Associate Witness Support Officer

Overview

Provide support services for victims and witnesses with a focus on well-being

You have:

• Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field is required.
• At least two years of experience in direct counseling of vulnerable individuals is required.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required; knowledge of French is desirable.
• Field experience in MENA region is desirable.
• Experience working with international criminal tribunals or mechanisms is desirable.
• Experience in assessing witness support needs is desirable.

Contract

This is a P-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 106,500 USD and 144,653 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is within the Operational Support Section (OSS) of the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM), located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Associate Witness Support Officer will report to the Witness Support Officer and will ensure the provision of support services to maintain the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of staff and victims and witnesses who engage with the Mechanism. The incumbent’s responsibilities will encompass the identification of referral pathways for medical, psychosocial, and other support services for victims and witnesses; the pre-interview assessment of witnesses’ support needs; the provision of care before and during interviews; and ensuring post-interview follow-up/referral care.

Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Witness Support Officer, the Associate Witness Support Officer will perform the following functions: - Liaises with international organizations, NGOs, relevant national authorities, and other relevant interlocutors to identify and assess potential referral pathways for medical, psychosocial, and other support services that may be required by victims and witnesses who engage with the Mechanism. - Provides inputs for the development of investigation and protection plans with respect to support measures for witnesses before, during, and after interviews. - Attends interviews of vulnerable Victims/Witnesses, monitors their emotional and psychosocial well-being, and provides counseling, and other support as required, including through the use of interpreters ensuring the principle of no further harm. - Conducts pre-interview assessments of witnesses’ support needs and makes recommendations on appropriate support measures. - Follows up after witness interviews as needed, and maintains up-to-date and detailed records on individual witnesses, their needs, and the assistance required and provided to them. - Ensures the monitoring of the quality of the services provided to the victims and witnesses by third parties. - Participates in the development of and review of aspects of internal policies, protocols, and procedures with respect to witness support, as well as the production of informational materials for victims and witnesses as guided by the supervisor. - Conducts activities to prevent vicarious traumatization of staff and provides psychological guidance and support to staff members who have been exposed to potentially traumatizing materials. - Provides training and guidance to investigation teams interacting with victims and witnesses on issues related to trauma and other psychosocial support issues. - Performs other duties as required.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of domestic and/or international criminal justice systems. Demonstrated experience in working under high pressure with minimal supervision and responding quickly and effectively to meet the needs of individuals in fast moving situations. 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. Willingness to work flexible hours and attend meetings or address witness needs outside normal office hours. Willingness to travel and work in the field for extended lengths of time. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in Social Work, Psychology or related field is required. A first-level university degree in Social Work, Psychology or related field in combination with at least two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of two years of work experience of direct counseling of vulnerable individuals, such as refugees or victims and witnesses of human rights violations or serious crimes, is required.

Field experience in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is desirable.

Experience working with international criminal tribunals or mechanisms, international organizations or NGOs is desirable.

Experience in the identification and provision of support measures for witnesses in criminal proceedings is desirable.

Experience in assessing the support needs of witnesses and making appropriate recommendations is desirable.

Experience working with clients from a wide range of cultural backgrounds is desirable.

Experience working with witness protection teams/units is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position, fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

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

Special Notice Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

Fulfillment of the responsibilities of this position may necessitate engagement with material and/or information that may be distressing.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

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

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. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to 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.

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.

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.

Potential interview questions