The Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) reports to the Administrator and is responsible for internal audit and investigations services to UNDP and its affiliated entities.

The Investigations Section of OAI conducts assessments and investigations into allegations of misconduct, such as assault and/or threat, discrimination, fraud, theft and embezzlement, corruption, abuse of privileges and immunities, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, workplace harassment and abuse of authority, retaliation on whistleblowers, or other acts or omissions in conflict with the general obligations that involve UNDP staff and other personnel.

OAI also investigates allegations of fraud and other financial irregularities committed by contractors, implementing partners and other third parties, deemed to be detrimental to UNDP.  Where vendors are found to have engaged in proscribed practices (including, for example, corruption, collusion, and unethical conduct) OAI provides all relevant evidence to the UNDP Vendor Review Committee for consideration of sanctions against the vendors involved. OAI may undertake proactive investigations in high-risk areas that are susceptible to fraud, corruption, and other wrongdoings.

OAI has established a Social and Environmental Compliance Unit to conduct compliance reviews for UNDP’s social and environmental policies and procedures.

OAI has also established a Sexual Misconduct Team (SMT) which is responsible for conducting all investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct reported to OAI, including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment.

OAI has the sole responsibility for the conduct of all investigations within UNDP. OAI conducts investigations in accordance with the Uniform Principles and Guidelines for Investigations endorsed by the 10th Conference of International Investigators, with the UNDP Legal Framework for Addressing Non-Compliance with the United Nations Standards of Conduct, and with the OAI Investigation Guidelines.

OAI maintains multi-language, toll-free reporting facilities (telephone hotline, web-based reporting facility, email, postal address and other means as appropriate) that function around the clock to facilitate staff, management and others to report any instances of fraud, corruption or other wrongdoings including sexual misconduct. OAI operates separate mechanisms for the reporting of alleged non-compliance with UNDP’s social and environmental policies and procedures.

Position Purpose and Organizational Context

The Investigations Specialist, Head of SMT, functionally reports to the Investigations Manager on investigation cases, under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director (Investigations).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Investigations Manager, the primary role of the Investigations Specialist, Head of SMT, is to conduct generally, as a team leader and as an investigator, investigations into alleged sexual misconduct that falls within OAI’s mandate, as outlined in ‘Organizational Context’ above.

Within that role, the Investigations Specialist, Head of SMT, will be OAI’s Sexual Misconduct Focal Point and will focus on the investigation of allegations of sexual misconduct. The Investigations Specialist, Head of SMT, will be OAI’s representative in all internal and external groups and committees developing and implementing policies and initiatives relating to UNDP’s response to sexual misconduct, and raising organizational awareness for the prevention of sexual misconduct.

The Investigations Specialist, Head of SMT, will supervise the work of Investigations Specialists at the P3 level assigned to the SMT and will complete their annual performance appraisals.

As Head of the SMT, the Investigations Specialist plans, coordinates and conducts the work of the SMT, including the work outlined below, to ensure that all appropriate lines of inquiry and associated work streams are identified, and OAI resources are used effectively and efficiently to investigate cases of sexual misconduct:

• In coordination with the Investigations Manager, manages the caseload assigned to the SMT.
• Plans and conducts investigations into allegations in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures and the OAI investigation guidelines.
• Plans investigations to ensure that all appropriate lines of inquiry are identified, and investigation resources are used effectively and efficiently to factually determine the issues relevant to an investigation.
• Identifies, collects, and analyses information, using software, internal data and open-source information relevant to investigations, demonstrating an understanding of information security and confidentiality issues.
• Collects, records, and handles evidence appropriately, ensuring chain of custody and demonstrating knowledge of handling considerations for different types of evidence.
• Uses specialist investigation services as and when appropriate (for example, document examination and computer forensics).
• Interviews victims, complainants, and witnesses, showing appropriate communications skills, accurate recording, and verification of testimony through the use of interpreters as required.
• Interviews subjects/suspects in accordance with generally accepted best practice procedures (in order to obtain reliable information, while affording due process).
• Undertakes frequent, and at times extended, missions to UNDP offices worldwide, including areas with hazardous working conditions.
• Keeps the Investigation Section’s database and case files up to date on cases under investigation.
• Proposes action to close matters where appropriate.
• Drafts investigation reports and other relevant documents of a high standard, providing an objective and factual summary of the investigation, with soundly based conclusions and recommendations.

Leads and manages the SMT and supervises the work of Investigations Specialists at the P3 level assigned to the SMT, as well as consultants:

• Plans the work of SMT personnel and distributes workload among SMT personnel appropriately.
• Provides senior expertise and advice to SMT personnel so that the work of the SMT is performed in the most professional, efficient, and timely manner.
• Appraises the work performance of SMT personnel.
• Recruit personnel for the SMT as necessary.

Client Services:

• Liaises with the Office of Legal Services (OLS), the Ethics Office, the UNDP Sexual Misconduct Taskforce, and other relevant offices in UNDP.
• Liaises with the investigation sections of other international organizations and with national law enforcement agencies as appropriate.

Other Tasks:

• Contributes to the ongoing development of professional practices within OAI.
• Assesses the potential for sexual misconduct and other misconduct in UNDP offices and operations.
• Contributes to risk assessment planning.
• Participates in the implementation of his/her personal learning and training development plan.
• Keeps him/herself abreast of the jurisprudence of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) and United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT).
• Performs other assignments or tasks as determined by the Investigations Manager.

Competencies

Core:

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.

Cross-Functional & Technical:

Audit & Investigation: Investigation – Investigation management and investigative techniques 

• The ability to manage an investigation, choose avenues of inquiry and apply different techniques during an investigation, including investigative interviewing; seizure of documentary and electronic evidence; identification, collection, review and analysis of all types of evidence, including project, procurement and commercial business documentation and electronic communications; forensic analysis; verification site visits; open source research

Audit & Investigation: Investigation – Collection and analysis of evidence

• Ability to extract and analyze all relevant types of evidence and be able to draw reasonable inferences and conclusions.

Audit & Investigation: Investigation – Investigative Interviewing

• Ability to conduct investigative interviews with all types of investigation participants, including witnesses and subjects, using an approach tailored to the interviewee and the investigation.

Audit & Investigation: Investigation – Technology tools and applications for investigations 

• Ability to understand key application and system software, IT infrastructure, IT Control frameworks and the use of forensic investigation software.

Business Management: Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Business Direction & Strategy Business Acumen

• Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
• Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the Organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.

Business Direction & Strategy Effective Decision Making

• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Masters) in investigations, management, finance, law or related field, OR
• A bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years additional experience in conducting criminal and/or administrative investigations as an investigator will be given due consideration (in addition to the 7 years of investigations experience required below).
• A combination of formal professional training from a national law enforcement or investigations academy or equivalent, and at least 2 years’ additional experience in conducting criminal and/or administrative investigations as an investigator (in addition to the 7 years of investigation experience required below) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Formal professional training in a comprehensive range of investigation-related areas is an advantage.

 Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years with master’s degree or 9 years with bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible professional experience in complex criminal and/or administrative investigations or equivalent experience.
• At least one year of experience working within an international investigation role is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of other United Nations official languages is highly desirable.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements