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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Champion

How can you make a difference?

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) is an independent office reporting to UNICEF’s Executive Director and the Executive 
Board. Within OIAI, the Investigations Service reviews and investigates allegations of misconduct involving UNICEF staff and other personnel, including fraud, theft, corruption, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, workplace harassment, whistleblower retaliation, and other failures to observe prescribed regulations, rules, relevant administrative issuances and standards of conduct. The Investigation Service  also investigates alleged wrongdoing including fraud and corruption, as well as sexual exploitation and abuse, committed by third parties including institutional contractors and implementing partners.

The position is located in New York. The incumbent, as member of the Strategy, Intake and Analysis Unit, will report to the Chief, Strategy, Intake and Analysis Unit of OIAI’s Investigations Service.

Purpose of the job:

Within limits of delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief, Strategy, Intake, Policy and Reporting Section, the Investigations Specialist will be responsible for ensuring the legal quality and sustainability of the Investigations Service's work, with particular focus on ensuring that investigation processes, findings, and written products are grounded in applicable legal principles and relevant jurisprudence. 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Reviews work products of the Investigations Service, including investigation reports, together with findings and recommendations including for related disciplinary action, to assess their legal sufficiency, factual integrity, and consistency with applicable legal standards;
• Provides legal guidance to investigators on the application of relevant legal principles, procedural standards, and emerging jurisprudence throughout the investigation process, including at the planning, fact gathering and reporting stages;
• Develops, maintains, and updates guidance materials, standard operating procedures, and legal reference tools to support investigators in producing legally sustainable work products;
• Identifies legal and procedural gaps in investigation practice and recommends policy or procedural improvements to address them;
• Designs and delivers training to investigators on legal standards, evidentiary requirements, and best practices relevant to the conduct and documentation of investigations;
• Monitors developments in United Nations jurisprudence, General Assembly resolutions, and Executive Board decisions and advises on their operational implications for the Investigations Service;
• Conducts legal research on assigned matters, including analysis of investigation files, identification of relevant precedents, and drafting of legal analysis in support of findings and recommendations;
• Reviews policies, procedures, and legal agreements issued by other UNICEF business units to identify provisions with implications for the work of OIAI, and provides guidance thereon as appropriate;
• Liaises with the Administrative Law Unit and other relevant offices within UNICEF and the broader United Nations system on case-related and policy matters;
• Assists fulfilling and responding to the Office's reporting obligations;
• Provides advice in relation to UNICEF’s administrative sanctions processes, including by reviewing reports prepared for the Vendor Review Committee and the Implementing Partner Review Board; 
• Conducts preliminary assessments of complaints and drafts assessment memoranda and related documentation as appropriate. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD Investigation Specialist, P-3 #111347.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have… 

• Minimum requirements

• • 1. 1. Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Law, criminal investigation and any other related fields.
          A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
       2. Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in legal activities and/or investigation related functions is required. 
       3. Skills: Strong legal analytical and drafting skills, with the ability to communicate complex legal analysis clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing;
          Ability to provide practical, actionable legal guidance to non-legal professionals in a collaborative and constructive manner;
          Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to investigations with good research, analytical and problem-solving skills;
          Good drafting and research skills to assist in the preparation of complex reports;
          Handles sensitive information with discretion and consistently demonstrates initiative and sound judgment;
          Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
          
       4. Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

• Desirables
  
  
  1. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
     2. Experience with policy development, capacity building, evidence evaluation, disciplinary procedures, governance is desirable.
     3. Experience working in an international or multilateral public institution is an asset.
     4. Experience working in or with the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, the United Nations Appeals Tribunal, and/or the International Labour Organization Administrative Tribunal is an asset. This includes, but is not limited to, experience as counsel, in a registry or case management capacity, or in a legal advisory role involving regular analysis of the jurisprudence of these bodies.
     5. Experience working with administrative sanctions systems within national, international or multilateral public institutions is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.