Investigations Specialist

Investigations Specialist (Lead – Workstream 2)

Job categories: Project Management, Investigation
Vacancy code: VA/2024/B5516/27930
Department/office: AR, SAMCO, Nepal
Duty station: Kathmandu, Nepal
Contract type: Local ICA Specialist
Contract level: LICA Specialist-10
Duration: Open-ended subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and/or satisfactory performance

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

Background Information – Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical, and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

UNOPS Nepal Context:

Since 2015, UNOPS has engaged closely with the Government of Nepal and several development partners in development efforts of the Government of Nepal including the modernization of the Nepal Police and the post-earthquake assessment of damaged buildings and enrollment of beneficiaries into housing grant schemes. UNOPS has helped to improve policing services. It has supported homeowners engaged in the reconstruction process, retrofitting damaged houses, and reconstruction of disability-friendly schools. It has also delivered essential equipment to support COVID-19 response efforts.

The functional objective of UNOPS Nepal is to deliver its projects efficiently and effectively in alignment with government priorities following UNOPS rules and regulations. This is to drive forward the outcomes sought by the clients and funding partners and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while ensuring gender, diversity, and inclusion are mainstreamed in all its work for the people of Nepal.

Project Information:

FCDO’s Security and Justice Programme (SJP) is a five-year Programme (2023-27) with an anticipated budget of up to GBP 35 million. The Programme will continue the now-completed Integrated Programme for Strengthening Security and Justice (IPSSJ)’s dual focus on tackling criminal violence, in particular gender-based violence (GBV), and supporting respective Government entities, including Nepal Police, to strengthen their services.

Building on the ongoing Launch of the SJP (Inception Phase), the larger SJP will support more representative, accountable, and responsive policing and also help tackle gender-based violence in Nepal. The Programme will contribute to the following result areas:

1. Security and justice providers have improved their capacity to serve the public and managing relationships with communities, leading to increased public safety with increased trust from people in the state.
2. Security and justice institutions at the federal, Provincial and Palika levels have effective, accountable, inclusive, and sustainable systems in line with the federal constitutional mandates to improve their skills and better manage their resources to meet people’s security and justice needs.
3. Decreased prevalence of GBV led by increased access to services for those who seek them.

The 2015 constitution of Nepal, envisages the devolution of policing in Nepal into 7 provincial Police Services and a Federal Police Organization (Nepal Police) in the federal sphere. How they combine to provide policing services in Nepal remains a work in progress. It will be highly complex in terms of changes in legislation, policy, administration, and organizational culture, even while standards of coordination and delivery must be maintained across the whole country. The changes will require new ways of working under SJP and create new needs to which UNOPS will seek maximum impact in its project period in at least three target provinces. This is a wide ranging project which will be organized into four workstreams.

In relation to this, UNOPS, as a potential implementing partner for the FCDO, is planning to recruit an Investigations Specialist (Lead for Workstream 2) for the policing component of the SJP programme.

Functional Responsibilities

S/he will have the following specific responsibilities:

• In close coordination with the Senior Project Manager the Specialist will prepare annual work plans to implement project activities related to strengthening Nepal Police’s Investigations capabilities including crime scene investigations and the use of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).
• Build on lessons learned and evidence generated from previous interventions and implement relevant recommendations under the new project as per the approved work plans.
• Provide oversight of the day-to-day operations of the specific Investigations workstream/output related to Investigations under the project.
• Engage with Nepal Police and relevant departments on conducting awareness, specialized training, and implementing relevant software-related interventions.
• Support the Sr. Project Manager in ensuring high-quality reporting to, and discussions with, the Nepal Police and FCDO on approach to Investigations, results, and risk management under the relevant project output.
• Develop and lead strong relationships with key stakeholders (at the federal, provincial, and local levels) in order to ensure coherence in approach and buy-in of project output by relevant Government agencies and local stakeholders.
• Management of relevant personnel (for example, technical experts) and monitoring performance in relation to the project’s objectives.
• Ensure collaboration across other outputs/workstreams of the project.
• Ensure the Investigations workstream’s implementation plan(s) are in line with the project implementation plan(s) and any subsequent adjustments as guided by evidence and learning, within tolerances set by the Senior Project Manager and the Project Board
• Support Senior Project Manager in designing, implementation monitoring, and reporting, including planning, preparation, and coordination throughout the project
• Regularly review the Investigations workstream status, ensuring a skilled assessment of performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, and quality) and deliverables
• Support the Senior Project Manager in the formulation of stakeholder engagement and delivery of influencing efforts based on the best possible understanding of interests and incentives, as well as enabling and blocking factors
• Establish a strong team capable of driving forward the results of the Investigations workstream, taking into account the Employer’s gender parity and diversity objectives

Ultimately, it is the Investigations Specialist’s responsibility to ensure progress on the designated Investigations workstream with synergies with other workstreams, leading to the achievement of the Theory of Change for the SJP’s high-level results. S/he ensures that the right work is conducted to support the Senior Project Manager in achieving programme outcomes by defining (and adjusting as needed) the optimal Investigations of workstream-related outputs and pushing forward the workstream team’s delivery of them within the specified project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk, and benefits.

S/he is also expected to meet the organization’s performance and delivery goals, maintaining the necessary understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders. S/he will ensure the People’s goals of UNOPS run through all project work, including Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI).

The Investigations specialist directly impacts on the achievement of the workstream results by adhering to the technical needs of the targeted interventions and project management methods and strategies, reducing risks, cutting costs, and improving success rates. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• An Advanced University (Master’s) Degree in policing, security, and justice, Investigations, public administration, public sector reform, political science, political economy, or other relevant discipline is required.
• A Bachelor’s Degree preferably in policing, security and Justice, Investigations, public administration, public sector reform, political science, political economy, or other relevant discipline with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A postgraduate qualification in policing would be an asset.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years (7 years with a Bachelor’s degree) of professional experience leading investigations or other complex public service delivery projects will be required.
• Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies in security sector service delivery would be an added advantage.
• Strong understanding of risk management, notably safeguarding, and experience of multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams must be demonstrated.
• Previous experience working with UNOPS or in FCDO-funded projects in implementing similar projects is an asset.
• Experience in the use of Google Suite applications is desirable.

Language:

Fluency in writing, reading, and speaking Nepali and English is required.

Competencies

• Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)
• Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
• Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
• Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
• Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
• Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement Specialist
Contract level: LICA Specialist – 10
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

APPLICATION TIPS
How to send a good application:

• English
• French
• Spanish

TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE
UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.

Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

We are proud of our people. The UNOPS family brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf on our partners. Spread across 80 countries, our workforce is rich in diversity and culture – with inclusion at its core.

We understand the importance of balancing professional and personal demands and offer several flexible working options.

Explore what we offer here.

Application period: 15-Apr-2024 to 30-Apr-2024