Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Investigator will be responsible for the following duties: – Drafts investigative plans. – Conducts investigation/evidence collection related activities, including field missions to gather evidence; in-person witness and remote witness interviews (including with victims/survivors, contextual witnesses, and insider witnesses); and meetings with information providers, intermediaries, and other sources of information and evidence ensuring appropriate witness protective/support measures are adopted. – Identifies potential sources and investigative leads relevant to IIIM’s structural investigation and casefile building, manages relationships with a wide variety of investigative sources, and plans investigative and evidence collection activities, including determining the information that needs to be gathered during contacts with witnesses and potential witnesses, how best to obtain such information and documenting investigative steps that need to be undertaken including in investigation plans. – In collaboration with analysts, legal officers and other investigators evaluates the evidence collected by the IIIM to identify gaps that require further targeted criminal investigative activity and presents findings from investigation activities in written reports, updated investigation plans and other documentation. – Represents the IIIM in briefings, conferences, and meetings together with other IIIM staff as well as actors external to the IIIM including national law enforcement officials, national prosecutors, government officials, civil society actors, UN personnel and other partners relevant to the IIIM’s mandate.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrated ability to conduct large scale and complex investigations involving international crimes and/or demonstrated ability to conduct in-depth field research to prepare analysis/reporting relating to international crimes. Ability to analyse complex political, military, paramilitary, and other related groups’ structure and activities in relation to allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, including sexual crimes, violence, and abuses. Ability to employ sound professional investigative experience to produce high-quality investigative work product, including investigation plans, mission plans, mission reports, investigative reports, and written statements. Ability to review evidence gathered from a range of sources to identify gaps that require further targeted investigative activity. Ability to present investigative findings in a clear and concise manner. Familiarity with and experience in the use of various research methodologies and sources of information, including digital and human sources. Ability to work in a high-tech environment. Shows pride in work and in achievements. 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 and 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.

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 decision may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishment and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, police studies, human rights, journalism or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in law, police studies, human rights, journalism, or a related field in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Formal qualifications and/or certifications in Investigations pursuant to a course of study, training and examinations of a state/national law enforcement institution, a national military academy, or a federal/national intelligence service training institution in combination with four additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the first-level university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible work experience in criminal or other related investigations, including human rights investigations, investigative fact-finding or investigative journalism relating to international crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes is required. Experience conducting investigative interviews with insider witnesses and vulnerable victim/survivor-witnesses in a criminal investigation, human rights investigation, investigative factfinding, or investigative journalism context is required. Prior experience performing investigative work in Syria or working directly with those who have been detained in Syria is desirable. Experience investigating aerial strikes in Syria, including the use of chemical and explosive weapons is desirable. Experience investigating detention related crimes in Syria is desirable. Extensive experience working with networks of Syrian civil society organizations as investigative intermediaries whether in an investigative mechanism, domestic law enforcement, a non-governmental organization investigating atrocity crimes, or as an investigative journalist is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is desirable.