Risk Management Officer, P4

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in Kabul, in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The Risk Management Officer provides technical leadership to the Risk Management Coordination Section and reports to the DSRSG-RC-HC through the Principal Coordination Officer. The focus of the position is to coordinate the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of established risk management frameworks, internal controls and related activities supporting the joint risk management approach of the United Nations system in Afghanistan.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Risk Management Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Coordinates the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of established risk management frameworks and internal controls supporting United Nations operations and programming in Afghanistan:
   
   • Monitors and analyzes the implementation of established risk management frameworks, programmes and controls; reviews relevant documentation and identifies emerging risks, implementation challenges and corrective measures.
   • Coordinates the implementation and refinement of established policies, including the review of risk management trends and preparation of assessments and evaluations.
   • Undertakes monitoring and survey initiatives; reviews, analyzes and interprets findings, identifies problems and prepares conclusions and proposed follow-up actions.
   • Liaises with relevant counterparts to monitor progress and facilitate implementation of agreed risk mitigation measures.
2. Facilitates inter-agency coordination, consultation and outreach on risk management and compliance matters:
   
   • Initiates and coordinates outreach and consultation activities, including facilitating the work of the UN Risk Management Working Group.
   • Engages with relevant UN entities, partners and other stakeholders to support coherent approaches to risk management and compliance.
   • Plans and facilitates workshops, consultations, training sessions and other interactive activities, including assisting in the development of action plans.
   • Provides substantive backstopping to risk management coordination meetings, including proposing agenda items, identifying participants, preparing documentation and facilitating follow-up on agreed actions.
3. Provides technical guidance and operational advice on risk management, internal controls and compliance:
   
   • Provides technical and operational advice, under senior leadership direction, to the DSRSG/RC/HC and relevant counterparts on established risk management frameworks and controls.
   • Provides guidance to UN entities and their partners, external consultants and other relevant parties on risk management and internal controls, including Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) controls, application of sanctions exemptions and mitigation of aid diversion risks.
   • Identifies and proposes appropriate mitigation measures to address risks associated with aid diversion, including diversion to sanctioned individuals and entities.
4. Undertakes risk analysis and prepares reports, assessments and other substantive documentation:
   
   • Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources, including on enterprise risk management, aid diversion and sanctions compliance.
   • Prepares and maintains substantive written outputs, including risk registers, consolidated risk reports, background papers, analytical assessments, studies, briefings and inputs to relevant publications.
   • Prepares risk-related reports and presentations for senior leadership and relevant coordination mechanisms, including updates on emerging risks and mitigation measures.
   • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provides insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
5. Supports programme administration and other related activities:
   
   • Coordinates activities related to budget funding, including programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements and related documentation.
   • Assists in the preparation and review of programme and administrative documentation relevant to assigned risk management activities. Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
   • Provides technical and operational advice, under senior leadership direction, to the DSRSG/RC/HC and relevant counterparts on established risk management frameworks and controls, including measures to mitigate the risk of aid diversion to sanctioned individuals and entities.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Strong knowledge of UN risk management frameworks, internal controls, programme management and compliance requirements, including AML/CFT, sanctions exemptions and aid diversion mitigation. Excellent analytical, coordination, communication and interpersonal skills. . Ability to engage diverse stakeholders, facilitate inter-agency collaboration, provide sound technical advice and operate effectively in complex environments. 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. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
• Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics, risk management, finance, accounting or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, risk management, administration, coordination or related area is required. Relevant experience in humanitarian, crisis or post-conflict contexts is required. Prior experience in Afghanistan is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

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. 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.

United Nations Considerations

According 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 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 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.

All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE 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.

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.

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.