I. Position Information

Job Title: Risk Management Specialist

Reports to: Head of Integrated Office of DSRSG/HC/RC

Direct Reports: Head of Risk Management Unit

Duration and Type of Assignment: More than a year; Fixed Term Appointment

II. Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The UN Somalia Risk Management Unit (RMU) has been established to support all United Nations entities in Somalia and its humanitarian and development partners towards a common approach for risk informed decision making, do no harm and increased accountability for better impact. This unit is part of the Integrated Office of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (DSRSG/RC/HC), ensuring professional, independent and impartial services to UN Organizations and its partners. The Somalia RMU is a unique structure within the UN system globally, increasingly supporting the UN in other high-risk environments in the establishment of bespoke practices and tools applicable to a broad range of evolving humanitarian and development challenges.

The Unit provides a series of services to the UN and its partners including risk analysis and reporting, risk management capacity building and education, establishing common platforms for effective information sharing, facilitating discussions in support of better informed decision-making, and the dissemination of best practices and lessons learned.

To respond to the RMU needs, the services of a Risk Management Specialist are required to drive innovation and enhance risk management practices, lead the expansion of actors involved in information exchange and knowledge sharing through various fora, coordinate the formalization of related educational activities, while enhancing humanitarian and development activities of the United Nations in Somalia.

The Risk Management Specialist is responsible for supporting the Head of the RMU in implementing existing risk management policies and strategies through the provision of risk analysis and support, while having specific responsibilities over key RMU outputs, and staff oversight roles.

Under the direct supervision of the RMU Team Leader and the overall supervision of the Head of Integrated Office of DSRSG/RC/HC, the Risk Management Specialist will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

III. Duties and Responsibilities

1) Risk Management Analysis and Advice

• Lead and facilitate the implementation of global Risk Management Standards (ISO31000) and Enterprise Risk Management Framework ensuring consistency in methodology, tools and framework for a robust UN risk management agenda;

• Identify, assess and manage operational and business risk across the UN operations in Somalia. This includes the ability to obtain, collate, analyze and interpret a wide range of complex information, accurately identify issues and trends from abstract data, make appropriate judgments, and provide relevant recommendations;

• Design and develop evidence products needed to assist UN leadership in decision making. Recognize and reflect on the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information received by breaking down information or data into respective parts, and formulate the evidence-based production of actionable information to assists decision-making;

• Manage highly sensitive information including desk reviews of confidential documents, including partner capacity assessments, partner and entity profiles and other relevant documents and associated evidence to make specific recommendations to UN agencies operating in Somalia.

• Research and evaluate information from a variety of public sources, including UN Security Council, investigation reports, regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies and geographic information systems to complete risk profiles.

• Redesign the RMU’s ethical open-source information collection capabilities and techniques, including surface and deep web searches, social networks, media monitoring, specific search engine and other search methodologies.

• Identify key contextual and operational risks and mitigating factors of potential development and humanitarian interventions.

• Respond to ongoing requirements on verification, allegations, fact checks and advise accordingly.

2) Development of Risk Management practices

• Ensure innovative, effective and tailored risk management systems for Somalia and developed and rolled out in accordance with international standards.

• Provide strategic guidance and advice to establish and improve best practice in the area of risk management and share practices and lessons learned with aid community in Somalia

• Lead risk management discussions and through effective liaison in various fora, expand the actors involved in contributing to common tools and practices across the UN

• Represent the UN Somalia and the Integrated Office in proactive liaison with academia and risk management research institutions to ensure ongoing continual best practice for application by UN Agencies and counterparts in Somalia and the broader region.

3) Collective risk management practices and mechanisms

• Lead and substantively guide on and facilitate the development of a collective risk management strategy applicable across aid community in Somalia and monitor & facilitate its implementation in close coordination with participating constituencies

• Chair the UN Risk Working Group and Multi-Party Risk Working Group, advise and facilitate information sharing, explore additional risk management outputs (treatment measures, technical tools, guidance, etc.) that may benefit the operations of the programs/projects implemented by the UN and its partners in Somalia

• Lead and facilitate discussions across aid community partners to develop common and sustainable risk management tools, practices and capacity building programs

• Design a knowledge management approach that ensures innovations, common approaches and best practices are shared across the aid community in Somalia.

4) Partnership and coordination

• Identify and develop strategic partnerships on risk management for the United Nations including through managing external and internal partnerships and relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including UN, donors and other funds and programmes, and other related private and public institutions.

• Provide technical support and advice on risk management practices to the UN and its partners

• Establish and maintain formal and informal partnerships with law enforcement institutions, UN audit and investigation offices and research institutions as necessary

• Coordinate risk management activities across different partners engaged in implementation of risk management practices in Somalia

5) Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development

• Lead the design and enhancement of class-based and online risk management course, in coordination with the RMU team and in the context of Managing Project Risk and other technical assistance products (guidance notes, etc.) to support capacity building

• Facilitate, deliver and oversee risk management learning curricula to the UN, NGOs, government officials and other partners

• Provide risk management related technical assistance and advice to the UN and its stakeholders, and in collaboration with the RMU team.

• Ensure self-development and remain up to date with new and innovative developments in the area of risk development

IV. Competencies and Selection Criteria

Core

• Innovation
• Leadership
• People Management
• Communication
• Delivery

Technical/Functional

• Risk Management
• Risk Assessment
• Report Writing
• Ability to prepare quality reports
• Knowledge Management
• Relationship Management

V. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in international relations, law, investigations, politics, economics, management or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in risk management, law enforcement, project management with international / governmental organization and highly volatile environment is required
• Knowledge of international standards on risk management (ISO31000, The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), Enterprise Risk Management) is required
• Ability in providing high quality service delivery is required
• Excellent interpersonal, communicative and persuasion skills
• Previous experience and knowledge in investigation/intelligence, audit and fraud examination are comparative advantages
• Proven track record of building and sustaining effective partnerships among different stakeholders
• Prior experience in Somalia is desirable
• Fraud Examiner certification is desirable
• Proven experience and qualification in the design, implementation and evaluation of training programs and initiatives.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in English. Working knowledge of other UN language desirable