Investigation Specialist (Quality Assurance)

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 fraud, theft and embezzlement, corruption, abuse of privileges and immunities, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, workplace harassment, sexual 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.

In addition, OAI may undertake proactive investigations in high-risk areas that are susceptible to fraud, corruption, and other wrongdoings.

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. OAI will operate separate mechanisms for the reporting of alleged non-compliance with UNDP’s social and environmental policies and procedures. 

The Investigations Specialist functionally reports to the Investigations Advisor, Head of the Policy, Quality Assurance and Special Investigations Unit. 

Position Purpose

Under the supervision of the Investigations Advisor, the primary role of the Investigations Specialist (Quality Assurance) is to help to ensure the high quality and legal sufficiency of investigation reports and other documents produced by the Investigation Section.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure the high quality and legal sufficiency of investigation reports and other documents produced by the Investigation Section     

• Review selected reports and other work products prepared by OAI investigators for sufficiency of evidence, accuracy, legal conformity, coherence, and appropriateness of recommendations.
• Provide recommendations and suggest solutions on issues noted when reviewing investigation reports and other work products.
• Review evidence gathered during an investigation and ensure that citations to evidence in investigation reports and other documents are accurate and complete.
• Provide guidance in the drafting of investigation reports and managerial memoranda, ensuring that they are supported by and consistent with relevant information.
• Advise and support with the development of guidelines, templates, and Standard Operating Procedures to improve the quality of investigations and related documents.
• Advise and support in preparing summaries and reports relating to investigations and the work of OAI, for internal and external distribution. 

Ensure efficient Client Services  

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

Facilitate knowledge Management and other tasks 

• Contributes to the ongoing development of professional practices within OAI. 
• Participates in the implementation of his/her personal learning and training development plan. 
• Provide training to members of the Investigation Section designed to increase the quality of reports and other documents.
• Provide guidance to junior consultants and other junior team members.
• Act as a focal point on legal issues related to sexual exploitation abuse, and sexual harassment.
• Keep abreast of the jurisprudence of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) and United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) and advise members of the Investigations Section of relevant decisions.
• Conduct and participate in investigations as required.
• Performs other assignments or tasks as determined by the Investigations Advisor or Deputy Director (Investigations).

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

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 – Investigations of sexual misconduct             

• Ability to discern and handle the intricacies of investigations including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations.

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.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.

Legal: Legal analysis skills            

• The ability to digest a large amount of information and facts to frame and understand an issue, apply the legal framework to the particular set of facts and present a coherent and comprehensive analysis of the situation presented in order to deliver practical and meaningful advice. This skill includes the ability to provide an objective assessment of the case, the organization’s best arguments for proceeding and a recommended course of action. It also includes the capacity to think creatively and flexibly, within the applicable legal framework.

Legal: Legal Research     

• The ability to identify and retrieve information to support legal positions and corporate decision making from all relevant sources. In the UNDP context, this skill includes, amongst other things, proactive seeking of information in anticipation of the different angles that any given issue may present.

Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking 

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Law or related field 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:

• Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in criminal, civil and/or administrative law.
• Substantial experience in writing and editing legal documents.
• Experience working in a role linked to the United Nations internal justice system is desirable.

Language:

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