Compliance Specialist, Head of the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU) [Open to all applicants]
- Organisation: UNDP
- Location: Bonn, Germany
- Deadline: 6 November 2026
Duties and Responsibilities
Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
The Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) reports to the Administrator and is responsible for internal audit and investigations services to UNDP and its affiliated entities. OAI has the sole responsibility for the conduct of all investigations within UNDP.
The Investigations Section of OAI is responsible for conducting UNDP’s independent investigative functions into fraud, corruption, sexual exploitation and abuse, and other wrongdoing.
Within the Investigation Section, OAI established the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU) in January 2015 as a separate mechanism to receive allegations of non-compliance with UNDP’s social and environmental standards (SES), policies and procedures. The SES underpin UNDP’s commitment to mainstream social and environmental sustainability in its programmes and projects, and are a corporate requirement across UNDP projects.
SECU operates a complaint mechanism for communities and public stakeholders and assesses such complaints to determine whether an investigation is required or whether the issue raised is more appropriately dealt with through a separate Grievance Resolution process. Where the assessment determines that an investigation is warranted, SECU will investigate allegations of non-compliance with UNDP’s social and environmental policies and procedures. SECU’s assessment, investigation and reporting of alleged non-compliance is conducted in accordance with generally accepted international processes. Based on the evidence collected during the investigation, SECU will recommend action to bring a project into compliance; and where relevant will make recommendations to improve UNDP systems in the future to reduce the risk of a recurrence of non-compliance.
Position Purpose
The Compliance Specialist reports to Deputy Director (Investigations), OAI, while he/she works closely under the technical guidance of the Lead Compliance Officer Advisor (LCOA), SECU. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, Head of Investigations and the technical guidance of the Lead Compliance Officer Advisor, the primary roles of the Compliance Specialist, Head of SECU, are to
• Lead and manage the portfolio of SECU’s work
• As a team leader and as an investigator, deliver investigations into alleged non-compliance with applicable social and environmental standards and policies.
• Lead and coordinate SECU’s advisory work
• Manage SECU’s proactive and self-initiated investigations
• Represent SECU as a member and leader to relevant professional networks and within UNDP
• Lead SECU’s outreach strategy and activities
• Ensure that SECU conforms to and promotes internationally recognized best practices for independent accountability mechanisms
Within those roles, the Compliance Specialist, Head of SECU, will be OAI’s SECU Focal Point and will focus on the investigation of allegations of non-compliance with the SES. The Compliance Specialist, Head of SECU, will supervise the work of all personnel at the P1, P2 and P3 levels assigned to the SECU and will complete their annual performance appraisals.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work when necessary across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1.) Leads and manages the SECU and supervises the work of personnel assigned to SECU, as well as consultants.
• Plans the work of SECU personnel and distributes workload among SECU personnel appropriately.
• Provides senior expertise and advice to SECU personnel so that the work of the SECU is performed in the most professional, efficient and timely manner.
• Appraises the work performance of SECU personnel.
• Coordinates the day-to-day work of the SECU.
• Maintains rosters of compliance and technical experts.
• Liaises with the members of the rosters of compliance and technical experts on a regular basis
• Supports the intake of complaints and evaluates their eligibility.
• Manages compliance review teams.
• Recruits personnel for the SECU as necessary.
2.) As Head of the SECU, the Compliance Specialist plans, coordinates and conducts intake, investigations, and report-writing.
• As a team leader or member of the investigations team, the Compliance Specialist plans and conducts compliance reviews to ensure that all appropriate lines of inquiry are identified, and resources are used effectively and efficiently to factually determine the issues relevant to a compliance review.
• Identifies, collects and analyses information, using software, internal data and open-source information relevant to reviews, demonstrating an understanding of information security and confidentiality issues relevant to investigation.
• Collects, records and handles evidence appropriately, ensuring chain of custody and demonstrating knowledge of handling considerations for different types of evidence.
• Uses specialist investigation sources when appropriate (for example, GIS mapping).
• Interviews complainants, witnesses and other compliance review participants showing appropriate communications skills, accurate recording and verification of testimony with the use of interpreters as required.
• Undertakes frequent, and at times extended missions to UNDP offices worldwide, including areas with hazardous working conditions.
• Manages the SECU’s database and ensures that case files are up to date on cases under compliance review.
• Proposes action to close matters where appropriate.
• Works with independent experts to draft compliance reports of a high standard, providing an objective and factual summary of the investigation, with soundly based conclusions and recommendations supported by all evidence obtained in the course of the investigation.
• Provides ongoing support to UNDP’s Compliance Review and Stakeholder Response Mechanism, including in the areas of case management; research and analysis; communications and outreach; training and events.
3.) Ensure UNDP and UN communication, coordination and knowledge sharing
• Liaise with the UNDP executive office to enhance case effectiveness, promote endorsement of recommendations, and monitor implementation of recommendations
• Conduct in reach to UNDP business units to promote understanding and implementation of UNDP’s social and environmental commitments, and the role of SECU
• Ensure appropriate lines of communication and knowledge sharing to promote lessons learned to UNDP regarding SECU’s case and advisory portfolio
• Participates in OAI and stakeholder meetings, providing updates on SECU as requested.
• Prepares and disseminates outreach materials to inform stakeholders. Develops outreach strategies and implements plans for each key stakeholder group. Liaises with IAMs of other international organizations and with other offices as appropriate.
• Liaises with relevant internal and external stakeholder groups, including complainants, civil society organizations, international development organizations, independent accountability mechanisms, and other relevant offices in UNDP
• Liaises with the compliance/investigation sections of other international organizations.
4.) Perform other tasks
• Contributes to the ongoing development of professional practices within the SECU.
• Participates in the implementation of his/her personal learning and training development plan.
• Performs other assignments or tasks as determined by the Deputy Director (Investigations).
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: This role requires the direct supervision of a number of expert compliance officers (3-8), 3 full time staffers (2 P2’s, 1 P3), interns, and other contractors/service providers.
Competencies Core Competencies
• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies