Forensic Science Officer

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 125,357 USD and 161,621 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 located within the United Nations Investigative Team for Accountability of Da'esh / ISIL (UNITAD) and will be based in Baghdad, Iraq. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Office of Evidence Management/Chief of Forensic Science Unit.

UNITAD was established by the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council resolution 2379 (2017), according to which it is mandated to support domestic efforts to hold ISIL (Da'esh) accountable by collecting, preserving and storing evidence in Iraq of acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed by the terrorist group ISIL (Da'esh) in Iraq.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Forensic Science Officer may be responsible for the following duties:

• Leadership and management of the Forensic Science Unit (FSU) Forensic Science Laboratory in its strategic and operational development and performance.
• Coordinate internal training and competency assessments and training and capacity building of Iraqi authorities in the management and examination of digital and physical evidence.
• Manage UNITAD’s Forensic Science Laboratory and have technical competency in the examination of digital and/or physical forensic evidence.
• Provide specialized policy advice and forensic and scientific support to the Chief OEM and the Director of Investigations with respect to the identification, collection, packaging, storage and forensic examination of evidence collected by UNITAD and standards of evidence for admissibility in the prosecution of international crimes.
• Implementation of Quality Management System (QMS) across UNITAD’s Forensic Science Laboratory and provide guidance on policies related to data governance, competency assessments, risk management, evidence retention and the identification, collection, packaging, storage and forensic examination of digital and physical evidence in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines where applicable.
• Lead on the process to develop standard operating procedures, best practice manuals and guidelines with regard to forensic and scientific activities undertaken by UNITAD and the day-to-day running of UNITAD’s Forensic Science Laboratory.
• Perform forensic examinations and analysis of digital and/or physical evidence in UNITAD’s evidence holdings.
• Manage reporting, resourcing and monitoring of the Forensic Science Laboratory’s case load, setting priorities in line with the investigative priorities defined by UNITAD’s Special Advisor and Director of Investigations.
• Liaise and participate in meetings and discussions with the Government of Iraq, other national governments, forensic institutions and entities, other UN agencies programmes in Iraq.
• Coordinate assessments, training and capacity building initiatives for relevant Iraqi authorities, for delivery by FSU personnel and/or external consultants.
• Participate in scientific and forensic Boards and Committees, and on ad hoc working groups and task forces, as assigned by the Chief of OEM or the Special Adviser and develop contacts and relationships with other scientific and forensic entities to establish knowledge hubs.
• Provide leadership and management to expand the range of scientific and technological resources available to UNITAD, and the development of strategies for the application of new and emerging forensic technologies for judicial investigations.
• Manage the recruitment, supervision and mentoring and of the personnel within the Forensic Science Laboratory.

• Perform other duties as required.

  Competencies Professionalism: 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. 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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction. Conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

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 Advanced University degree (Masters or equivalent) in forensic science or scientific specialism is required.

Work Experience A minimum of seven (7) of progressively responsible professional experience in the management, maintenance and running of a specialized forensic laboratory and diverse group of forensic scientists/forensic specialisms at the national level is required and international levels is desirable.

Experience forensic laboratory design desirable.

Experience in key concepts of evidence security, evidence flow, contamination avoidance, and analysis in accordance with international standards for the admissibility of scientific findings in criminal investigations is required.

Experience in the set up and/or the implementation of a laboratory quality management system (QMS) and/or coordination of a forensic science laboratory is required.

A minimum of three (3) years direct work experience in crime scene investigations, experience in investigations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide is desirable.

Experience testifying as an expert witness in national and international court is desirable.

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

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

Special Notice - Fully vaccinated status for COVID-19 or willingness to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 is required for this position.

• The Uinted Nations Secretariat is comitted to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Females candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

• This position is funded by regular budget and is temporarily available. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

  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.