Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 250 staff from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system. We offer staff competitive benefits, including up to six weeks of annual leave per year, a defined benefit pension plan (not subject to variation of capital markets), parental leave, a comprehensive insurance plan, and flexible working arrangements (up to three days of work from home per week subject to operational requirements). Our office is located in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance from the Grand Central Station hub, in a state-of-the-art facility (the One Dag Hammarskjöld building). Visit www.unjspf.org for more details.

This position is based in New York and is located in the Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The incumbent reports to the Deputy Chief Executive of Pension Administration (DCEPA) and is responsible for providing expert risk management advice to DCEPA, Pension Board committees, senior management and Fund-wide working groups on all aspects related to the management of risks to which the Fund is exposed, and managing and mitigating organizational risk. The role manages and/or supports the internal risk management committee, advises senior managers on selection and implementation of risk management and internal framework, and leads the analysis and monitoring of risk for all the administrative and management of the Pension Administration. The role also acts as the focal point for audit.

Responsibilities

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

• Develop and continuously improve enterprise risk management and internal control policies, business continuity/disaster recovery, and other related programmes/projects for UNJSPF-PA, and monitor the implementation of related activities, defining an overall direction for risk management efforts
• Maintain the enterprise risk map and risk registers, and perform annual risk assessments, leading interviews and workshops with senior management and staff at all levels for risk identification and assessment. Identify and assess the overall risk profile and escalate and report risk issues and incidents, as appropriate
• Provide subject matter expertise, and engage stakeholders to strengthen risk management practices across UNJSPF-PA that enable them to identify risk
• Oversee consulting services for entity-level risk assessment exercises for the Fund every three years and manage the budget of such undertaking
* Support the internal risk management committees and liaise with the Pension Board Audit Committee, Auditors, and Consultants
• Develop and maintain risk management methodologies, systems and tools, including managing the tools, reporting and related activities, and coordinating with the Office of Investment Management in the implementation and monitoring of risk management activities
• Assess and address complex issues and plan for crises associated with changes in the business environment, strategy, and operations
• Make recommendations based on the risk tolerance of the Pension Administration and the specific risk, as well as on appropriate responses to manage the risks identified and address internal control deficiencies
• Develop and formulate policy to manage and implement the risk management and internal control frameworks, assessing the risks to which the Fund is or is potentially exposed
• Provide advice on the definition of appropriate risk mitigation strategies and monitor their implementation
• Provide expert technical advice for the implementation of risk management and internal control policies, methods, and responses
• Prepare and consolidate for the Fund reports and presentations for the consideration of the Enterprise-wide Risk Management (EWRM) Working Group, Audit Committee and the Pension Board
• Provide leadership to drive the implementation and monitoring of all risk policies and practices to effectively mitigate risk
• Collaborate across functions to improve efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and/or control related to the Fund’s risk management
• Act as Secretary of the UNJSPF EWRM Working Group and develop and manage information depositories, and act as the focal point for internal and external auditors, coordinate audit responses, and monitor the implementation of audit observations
• Plan, oversee and manage the work and performance of the risk team
• Carry out other tasks as may be assigned by the Deputy Chief Executive of Pension Administration

Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Ability to generate and communicate a broad and compelling Organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. 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.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with Organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. 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.

Judgement/decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent degree) in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree) in any field of study with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree in the specified fields of studies.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience working in risk management or a related role is required.

Experience in risk analytics, risk management, risk reporting, and risk advisory, or a related function is required.

Experience in managing risk frameworks and systems is required.

Experience using various management and data processing tools is desirable.

Experience in working with and responding to audits is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in both oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

The temporary position is available for six months with possibility of extension. The UNJSPF is an inter-agency body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 17 currencies to about 80,000 beneficiaries who reside in more than 190 countries, and services more than 130,000 participants who work in the 25 member organizations of the Pension Fund. The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.

The applicable human resources procedures are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fund and the United Nations Secretariat. Any candidate from a member organization of the UNJSPF applying for these posts is considered as an internal candidate provided he/she has been appointed through the appointment and promotion procedures applicable in his/her respective organization. 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.

The UNJSPF is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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 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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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 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.