Chief, Investigations [Open to internal and external applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

- Tier 0 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.

- Tier 1 : Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments

- Tier 2 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers

- Tier 3 or no tier indicated : All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

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. It is comprised of the Audit Section and the Investigations Section. The Investigations Section (OAI/IS) is charged with conducting misconduct investigations and with compliance review of UNDP’s social and environmental policies and procedures and has sole responsibility for the conduct of all investigations within UNDP.

In its performance of misconduct investigations, OAI/IS addresses allegations of misconduct, such as fraud, theft and embezzlement, corruption, abuse of privileges and immunities, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, workplace harassment and abuse of authority, retaliation, or other acts or omissions in conflict with the general obligations and policies that govern the conduct of 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. OAI’s capacity includes specialized Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH), Information Technology (IT) forensics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, and proactive investigations units and resources.

As the provider of a professional, secure and reliable mechanism that responds to and addresses reports of possible misconduct or fraud, OAI is the sole and centralized custodian of a unique dataset of information regarding possible irregularities across UNDP’s operations. As such, OAI has a role to play in providing real-time and data-supported advice to management on wrongdoing risks, controls, lessons and mitigation strategies, and to use this information to develop intelligence-led detection, diversion and proactive investigation strategies that prevent and deter wrongdoing without relying solely on received reports.

OAI conducts misconduct 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’s Investigations Section has established Units, under the supervision of Investigation Chiefs, that are comprised of (a) functionally specialized teams and (b) regionally focused misconduct investigation teams. This structure facilitates the accessibility of specialized functions to the entirety of the Investigations Section under the guidance and leadership of a manager and ensures close and rigorous oversight of investigation matters, also under the appropriate level of leadership.

Duties and Responsibilities

As the Chief, Investigations, Unit 2, which is comprised of Misconduct Investigations regional teams and the Sexual Misconduct Team (SMT), the incumbent is charged with leading OAI’s misconduct investigations in Central and West Africa (CWA) and East and Southern Africa (ESA).

The Chief, Investigations, Unit 2, also operates within a cross-functional model to provide specialized investigation and policy support for Sexual Misconduct matters.

The Investigation Chief functionally reports to the Deputy Director (Investigations).

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 in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

1. Leads Workplace Culture and Teambuilding

- Leads by example, setting the tone for the Unit. Consciously build a supportive, collegiate and positive team culture within the Unit, while supervising staff, promoting best practices, and fostering professional development.

- Works collectively and collaborates professionally with peers and the Head of Investigations to provide thought leadership and constructive challenge to ensure the Office is a dynamic, high-performing, reflective unit that keeps pace with best practice.

- As part of the management team, actively engages and promotes discussions aimed at continued improvement of the Office and the investigation function, ensuring highest impact and efficient, effective practices.

- Supervises staff and non-staff personnel in the Investigations Section and provides clear, fair, supported, and balanced performance feedback and reviews.

- Engages productively, professionally, collaboratively and efficiently with peers, team members, and parties internal and external to the Section to problem-solve as necessary, seek solutions and achieve positive and impactful collective outputs.

- Actively employs management techniques that ensure balance in prioritizing quality output of a high standard and a healthy workplace culture.

- Supports the professional development of staff and/or recruit appropriate personnel to ensure the Unit has the optimal blend of skills necessary to deliver high quality investigations and advisory work.

2. Leads Investigations Management

- he Chief, Investigations, Unit 2 manages investigations teams and the respective caseload, ensuring timely, professional and resource-effective completion and reporting of investigative activity. Assumes accountability for achieving investigation objectives and results.

- Ensures that investigative activity is performed in accordance with international guidelines, relevant institutional policies, and OAI internal policy at a high standard through close oversight of investigative activity and output.

- Leads, manages, and motivates a diverse team based in multiple locations; upholds UNDP and OAI values; sets the right tone for the team; and creates a working environment and culture where everyone can achieve their best.

- Produces, reviews, and ensures the team’s production of, well-evidenced, high-quality reports to form the basis for disciplinary proceedings and/or for referrals to national authorities for criminal investigation and prosecution, as appropriate.

- Conducts regular case reviews to manage the investigation caseload, monitoring the status and timelines of each case.

- Ensures that all appropriate lines of inquiry are identified and pursued; investigation resources are used effectively and efficiently to factually determine the issues relevant to an investigation; and matters are closed as expediently and efficiently as appropriate.

- Provides senior investigation expertise and advice to investigators on all investigative activity, particularly on complex, high-priority and/or otherwise sensitive cases.

- Enhances investigations by leveraging IT forensics, financial forensics, analysis software, AI applications, internal data, open-source tools and information, while adhering to applicable information security and confidentiality principles.

- Ensures the appropriate collection, recording, handling, and securing of evidence.

- Ensures the application of specialist investigation services as and when appropriate (e.g., handwriting analysis, document examination, financial forensics).

- Oversees and, in exceptional circumstances, conducts professional, thorough and timely interviews of witnesses showing appropriate communications skills, accurate recording and verification of testimony using interpreters as required, in accordance with applicable Investigations Section policies.

- Oversees and, in exceptional circumstances, conducts professional, thorough and timely interviews of subjects in accordance with generally accepted best practice procedures in order to obtain reliable information relating to specific allegations of misconduct, while affording due process, in accordance with applicable Investigations Section policies.

- Oversees and, in exceptional circumstances, undertakes, as required, missions to UNDP offices worldwide, including areas with hazardous working conditions.

- Oversees, reviews, and, in exceptional circumstances, undertakes the drafting of investigation reports and other written output of a high standard that require minimal further editing and provide an objective and factual summary of the investigation, with soundly based conclusions and recommendations supported by all evidence obtained in the course of the investigation.

- Ensures accurate and timely maintenance and updating of information held in the investigative database, case files, and evidentiary records, as related to cases under incumbent’s oversight.

- Operates with a cross-functional approach by assisting other investigative units within OAI.

- Improves OAI's capacity to perform thorough and professional investigations through knowledge-sharing and training programs.

- Identifies and addresses underperformance, skills gaps, or conduct issues at first instance through coaching, feedback, and performance management measures, in accordance with UNDP procedures where required.

- Supports the professional development of team members through mentoring, on-the-job guidance, and contributions to performance assessments and development planning.

- Undertakes missions to UNDP offices worldwide, including areas with hazardous working conditions.

3. Ensures Effective Management of the Sexual Misconduct Team (SMT)

- Oversees and manages investigations into allegations of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse within UNDP's operations.

- Ensures the overall management of the OAI SMT response.

- Oversees the investigation caseload, monitoring the status and timelines of each case

- Provides expert guidance to UNDP’s SMT, other OAI investigative teams, and institutional key stakeholders in handling sensitive cases of sexual misconduct.

- Liaises with the UNDP Sexual Misconduct Taskforce, the Office of Legal Services, the Office of Human Resources, the Ethics Office, and other relevant offices in UNDP, on matters related to SMT cases.

- Assesses the potential for sexual misconduct and other misconduct in UNDP offices and operations and provides advisory services to the relevant organizational units to mitigate emerging and actualized risks.

4. Provide leadership and management of high-quality client services, ensuring strategic coordination

- Maintains a role as a visible, active and accessible regional representative, including by liaising with senior officials within the region and bureau; sharing insights from the regional caseload with senior managers; receiving and considering feedback on investigation services; participating in regional or country level conferences or meetings to raise awareness of OAI services.

- Negotiates and liaises with officials from governments, national and international agencies, stakeholders, and partner organizations on investigation-related matters.

- Oversees planning of investigation missions as necessary with investigators, Country Office management, UNDP Security and other stakeholders.

- Liaises with the Office of Legal Services (OLS), the Ethics Office, the Procurement Support Office, operational units and Country Offices, the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit and other relevant business units in UNDP.

- Liaises with the investigation sections of other international organizations and with national anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies as appropriate.

5. Represents OAI, Risk Management and Facilitate Knowledge Management

- Represents OAI at the United Nations Representatives of Investigative Services(UNRIS), the Conference of International Investigators (CII), and other forums, as required.

- Contributes to the ongoing development of professional practices within OAI and UNDP’s management practice and stays abreast of developments in the investigation field.

- Participates in the implementation of his/her personal learning and training development plan.

- Provides testimony at relevant tribunals, as required and as appropriate relative to tasks overseen, performed, or over which the incumbent has qualification and expertise.

- Provides timely information to OAI senior management on investigation-related matters and ad-hoc assignments.

- Prepares risk-based information for dissemination to stakeholders at different levels in UNDP for continuous improvement of risk management.

- Implements and enforces appropriate measures to ensure handling of all investigation-related information in accordance with appropriate confidentiality requirements.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervision and performance management of Investigations Specialists, Investigations Analyst(s), Non-personnel, Interns

Competencies

Core:

- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site .

Cross Functional and Technical:

- 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.

- 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.

- 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.

- 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 - 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.

- Business Management - Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

- 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. Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

- Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Investigations, Law, Management, Finance, or related field is required. Or

- A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the fields of study mentioned above, in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience, which will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

- A minimum of 10 years (with master’s degree) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of complex criminal and administrative investigations is required.

- Experience in conducting criminal and/or administrative investigations across multiple geographic locations and conducting quality assurance reviews and legal assessments in the field of investigations is required.

- Experience in supervising a team of investigators and managing a large and varied caseload of administrative or criminal investigations is required.

- Experience designing and executing risk assessment frameworks to manage and prioritize a high-volume portfolio of complex administrative, misconduct, fraud, corruption, sexual misconduct, or safeguarding investigations is desired.

- Experience providing strategic advice to senior leadership on sensitive investigative matters and organizational risk is desired.

- Experience in policy development through consultation and collaboration with institutional partners is desired.

- Experience working in an international investigations role, and in the role of a senior investigations manager is desired.

- Experience leading or supervising complex investigations into sexual misconduct, applying victim-centered methodologies, is desired.

- Experience conducting field-based investigations in complex, high-risk, or fragile/conflict-affected operational environments is desired.

- Proficiency in leveraging data analytics, digital evidence, artificial intelligence applications, and forensic resources to enhance investigative outcomes is desired.

- A professional certification in the field of national and international investigations is desired.

Language:

- Fluency in English is required.

- Working knowledge of another UN language is desired.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.