Title:  Chief, Internal Oversight

Office of Evaluation and Internal Oversight (EIO)

The Office of Evaluation and Internal Oversight (EIO) is responsible for providing the Director General, the Industrial Development Board, and management with independent and objective assurance and advice through evaluations, internal audits, and investigations. It adds value to and improves the efficiency and effectiveness of UNIDO’s operations, the internal control framework, risk management, RBM, and governance processes of the Organization. The functions of the Office are governed by the EIO Charter (as approved by the Industrial Development Board in decision IDB.48/Dec.10 on 25 November 2020) and its three supplementary functional policies, namely the Evaluation Policy, the Internal Audit Policy, and the Investigation Policy. The Charter grants EIO operational independence in relation to the performance and operations of its evaluation, internal audit, and investigation functions.

Internal Oversight Unit (EIO/IOU)

The Unit is responsible for conducting internal audits and investigations across UNIDO’s programmes, projects, operations, systems and processes at Headquarters and in the field. It provides independent assurance and advisory services to assess compliance, effectiveness, efficiency and integrity, reports findings with recommendations, and follows up on agreed management action plans. The Unit also receives and investigates allegations of misconduct in accordance with its mandate and supports management in strengthening internal controls and governance through the application of internationally recognized oversight standards.

At the P5 level, the Chief is expected to deliver high‑quality internal audit, advisory services, and investigations that directly support UNIDO’s mandate by strengthening governance, accountability, risk management, and organizational integrity. The incumbent creates an enabling environment by identifying systemic gaps, catalyzing improvements, and promoting a culture of strong internal controls and ethical conduct. They build effective partnerships with senior management, oversight bodies, and UN system counterparts to enhance coherence and reinforce programme effectiveness. Working across programmes and services, they ensure that oversight insights inform decision‑making, drive performance improvements, and contribute to strengthened organizational results, demonstrating a high level of Programme Competence.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her supervisor and colleagues, within as well as outside the unit. Within formal teams, the incumbent may be expected to backstop other team members as required.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Director-General and in this context all staff are expected to serve in any assignment and duty station as determined by the needs of the Organization.

1. Main Responsibilities

Technical

• Ensure all oversight activities meet international professional standards –including audits’ adherence to the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (IIA) and investigations’ adherence to the Uniform Principles and Guidelines for Investigations— and address the Organization’s highest risks.
• Lead and oversee internal audits and investigations and provide assurance and advisory engagements across programmes, projects, operations, systems, and corporate functions at headquarters and in the field, to assess their reliability, integrity, efficiency and effectiveness, as well as to evaluate their compliance with UNIDO's regulatory framework.
• Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of, and advise on strengthening, the Organization’s internal controls, enterprise risk management, results-based management, and governance processes.
• Develop and oversee an annual internal audit work plan based on a systematic assessment of organizational risks and management concerns.
• Lead both proactive and reactive investigations into allegations of misconduct, including fraud, corruption, sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Administer a quality assurance process to review the work of multidisciplinary teams and ensure findings are evidence-based.
• Supervise a centralized case management system to ensure timely recording, tracking, and confidential handling of all complaints and allegations.
• Review and finalize high-level oversight reports, ensuring they provide clear, actionable recommendations for senior management.
• Report, provide advice and make recommendations for improvements to the management, and agree on action plans with management, where needed.
• Monitor, verify, and report on  implementation of management action plans, ensuring clear tracking and escalation of overdue actions.
• Leverage advanced technology tools and forensic software to identify anomalies, trends, potential fraud schemes in complex data sets.
• Strengthen technical collaboration with internal and external oversight bodies, harmonizing practices, adopting system‑wide best practices, and contributing to policy coherence.
• Tailor complex oversight findings for different audiences, including making concise oral presentations to management and UNIDO’s governing bodies.

Managerial

• Provide a clear vision for the oversight unit, aligning its activities with UNIDO’s strategic objectives and mandates.
• Represent the Unit in engagements with senior leadership, auditees, and external oversight bodies to reinforce accountability and the value of internal audit and investigation.
• Lead the internal oversight universe and risk‑based planning, ensuring multi‑year and annual plans align with UNIDO priorities, the Internal Control Framework, and the Three Lines Model.
• Translate the audit strategic direction into a balanced, risk‑aligned assurance and advisory portfolio.
• Oversee timely and consistent delivery of all engagements, ensuring strong MAP monitoring at leadership level and incorporating lessons learned into Unit practices and organizational learning.
• Ensure reporting quality and alignment with strategic expectations of senior leadership and policymaking bodies.
• Manage and develop the internal oversight team through workload oversight, coaching, performance management, and fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, learning, and psychological safety.
• Lead the quality assurance and improvement programme and ensure full compliance with international standards, the UNIDO Internal Audit Policy, and UNIDO Investigation Policy.
• Provide strategic support to the Director, Evaluation and Internal Oversight (EIO) on oversight initiatives, cross‑organizational reviews, and special assignments.
• Represent UNIDO in UN-wide fora such as UN-RIAS (Internal Audit) and UN-RIS (Investigation) to share best practices and avoid duplication.
• Serve as a role model for integrity, ensuring the office adheres to the highest ethical codes and promotes a safe, respectful workplace.

3. Core Values and Competencies

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those, we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

Managerial and Leadership Competencies

WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: As managers, we are strategic and fair in driving our team’s performance. As leaders, we are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty bound to defend these ideals with a principled approach.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE: As managers, we are inclusive in our approach and maintain constructive engagement with all our stakeholders. As leaders, we embrace all personnel and stakeholders and are accountable mutually within UNIDO, within the system, to beneficiaries and the public and beyond.

WE ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL: As managers, we go beyond conventional methods to help our organizational units strengthen their own agility and adaptability to change. As leaders in the UN system, we have a vision, which is integrated and engaged across the pillars of Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development.

WE ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CO-CREATIVE: As managers, we foster a team spirit and create meaningful opportunities to hear the voices of those around us, while realizing that only by working together can we accomplish our mission. As leaders, we see the inter-dependency of imperatives of the UN Charter and personally champion a collaborative inter-agency, multi-stakeholders and cross-thinking approach.

4. Minimum Organizational Requirements

Education:  A first-level university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in Audit, Finance, Law, Business or Public Administration, Accounting, Criminology, or another field relevant to UNIDO’s audit and investigation mandate, is required. Advanced university (master’s or equivalent) degree or Doctorate in the same fields are accepted with a reduced requirement for years of professional experience. A credential of Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Accountant (CA) is required.

Experience[1]:

A minimum of professional experience aligned with the educational level is required, as follows:

• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s): at least 13 years of relevant professional experience
• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent): at least 10 years of relevant professional experience
• Doctorate: at least 8 years of relevant professional experience.

• Progressively responsible professional experience in internal oversight functions within international organizations is required.
• Demonstrated managerial experience leading and supervising audit and/or investigation teams, including workload management, coaching, review of outputs, and ensuring quality and compliance with professional standards is required.
• Proven experience conducting or directing complex and sensitive audits and investigations at the international level, ideally in multilateral, public‑sector, or UN system settings is required.
• Experience advising senior management on governance, internal controls, risk management, and results‑based management is required.
• Familiarity with data analytics, digital audit tools, and modern investigative techniques is  required.
  
  

Languages:  Fluency in written and spoken English is required.  Fluency in or working knowledge of Arabic, French or Spanish, or of another United Nations official language, is desirable.