UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

The Investigations Section of the Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) conducts investigations to examine and determine the veracity of all allegations received concerning corrupt and fraudulent practices and allegations of misconduct that involve UNICEF staff, consultants, non-staff personnel and institutional contractors. OIAl's investigations cover all forms of misconduct including but not limited to: fraud; corruption; workplace harassment; sexual harassment; abuse of authority; and failure to observe prescribed regulations, rules, administrative issuances and standards of conduct.

Investigation Managers at the P4 level are authoritative experts in the field of investigations. These positions are not only responsible for conducting investigations but are also for regularly supporting senior management in policy direction and design. Accordingly, it is expected that they, in addition to being experienced and competent investigators, can develop original and innovative means to help advance the profession and also tackle highly complex matters that do not follow established patterns.

Under the guidance of the Chief of the Fraud Team, our Investigation Manager conducts case assessments, considering if the report is within OIAI’s mandate, and whether the matter is appropriate for investigation or can be addressed by other means. You will investigate cases of alleged misconduct by impartially establishing facts based on evidence identified and gathered from available sources. Such evidence may be inculpatory or exculpatory, and you are expected to identify appropriate lines of enquiry as part of impartial administrative, fact-finding investigations and assessments.

Your accountabilities will include Case assessment, conduct and management of investigations, Reporting and Presenting reports and other investigative documents and briefings.

We are seeking an experienced investigation practitioner, capable of exercising sound judgement based on the facts of a case to arrive at well-reasoned findings and recommendations. This experience and judgement will manifest itself in the expeditious pursuit of investigations and case assessments and the appropriate and the timely finalization of cases with high quality reports.

You will plan and conduct sensitive and sometimes complex investigations, which require analysis of a broad range of subjects in the course of detecting fraud and other misconduct. In doing so, you establish the validity and accuracy of allegations, identify valid lines of investigation and conclude such investigations expeditiously by producing accurate, well-presented written reports. Such work greatly influences the course of the investigation and enhances the ability of UNICEF senior leadership to take appropriate action as required.

Finally, you will identify themes and issues from investigations pertinent to the wider organization and present these for consideration by senior management, along with appropriate, considered recommendations.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Job Description Investigation Manager P4 OP Budapest.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) is required in law, forensic science, criminal justice, criminology, or another related field.
A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience: A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in investigations that may include administrative investigations, fraud investigations, anti-corruption or misconduct investigations are required.
Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in administrative investigations, investigation techniques, investigative interviewing, investigative report writing, analysis and the exercise of sound judgement is required.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables
1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
2. The ideal candidates hold experience in administrative investigations in international organizations as well as fraud and corruption investigation including digital forensics, data analytics and OSINT techniques.
3. Relevant experience at an international level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates' willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Investigation Manager, P-4, Fixed Term Position, Office of Internal Audit & Investigation, O/P Budapest, Hungary #00111349