Associate Programme Officer (Criminal Justice)

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located at the Programme Office in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic with duty station Vientiane, Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The incumbent will report to the Programme Officer (Transnational Organized Crime) based in Vientiane, Lao PDR as First Reporting Officer, to the Programme Coordinator, based in Bangkok, Thailand, as Second Reporting Officer, and to the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, also based in Bangkok, as Additional Reporting Officer. For more information on UNODC, please visit the following website: www.unodc.org.

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority, the incumbent will perform the following specific duties: • Contribute to the development and delivery of technical assistance, mentoring and training to national agencies in Lao PDR in particular, and in Southeast Asia as required, in the areas of crime prevention and criminal justice, particularly in the field of international cooperation in criminal matters, including on mutual legal assistance (MLA) and extradition, through activities of the South East Asia Justice Network (SEAJust) as well as direct technical assistance to Member States upon request. • Participate in strategic dialogues on criminal justice issues, needs assessment, programming, and other technical missions, to evaluate and elaborate technical assistance projects, programmes and activities in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice. • Contribute to identifying areas for inter-agency cooperation and joint programming, including the collaboration with other multilateral institutions and civil society in the assigned substantive area. • Assist in reviewing best practices, methodologies and programmes, in particular in the area of international cooperation in criminal matters, and contribute to their promotion and dissemination. • Contribute to, disseminate and promote the use of UNODC tools, including handbooks and training curricula; • Support and participate in workshops, training sessions and conferences as required, including preparing and delivering presentations. • Assist in and contribute to programmatic and administrative tasks, including monitoring the expenditures and utilization of funds in the assigned areas of responsibility; and draft parts of or contribute to the preparation of the necessary programme or project documents and reports, such as progress reports, work plans, programme budget, funding proposals, programme performance reports. • Contribute to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provide draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Perform other work-related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has understanding and knowledge of the theories, concepts and approaches relevant to crime prevention and criminal justice, in particular international cooperation in criminal matters, as well as the relevant mandates of the UNODC. Has knowledge of policies and processes related to technical cooperation programme/project development, implementation, administration and evaluation as well as programming and budgeting. Is able to assist in the development of professional training materials and the delivery of training courses. Has good analytical, planning, organizational and evaluative skills. Is able to identify and contribute to the solution of problems/issues. Has knowledge of various research methodologies and sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Has ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree of equivalent) in law, criminology, or other related field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the United Nations Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), the United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P).

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible work experience, including at the international level, in the areas of crime prevention and criminal justice OR the successful completion of the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), the United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P) is required. Experience in handling mutual legal assistance (MLA) and relevant international cooperation cases in criminal matters with Central Authorities is desirable. Experience in contributing to the provision of technical assistance on crime prevention and criminal justice to Central Authorities for MLA and relevant international cooperation actors, including prosecutors and judges, is desirable. Work experience in programme planning, monitoring and reporting is desirable. Experience working with the United Nations system or similar international organizations is desirable. Work experience with counterparts in the field is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working language of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency based interview.

Special Notice

This is a project post. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Vientiane is classified a B and a family duty station.

United Nations Considerations

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.