Senior Evaluation and Strategy Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is located in the Independent Evaluation Section (IES), of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, Austria.

IES is functionally and operationally independent and located in the Office of the Executive Director (OED) of UNODC.

IES ensures independent, timely and effective evaluations, in line with the standards and norms of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG), and delivers capacity building, develops innovative evaluation methodologies, and offers services related to evaluation knowledge management, innovation and communication.

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Evaluation Officer acting as Deputy Chief of IES. For more information on UNODC, please visit the website

Responsibilities

Within limits of assigned authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties:

• Actively support the Chief and the Evaluation Officer acting as Deputy Chief of IES as UNODC focal point for the Sub-Group on Evaluation of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Resource Mobilisation, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, engage with various other UN entities, including in particular UNOCT (United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism), UNICRI (United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), and others, on a range of topics related to UNODC's mandated area of work, such as on evaluations and evaluative services and products relating to counter-terrorism and related presentations of results at international events and conferences like the Counter-Terrorism week or High-Level Political Forum.
• Actively support the Chief and the Evaluation Officer acting as Deputy Chief of IES as a focal point within UNODC and with other UN entities and Member States for coordinating work pertaining to the exchange of experiences and knowledge from the evaluations relating to preventing and countering terrorism contained in the new resolution E/CN.15/2023/L.7 from 2023 by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ).
• Oversee, under the supervision of the Chief and Evaluation Officer acting as Deputy Chief, the full range of implementation management of IES' Global Project GLOH92 and IES at large, supporting the Chief of IES in related strategic decision-making within UNODC but also beyond in the context of system-wide and joint work, including reporting on evaluation-related information to the UNODC Executive Director and Member States.
• Contribute to the management of Joint as well as UNODC Strategic and In-Depth Evaluations and the backstopping of Independent Project Evaluations, through field missions and the reporting of results to Member States and the Executive Director.
• Serve as an information and research focal point as well as a coordinator on evaluation matters for UNODC's work on joint and system-wide evaluations, as well as across UNODC Field Offices and HQ, including issues pertaining to strategic, policy, programme and project evaluation and the SDGs; liaise with other UN entities for joint evaluations as well as staff in the field and at Headquarters involved in evaluation.
• Actively contribute to the review of all UNODC project/programme documents and related revisions for their compliance with the UNODC norms and standards for evaluation as part of the Director Approval process and the Programme Review Committee and feed the information back to the Chief and Deputy Chief of IES for reporting purposes, including to OIOS, BoA, Member States and the Executive Director.
• Systematically follow up on and retrieve UNODC-wide information on completed, on-going and up-coming evaluation related activities, including human rights and gender aspects, and offer these products for inclusion of results of evaluations in project and programme development to provide information for the Chief of IES to report to the Executive Director and Member States.
• Produce analytical, quantitative and qualitative inputs to UNODC's Meta-Syntheses, the UN-wide Meta-Synthesis on Sustainable Development Goal 16 ("Peace pillar") and other related products of IES in line with international best practices.
• Participate and oversee, under the supervision of the Evaluation Officer acting as Deputy-Chief of IES, Meta-Syntheses-related work (e.g., data collection, analysis and report drafting), including products and services beyond UNODC (e.g. in the context of the UN-wide Meta-Synthesis on SDG 16), which are presented to UNODC Senior Management, in particular the Executive Director, and Member States.
• Supervise and oversee the tasks of junior levelled staff at IES related to budget planning and implementation, staff and consultants' recruitment, procurement, time and attendance, and other related areas.
• Track resolution and other legislative decisions on evaluation in UNODC, the UN Secretariat and the UN at large to provide information and advice to the Chief of IES and the Evaluation Officer acting as Deputy Chief of IES on related implications for evaluation at UNODC and for reporting purposes to the Executive Director and Member States.
• Oversee, under the supervision of the Evaluation Officer acting as Deputy-Chief of IES, the preparation of an evaluation resolution database to ensure the incorporation of changes in the UNODC Evaluation Policy, related processes and structures. Provide advice to Field Offices and Headquarters of UNODC on mandatory evaluation criteria, processes and structures for projects and programmes at UNODC, in line with the UNODC Evaluation Policy and the Administrative Instructions on Evaluation in the UN Secretariat ST/AI/2021/3.
• Participate in Secretariat-wide technical discussions, in particular the continuous development of IPMR and the innovative UNODC-wide evaluation management application, "Unite Evaluations", including its application across UNODC Field Offices and HQ.
• Contribute to the continuous development and update of the UNODC-wide evaluation management application, "Unite Evaluations", including in consultation with other Secretariat-based evaluation functions (e.g., UNEP, ESCAP, UNOCT, PPBS, BTAD, etc.), to strengthen its potential application beyond UNODC.
• Select and analyse a variety of documents, summarise pertinent material, collect and analyse data and prepare background materials for internal analyses, independent evaluations or other related products.
• Act as focal point for all communication-related activities of IES, including in the context of strategic evaluations of UNODC at large and the development and dissemination of new products and services to UNODC staff, Senior Management as well as Member States.
• Provide administrative support in the recruitment process of evaluation consultants and staff.
• Provide guidance and training to junior staff and consultants.
• Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism:

Knowledge of internal and UN Secretariat policies, processes and procedures generally and in particular those related to strategic/programme/project evaluation, programming and budgeting as well as Results-Based Management, qualitative and quantitative research methods, Human Rights and Gender, as well as communication and dissemination of information related to evaluation for decision-making.

Understanding of the work of different UN entities, in particular in the context of joint and system wide evaluation and meta-syntheses.

Understanding of the functions and organization of the work unit and of the organizational structure and respective roles of related units, including UNODC field offices.

Understanding of risks and related mitigating measures by conducting a variety of strategic and programmatic work in the context of evaluation services and products.

Understanding of information and analysis needs for strategic decision making and for reporting to multiple stakeholders, including Member States and the Executive Director as well as OIOS and BoA.

Ability to identify, independently assess, formulate recommendations and/or resolve a wide range of issues/problems, undertake research and gather information from a wide range of sources and to work well with figures including the ability to analyse and understand financial data for informing strategic decision-making and reporting.

Ability to work with multiple international organisations to implement strategic and joint evaluation services and products and coordinate these efforts.

Ability to maintain and further develop an integrated evaluation and knowledge management system. Ability to direct, supervise and train administrative project staff and consultants.

Demonstrated ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given and discretion, resourcefulness, and ability to deal proactively and tactfully with offices throughout the organization and the UN system at large.

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.

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

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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of work experience in project/programme/strategic evaluation in an international organization is required.

The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to 8 for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.

Work experience related to international coordination, project administration, research, Results-Based Management, including programming and budgeting in accordance with UN financial and administrative procedures is required.

Experience in supervising staff and consultants is required. Experience in contributing to the management of joint and system-wide evaluations and meta-syntheses is required. Experience in providing background information and related analysis for strategic decision-making is required. Work experience with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is required. Work experience in and knowledge of evaluation methodologies in an international organization is desirable. Work experience in UNODC mandated areas of work is desirable. Work experience related to Gender Equality and Human Rights aspects is desirable. Work experience with SAP/Umoja is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, 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 position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules.

Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located.

Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station.

Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

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 movement of staff members from the General Service and related categories to the Professional category in the United Nations Secretariat is exclusively allowed through the Young Professionals Programme competitive examinations.

Only a few staff members pass the competitive examinations. Passing the competitive examinations does not guarantee movement to the Professional category. For further information, please visit

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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