Chief, Investigations

Job Description

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 i