Director, Division for Operations

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in Vienna.

Under the supervision of the Executive Director (ED) of UNODC, and within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for leading, coordinating and managing technical assistance activities in the areas of drug control and crime prevention, and manage the work of the Division for Operations.

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Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Director will be responsible for the following specific duties:

• Direct and manage the Division for Operations (DO), which comprises an extensive network of Field Offices, the Border Management Branch (BMB), and four Regional Sections (Regional Section for Europe, West and Central Asia (RSEWCA), Regional Section for Africa and the Middle East (RSAME), Regional Section for Latin America and the Caribbean (RSLAC) and Regional Section for South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific (RSSAEAP)).
• Contribute to the formulation of the Office's and Division's overall strategies and policies and advocacy efforts by participating in the Executive Committee, preparing documents on policy issues, and acting, as required, in an advisory capacity to the ED.
• Provide leadership to the development of innovative and/or change management programmes, being an advocate for Change Management at UNODC for enhanced and more efficient operations.
• Formulate and implement the substantive work programme of the Division and determine priorities, and allocate resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
• In-line with the UNODC Strategy, oversee the management and implementation of technical assistance activities in the areas of drug control and crime prevention. Develop, lead, coordinate, manage, support resource mobilization and further develop global, regional and country programmes in the areas of drug control and crime prevention. Ensure that programmed activities are delivered/carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinate work within the Division and with other UNODC Divisions, as well as with senior representatives of both donor and recipient countries, other organizations of the United Nations System, international financial institutions, and inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations.
• Oversee the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Division, including the preparation of results-based budgets, the monitoring and evaluation of performance parameters and indicators, and the reporting on budget/programme performance and on programmatic/substantive issues of a wide range of country, regional and global programmes falling under the responsibility of the Division for Operations. Lead periodic programme development initiatives and inter-divisional and other field office monitoring missions.
• Oversee the recruitment, management and evaluation of staff for the Office/Division and Field Offices, including taking account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.
• Manage, guide, develop and train staff under his/her supervision; foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Office/Division and across organizational boundaries. Ensure that the outputs produced by the Office/Division maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensure that all outputs produced by the office/division under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates. Ensure timely implementation of accepted audit observations related to integrated programming at Headquarters and in the field.
• Chair international meetings and programme steering committees, conferences, seminars, and other events on substantive and operational issues, including inter-divisional committees at Headquarters; participate in the deliberations of the Executive Committee and other decision-making bodies; represent the Office/Division at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conference; provide programmatic/substantive expertise on drug control and crime prevention issues, and hold programmatic/substantive/advocacy and organizational discussions with senior representatives of Member States and other institutions and partners.
• Co-ordinate and oversee the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Commission for Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and other policy making organs, including the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the General Assembly and report to such bodies on technical needs, programme performance, substantive issues and funding needs, as appropriate.
• Perform other work-related duties as requested by the Executive Director of the Office.

Competencies

Professionalism:
Has excellent knowledge of development issues and proven ability to conceive and implement technical assistance programmes

In particular:
(i) has comprehensive knowledge of United Nations policies, technical cooperation procedures and operations on the ground; (ii) is fully committed to the Sustainable Development Goals and a strong understanding of the impact of the rule of law and good governance on their achievement; (iii) demonstrates ability to represent the organization in discussions with senior officials in governments, international and regional organizations, civil society and at conferences and other meetings; and (iv) demonstrates ability to use standard computer applications. Has a solid knowledge of the United Nations system and its administrative procedures. Shows ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Shows ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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.

Accountability:

Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Leadership:

Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

• Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, public administration, political or social science, international relations or similar field of study is required.

A first-level university degree in one of the aforementioned disciplines in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

Over fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in development planning and implementation of technical assistance programmes and projects at the national and international levels with profound exposure to the areas of drug control and crime prevention is required.

Extensive work experience in senior management assignments in an international development assistance or financial organization is required.

Proven extensive work experience in managing large work units in the field with a large portfolio of programmes with exposure to the areas of drug control and crime prevention is required.

Work experience in managing technical cooperation activities in a field environment including in developing countries is required. Work experience with demonstrated results in resource mobilization of development cooperation programmes is desirable. Experience working with the United Nations system or similar international organization and its administrative policies and procedures is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of at least another official United Nations language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

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.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

All staff at the D2 Level and above are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon appointment and annually thereafter.

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. Vienna is classified in the H category (family duty station).

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 March 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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.

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