Evaluation Officer

Org. Setting and ReportingThe 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), IES 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 and overall supervision of the Chief of IES. For more information on UNODC, please visit: www.unodc.org ResponsibilitiesWithin assigned authority, the Evaluation Officer will be responsible for the following specific duties: • Contribute to the management of programme in-depth, strategic, joint and system-wide evaluations as well as the backstopping of Independent Project Evaluations relating to UNODC’s mandated area of work on countering and preventing drugs, crime, and terrorism, with a particular focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Francophone countries, ensuring that these evaluations are carried out in an impartial, objective, and credible manner following UNODC evaluation standards and rules, including those provided by the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG). • Contribute to the strengthening of evaluation capacity in UNODC Headquarters (HQ) and Field Offices through systematic needs-assessment for evaluation capacity-building, tailored evaluation trainings, including joint initiatives; in cooperation with all three IES teams, provide assistance to facilitate special evaluation capacity building activities and presentations on evaluation matters to further strengthen the implementation of the revised UNODC Evaluation Policy and in line with the Administrative Instruction on Evaluation in the UN Secretariat (ST/AI/2021/3) issued by the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC). • Provide substantive support to strengthening the cooperation and coordination with Oversight Bodies, including the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and Board of Auditors (BoA), to further strengthen efficiencies and offer comprehensive information to HQ and Field Offices. • Contribute to strengthening the availability of real-time data from evaluations, including e.g., through analysis of trends and patterns in evaluation plans, the evaluation portfolio or evaluation results, to inform the work of the Section. • Contribute to IES activities on strengthening national evaluation capacities, providing support to Member States in building their own capacity for the evaluation of programmes and projects and facilitate exchange of experiences and knowledge from the evaluations, including in relation to these contained in the resolution E/CN.15/2023/L.7 by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). • Provide inputs to further strengthening and streamlining youth aspects in UNODC evaluation processes as well as related products and services, including evaluation meta-syntheses and other evaluation knowledge products as well as evaluation capacity development efforts and related evaluation guidelines, tools and templates. • Provide substantive support to the continuous development of UNODC evaluation normative standards and tools, such as the Evaluation Handbook, evaluation guidelines and templates, etc. in accordance with the international evaluation standards and best practices as identified by the General Assembly, other evaluation functions by UN relevant organs and offices, including UNEG, and ensure adequate involvement of UNODC Member States in the process as per established guidelines. • Under the supervision of the Evaluation Officer acting as the Deputy Chief of IES, participate in selected, strategic evaluation activities of the Section, e.g., formulating a strategic approach to evaluations within the overall framework of the relevant international instruments and defining the role of evaluation in the UN Management Reforms and SDGs, etc., as well as contribute to IES’ engagement with UNEG and other UN evaluation functions. • Contribute to the development of evaluation-related knowledge management products of IES, including e.g., evaluation meta-syntheses on UNODC’s mandated areas of work, including beyond an individual organisation. • Contribute to a strengthened dissemination of evaluation-based knowledge products and evaluation results, including enhancing IES communication approach and features of the evaluation management application, Unite Evaluations. • Collect and analyze evaluation data in relation to the management or backstopping of project evaluations to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports, using data visualization methods to enable data-driven evaluation planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Participate in the recruitment of evaluation consultants, interns, etc., if requested. • Undertake outreach activities; make presentations on assigned evaluation topics/activities. • Contribute to the elaboration of the annual work-plan of the Section. • Assume additional responsibilities regarding the work, outreach and strengthening of IES as and when required. • Contribute to improving Gender, disability inclusion and Human Rights Aspects in the work of IES. • Perform other work-related duties as required. Competencies• Professionalism: Has knowledge of international standards and practices in evaluation and respective evaluation methodologies. Has knowledge of UN system evaluation standards and practices. Has knowledge of UNODC’s mandated areas of work on international crime, drugs and terrorism programme and policies.; has proven ability to produce evaluation reports and papers. Has knowledge of evaluation management tools and applications; has proven ability in conducting capacity development on evaluation. Is able to review and edit the evaluation work of others. Demonstrates good judgment and initiative, imagination and resourcefulness, energy and tact. Is able to ensure an effective work structure to maximize productivity and achieve the goals of the Unit. Has ability to analyze and interpret evaluation data in relation to the management or backstopping of project evaluations in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. EducationAn advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in evaluation, social sciences or other relevant discipline is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in contributing to the management and conduct of independent evaluations of programmes and strategies and the backstopping of independent project evaluations is required. Work experience in delivering evaluation capacity development relating to UNODC’s mandated areas of work on countering and preventing drugs, crime and terrorism is required. Work experience in managing joint evaluations as well as conducting strategic meta-evaluations is desirable. Work experience in national evaluation capacity building is desirable. Work experience in the United Nations system or similar international organizations is desirable. Experience in evaluation data analytics or related area in relation to the management or backstopping of evaluations is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language, in particular Arabic, is an advantage. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview. Special NoticeThis position is funded from extra budgetary resources. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment will be subject to the availability of funding. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. 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 United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Vienna is classified in the H category (family duty station). United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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 FeeTHE 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.