Senior Fellow

Consultant Security

Overview

Assist the Programme Officer in strengthening Mexico’s penitentiary system and crime prevention policies.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in criminology, law, criminal justice, public policy, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in criminal justice, prison reform, organized crime prevention, or related areas is required.
• Previous experience working with government authorities in Mexico on criminal justice reform, or organized crime issues is required.
• Experience with the United Nations or similar large international or regional organizations is desirable.
• Experience in analysing trends and gaps of transnational crime investigation in Europe is also desirable.
• Proficiency in Spanish and English is required.
• Knowledge of Italian is an asset.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Fellow will assist the Programme Officer in implementing programme activities, providing policy and technical advice, liaising with government and prison authorities, and supporting research, reporting, and training to strengthen Mexico’s penitentiary system and crime prevention policies

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

March – May 2026

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background of the assignment: The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) is a United Nations entity established in 1968 to support countries worldwide in preventing crime and facilitating criminal justice. UNICRI is mandated to assist intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations in formulating and implementing improved policies in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. UNICRI' s goals are: • to advance understanding of crime-related problems; • to foster just and efficient criminal justice systems; • to support the respect of international instruments and other standards; • to facilitate international law enforcement cooperation and judicial assistance. In line with its mandate and goals, UNICRI implements targeted programmes to support countries in strengthening criminal justice institutions and addressing complex crime challenges. Building on its collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Justice and the Government of Mexico, UNICRI’s programme supports the reform of Mexico’s prison system and tackles organized crime infiltration. The initiative combines international best practices, practical training, and institutional reform measures to improve prison management, promote rehabilitation and reintegration, and enhance coordination between federal and subnational authorities. By doing so, the programme contributes to more secure, efficient, and rights-respecting penitentiary institutions, directly reflecting UNICRI’s mission to foster just and effective criminal justice systems and uphold international standards. Within this framework, UNICRI is also carrying out a research project on “Facilitating international police investigation and cooperation within the EU and beyond”, which aims to identify gaps in transnational organized crime investigation and cooperation and to provide recommendations to enhance the effectiveness, coherence, and sustainability of cross-border investigative and judicial cooperation mechanisms among EU countries. 2. Purpose of the assignment: With specific reference to the projects: “Programme for the Strengthening of the Penitentiary System and Social Crime Prevention Policies in Mexico as a Model for Latin America”, funded by the Government of Italy, and “Facilitating international police investigation and cooperation within the EU and beyond”, the Senior Fellow will provide expert legal and analytical support to inform project design and implementation through legislative and policy analysis, legal risk assessment, strategic and operational advisory services, and the development of evidence-based analytical, technical, and policy outputs aligned with national and international standards. 3. Specific tasks to be performed by the Senior Fellow: With specific reference to the project “Programme for the Strengthening of the Penitentiary System and Social Crime Prevention Policies in Mexico as a Model for Latin America” and under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the Senior Fellow will perform the below listed duties: • Conduct comprehensive analysis of national penal legislation, prison regulations, related legal frameworks, and anti-corruption, anti-extortion, and anti-organized-crime measures, as well as relevant international standards and best practices. Produce written outputs as necessary to provide evidence-based inputs that inform project implementation. • Provide advisory support on prison governance and management, including strategic and operational aspects of high-risk inmate regimes, intelligence and security measures, prevention of extortion and organized-crime infiltration, and reform initiatives, with written outputs prepared as required. • Draft and review project-related reports, policies, protocols, and recommendations to ensure they are legally sound, internally consistent, and aligned with national and international standards. • Conduct legal risk analysis and provide mitigation advice for proposed operational reforms, including the introduction of new intelligence practices, high-risk detainee management approaches, and anti-corruption and anti-extortion measures in prison, producing written outputs as needed to minimize legal, human-rights, and institutional risks. With specific reference to the project “Facilitating international police investigation and cooperation within the EU and beyond” and under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the Senior Fellow will perform the below listed duties: • Conduct comparative legal analysis of national and international investigative, criminal justice, and penitentiary frameworks, including lessons from Italy and other European countries, to inform project design, capacity-building, strategic decision-making, and operational approaches to investigating transnational organized crime across jurisdictions. • Review relevant legal frameworks and provide advice on investigations related to transnational organized crime, both at national and cross-border levels, supporting effective cooperation among law enforcement, prosecutors, and intelligence agencies in selected EU countries. • Provide legal advice for research on cross-border investigative cooperation, including joint investigation teams, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and judicial cooperation tools, identifying legal, procedural, and practical barriers to effective collaboration among countries with different legal systems. • Analyse case studies, judicial decisions, and operational experiences involving multi-jurisdictional investigations in order to identify good practices, common challenges, and scalable models for international cooperation in organized crime investigations, and translate these findings into analytical products and actionable recommendations (e.g. background papers, typologies, briefing notes, and policy guidance) on investigation workflows, cross-border cooperation frameworks, and the use of intelligence and evidence in transnational criminal cases.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in criminology, law, criminal justice, public policy, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree (either Bachelor’s degree or associate level) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree. At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in criminal justice, prison reform, organized crime prevention, or related areas is required. Previous experience working with government authorities in Mexico on criminal justice reform, or organized crime issues is required. Experience with the United Nations or similar large international or regional organizations is desirable. Experience in analysing trends and gaps of transnational crime investigation in Europe is also desirable.

Languages

Proficiency (i.e., oral and written fluency) in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of Italian is an asset.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.

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Added 3 months ago - Updated 2 months ago - Source: careers.un.org