Monitor compliance by all staff and select individuals who are required to submit statements.
• Refer violations or failure to comply with the policy to the Director of the Ethics Office and/or appropriate units.
• Review information submitted by staff and follow-up on the cases of potential conflict of interest as needed, providing appropriate advice and guidance.
• Conduct verification exercise on a representative sample of filers to ensure accuracy in their filings.
• Monitor the Ethics Office email box and address requests for approval to engage in outside activities.
• Advise staff about existing mechanisms for reporting restricted or prohibited activities (such as accepting gifts or participating in unauthorized outside activities) or for granting authorization for them.

Protect Staff and Non-staff Personnel from Retaliation and Promote Whistleblowing:

• Advise and Support the Director of the Ethics Office in reviewing requests for protection against retaliation. The EA will: Monitor and track all requests for protection against retaliation reported to the Ethics Office.
• Advise and support the Director of the Ethics Office in reviewing the case and in establishing if a prima facie case exists.
• Advise and Support the Director of the Ethics Office in recommending appropriate corrective measures for protection of the individual seeking protection.
• Monitor and follow-up on all administrative actions taken with respect to the individual requesting protection.
• Draft the necessary report(s) supporting or declining to find a prima facie case, and letters transmitting findings at the conclusion of the preliminary review and investigation (if any);
• Performs other functions as the Director of the Ethics Office considers important;
• Adequately document all actions taken by the Organization with respect to cases of retaliation that are filed with the Ethics Office.

Promote awareness through outreach/communication and provide Advocacy, Education and Training on Ethics, Values, and Standards:

• Responsible for assisting the Director in developing and delivering training and education on ethics issues.
• Contributes substantially to developing the content and method of delivery for periodic ethics training, including live classroom-based training.
• Coordinates and delivers training efforts by collaborating with other key contacts within and outside of UNDP to tailor the training to the needs of the group and to enhance the curriculum of ethics training.
• Develops, updates and revises training modules targeted at specific audiences in response to the evolving needs of the organization.
• Take a substantive role in raising awareness in the Organization regarding ethics and ethical issues so that the ethical culture in the organization is strengthened.
• Reinforce and raise awareness of staff and non-staff personnel regarding the ethics and accountability practices and standards of the Organization and develop strategies and methods to disseminate to staff and non-staff personnel the resource materials necessary to foster ethical conduct and ethical decision-making.

Consult on Policy Development, and Standard Setting;

• Advise and support the Director in developing standards, drafting, reviewing and/or editing policies within the ambit and control of the Ethics Office.
• Apprise Director of ethics-related risks (as they arise) that may be of important to senior management,
• Provide statistical and narrative reports on all activities undertaken during the preceding year, to be incorporated into the annual report of the Ethics Office.
• Draft the annual report of the Ethics Office to the Director and to the Executive Board of UNDP.
• In the absence of the Director of the Ethics Office, the Ethics Advisor will represent UNDP on the Ethics Panel of the UN.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree, or equivalent) in Law, Ethics, Corporate Compliance, Human Resources Management, or similar disciplines or related field of studies is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 (ten) years (with master’s degree) or twelve (12) years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional work experience in ethics, legal, human resources or investigation function.
• Progressively responsible experience serving in an ethics, legal, human resources, or investigation function is required, preferably in the United Nations system or in other multilateral organizations is required.
• Experience in supervision and management, preferably at the managerial level in UN system, international setting or with a multinational team is desired.
• Demonstrated ability to make sound judgments and ability to communicate advice with authority to senior managers regarding interpretation of legal frameworks and application of standards of conduct is desired.
• An impeccable record for integrity and ethical behavior is required.
• Proven conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills; and an ability to conduct independent research and analysis of jurisprudence of international administrative tribunals is an asset.
• Proven track record of demonstrated ability to communicate effectively on highly sensitive issues with staff and managers at all levels, with particular emphasis on developing trust and demonstrating fairness is an asset.
• Proven track record of excellent drafting and communications skills is an advantage.
• Admission to practice law or professional certification in the field of ethics, compliance, or oversight would be an asset.
• Fluency in English, (written and verbal) is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Application deadline: 17 February at 23.59 PM New York time.