TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT - Quality Assurance Specialist for Investigations, Investigation Branch, Office of Audit and Investigation Services (OAIS), New York, P-4

The Position:

The Quality Assurance Specialist for Investigations reviews, analyses and conducts quality assessments of critical written work products of the Investigation Branch of the Office of Audit and Investigation Services (OAIS). The Quality Assurance Specialist for Investigations helps ensure that OAIS’ investigative deliverables are of the highest quality, thereby contributing to the effective oversight of UNFPA operations and programs. 

You will report directly to the Chief, Investigations Unit 1 and Chief, Investigations Unit 2. 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

OAIS is an operationally independent office at UNFPA and reports to the Executive Director of UNFPA. The Office is responsible for supporting the achievement of the objectives of UNFPA by contributing to the improvement of its operations, risk management and results through its internal audit, investigation, and advisory services. OAIS is composed of the Office of the Director, an Internal Audit Branch and an Investigation Branch, composed of two Investigations Units. The Investigations Branch is the sole office authorized to perform, manage or authorize investigations at UNFPA.  

OAIS operates a quality assurance function to ensure that Investigations Branch’s work products are of the highest quality and that investigations are conducted in full accordance with applicable policies, United Nations Dispute Tribunal and United Nations Appeals Tribunal jurisprudence, and international investigation standards. The Quality Assurance Specialist for Investigations helps manage the review, improvement, finalization, and issuance of key investigative reports and other investigative work products.  The position constitutes an integral part of the investigation team and supports the successful delivery of OAIS’ investigation services. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in law, criminology or closely related fields. (A first level university degree with a combination of significant relevant education, professional certification(s), training and experience in the field of investigations may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree). 
• Formal training and/or certification in law enforcement methodologies, an asset. Admission to the Bar or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), highly desirable.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible, relevant professional experience in complex criminal and/or administrative investigations, with a proven track record in investigations and at least two (2) years of experience in reviewing, analyzing and assessing investigative reports or findings. 
• Proven ability to assess investigative reports, and accurately analyze, assess and verify findings, observations and make investigation-related recommendations.
• Good knowledge of international civil service law, as it relates to UN policies, procedures and jurisprudence relevant to administrative investigations and decisions and rulings of the relevant tribunals highly desirable. 
• Experience in an International Organization (UN system or multilateral context) highly desirable. 
• Experience in the international or public legal sector highly desirable.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English required, with proven ability to express well verbally and in writing. 
• Good knowledge of other UN official languages (French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Russian), highly desirable.