Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Responsibilities

• Within assigned authority, the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer (Global Prosecution Adviser) will work closely with the national, authorities and various stakeholders to provide prosecution advice, training and technical assistance to build prosecution and investigation capacities of national agencies, and to lead the prosecution and judicial cooperation related work, and to provide strategic guidance across parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean as relevant. The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties:
• Provide specialized legal advice and support and technical input on complex legal aspects on wildlife, forest crime and other crimes that affect the environment, encourage cross-border prosecutions and judicial cooperation, aiming at higher level criminal offenders in the trafficking chain.
• Advise and interact with governments on issues related to legislation, regional and inter-regional cooperation.
• Draft amendments to national legislation, build knowledge and expertise within UNODC on WLFC and other crimes affecting the environment (e.g. waste trafficking).
• Conduct national capacity assessments as part of the multi-disciplinary team using the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime. (ICCWC) and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit and Indicator Framework in the assigned countries.
• Update and expand training curricula in collaboration with relevant national agencies (i.e. prosecution, law enforcement, wildlife and forest agencies, judiciary) and develop standardized training materials, reference guides and manuals, capacity building packages for prosecutors, investigators and judiciary at interregional, regional and national levels and promote their use and application through the implementation of capacity-building activities.
• Deliver investigation and prosecution training and mentoring to regional wildlife prosecutors and investigators to build capacity of law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies to successfully investigate, improve their case preparation, collection of evidence and court room skills. Expand the cooperation with investigators and prosecutors to fisheries-related offences and other crimes that affect the environment.
• Contribute to UNODC research efforts on legislation and development of legislative guides on fisheries related crimes, minerals-related crimes, waste trafficking and other related offences.
• Expand UNODC understanding of the green and climate justice and environmental criminal law by conducting an overview of environmental offences that are criminalized or have an element of organized crime, prepare position papers, speaking points on the issue and develop training materials for these emerging areas.
• Participate as a resource person in workshops, seminars and training courses as assigned.
• Perform other work-related functions, as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the relevant aspects of wildlife and forest crime and other crimes that affect the environment, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and extradition legislation. Has knowledge in developing capacity-building tools for investigators and prosecutors in wildlife and forest crime. Has demonstrable ability to liaise with prosecutors and experience in the preparation of documents required by the courts in the course of investigations and prosecutions. Has knowledge in training and mentoring prosecutors, law enforcement officers and/or other criminal justice officials in matter relating to the investigation and prosecution of wildlife and forest crime or other economic crimes. Has demonstrable knowledge and understanding of relevant international instruments. Has very good knowledge in undertaking criminal justice assessments requested by governments. Is able to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. 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.
• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• An advanced university (Master's degree or equivalent) in the fields of law, criminology, public administration or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

• Certification or other qualification in training design and delivery is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of relevant, progressively responsible professional experience in prosecution, in advising on relevant legislation, investigations, intelligence and law enforcement matters and preparation of cases for trial is required.
• Experience in wildlife and forest crime, working closely with police, prosecutors, customs personnel, financial professionals and other relevant disciplines involved in the prosecution of wildlife and forest crime is required.
• Experience with preparation of court documents necessary for investigations/seizures/ prosecutions is required.
• Experience in development and delivery of prosecution training and provision of advice and assistance to law enforcement officers and prosecutors in the area of wildlife and forest crime in both common law and civil law jurisdictions is desirable.
• Experience with prosecution capacity building in developing countries is desirable.
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment in Africa is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.