Chief, Ethics and Conduct Unit (ECO) (P)

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants. 

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process. 

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates
2. External female candidates

3. Candidates from the following IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories: 

   Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 
    

Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.

IOM's institutional strategy prioritizes integrity, transparency, and accountability as key

cross-cutting concerns. As part of the Office of Ethics and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and

Abuse and Sexual Harassment (OEP), the Ethics and Conduct Unit (ECO) plays a lead role in

strengthening IOM's culture of integrity through policy and advisory work, training, and support

to the Organization and all IOM personnel on ethical issues and IOM's Standards of Conduct.

ECO's core responsibilities include provision of impartial policy guidance and advice on ethics

concerns; global training and outreach across all IOM offices; initiatives to promote a speak-up

culture and whistleblower protections; and an annual disclosure program.

Under the overall supervision of the Director General and direct supervision of the Director of OEP, the Chief of ECO is responsible for managing the ECO Team, work program, and resources. In particular, the Chief of ECO will hold the following responsibilities:

1. →Lead the development and promotion of a robust framework of ethics-related policies, procedures, and guidelines; and advise on the ethical dimensions of other aspects of IOM's institutional policies and practices.
2. →Advocate for and promote ethical behaviour, integrity, transparency and accountability across IOM, both for IOM management and other IOM personnel.
3. →Manage the provision of timely guidance and practical advice to IOM management and personnel on ethical matters, including the interpretation and implementation of the IOM Standards of Conduct, potential conflicts of interest, and other ethics questions.
4. →Manage the implementation and periodic review of IOM's Protection Against Retaliation (PaR) policy to ensure impartial assessment of retaliation complaints and appropriate protections for whistleblowers.
5. →Lead the design and execution of ECO’s training and outreach program to raise awareness of IOM's values and standards of conduct, encourage a speak-up culture, and reinforce a work environment of respect and integrity.
6. →Manage ECO’s annual disclosure program, ensuring strategic development, implementation, and compliance per best practices to manage conflicts of interest for senior and key personnel.
7. →Manage the tracking, analysis, and reporting of institutional ethics data or trends and resulting recommendations for periodic ECO/OEP reports, including reports to IOM senior management and/or IOM's governing bodies, as needed, including the Audit and Oversight Advisory Committee (AOAC).
8. →Manage ECO's personnel, work program, and resources on a day-to-day basis to ensure the quality, efficiency, and integrity of ECO's contributions consistent with ECO's mandate, confidentiality, and best practices.
9. →Liaise with all relevant stakeholders as appropriate, including the Office of Internal Oversight (OIO), Office of Legal Affairs (LEG), Office of the Ombudsman (OOM), Department of Human Resources (DHR), and Institutional Risk Management (IRM).
10. →Promote internal and external knowledge sharing, including through participation in the Ethics Network of Multilateral Organisations (ENMO); monitor best practices and emerging trends in the ethics field; and lead innovations and improvements in ECO's work, including automation and other initiatives.
11. →Perform other duties as may be required

• Master’s degree in Law, Governance, International Development, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with ten years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with twelve years of relevant professional experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

• Advanced understanding of and work experience in Ethics, Law, Compliance/Oversight, and/or Dispute Resolution, preferably within a public international organization or humanitarian agency;

• Experience working with organizational ethics, including ethics policies and procedures, integrity and compliance programs, prevention, culture change, and learning and communications strategies; and,

• Direct experience with ethical decision-making and ethics casework, including general ethics advice, conflicts of interest, financial disclosure, and protection against retaliation.

• In-depth understanding of administrative policies and procedures of international organizations;

• Highest level of integrity, discretion, professionalism, and independence;

• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and conflict situations;

• Excellent advocacy, communication, and negotiation skills;

• Proven ability to communicate complex concepts orally and in writing;

• Ability to carry out all inquiries objectively and impartially, guided by the highest principles of ethics;

• Ability to lead and motivate teams to deliver on strategic and operational priorities, including under time pressure and other resource constraints;

• Strong analytical, strategic, creative thinking and problem-solving skills; and

• Ability to liaise effectively with high-level interlocutors.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).

Working knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.