Director, Division of Internal Oversight Services

The Director of the Division of Internal Oversight Services (IOS) leads the division to provide independent and objective assurance and advisory activities to improve UNESCO's operations, performance, and results. The role involves overseeing audit, evaluation, and investigation functions to enhance organizational effectiveness, risk management, internal control, and governance.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that the work of IOS conforms to generally accepted international auditing, investigation and evaluation standards and best practices, within the scope of the UNESCO Internal Oversight Mandate, and develop internal methodology, tools and techniques to ensure excellence in the conduct of the Division’s work.
• Contribute to the development of strategies for safeguarding and protecting the Organization’s interests in pursuit of its goals and objectives; assist in discharging the Director-General’s duties, including the provision of impartial, objective and sound advice.
• Prepare an annual risk- and priority-based oversight work plan, delivering the services and outputs required by the UNESCO Internal Oversight Charter and the UNESCO Evaluation Policy; oversee implementation of the work plan ensuring outputs are within time, cost and quality standards.
• Oversee an internal audit portfolio focusing on key risks and opportunities to strengthen the Organization’s governance, risk management, internal controls and value-for-money, using modern internal audit practices in accordance with professional standards.
• Guide independent evaluations to improve the relevance, impact, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, coherence and performance of UNESCO programmes and projects.
• Lead an investigation function examining cases of alleged fraud, misconduct, malfeasance, mismanagement, waste of resources or other violations of the Organization’s code of conduct and regulatory framework.
• Keep abreast of issues of major strategic and operational importance to UNESCO and ensure these inform the work of the service.
• Create a positive working environment, provide guidance to the staff of IOS and help them to meet their full potential.
• Submit an IOS annual report, through the Director-General, to the UNESCO governing bodies.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public or business administration, evaluation, social sciences, development studies, auditing, law or a related field.
• Professional certification/certificates (e.g. CIA, CPA, CA, CFE, CISA, CGAP or similar) from an officially recognized oversight body or professional association.
• A minimum of 15 years of progressively professional relevant experience, of which preferably 7 years acquired at international level, specifically in the programmatic and operational aspects of audit work, as well as evaluation, value for money assurance and internal investigations.
• Proven track record as a senior manager in audit and/or evaluation functions within an international organization or at a national public sector-level, with a good knowledge of the latest/relevant methodologies, norms and standards, and developments in the audit, evaluation and investigation fields in the international community.
• Demonstrated leadership in professional networks such as UNEG/UNRIAS/RIAS/UNRN, IIA or national evaluation societies.
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, the Organization’s mandate, vision, strategic directions and priorities.
• High sense of professional integrity, objectivity, strong analytical capabilities, diplomacy and political astuteness.
• Strong sense of impartiality, objectivity and positive attitude towards the Organization and its goals.
• Ability to exercise intellectual authority, as well as provide and manage advisory services.
• Strategic and leadership skills in a multilateral setting with the ability to establish and maintain effective and constructive working relations in a highly political environment with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Proven ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.
• Highly developed analytical and communication skills and the ability to quickly grasp complex issues and produce solutions.
• Excellent knowledge of and drafting skills in one of the working languages (English or French) of the Organization and ability to work in the second language.
• Experience in the United Nations system and/or other international organizations/institutions (desirable).
• Demonstrated experience of management at the international level (desirable).
• Knowledge of the Organization and its methods of work (desirable).
• Ability to identify efficiencies and address operational challenges in processes through innovative methods and solutions (desirable).

Skills

• Audit Work
• Evaluation Methodologies
• Value for Money Assurance
• Internal Investigations
• Audit Standards
• Evaluation Standards
• Investigation Methodologies
• Leadership in Audit Functions
• Operational Audit Experience
• CIA Certification
• CPA Certification
• Professional Certification CFE
• CISA Certification
• Professional Certification CGAP
• Strategic Leadership
• Advisory Services
• Analytical Skills
• Drafting Skills
• Multilateral Relations
• Gender Integration
• Risk Management
• Internal Controls
• Governance
• United Nations Experience
• Programmatic Audit

Languages

English, French