Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located at the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in Rome, Italy. The incumbent will work under the day-to-day supervision of the Programme Management Officer at coordinating the Institute’s activities on the Programme for the Strengthening of the Penitentiary System and Social Crime Prevention Policies in Mexico and under the overall supervision of the Senior Progamme Manager/ Deputy Director. For more information on UNICRI, please visit the website: www.unicri.it.
Responsibilities
Within assigned authority, the Programme Officer will provide substantive support to the implementation and expansion of the Institute’s initiatives on strengthening the penitentiary system in Mexico and Guatemala. The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties:
Participate in the development and implementation of activities, including research, capacity building, and knowledge dissemination, aimed at strengthening penitentiary systems and social crime prevention policies in Mexico and Guatemala, with a focus on improving institutional capacity, rehabilitation approaches, and crime prevention strategies.
Conduct consulting assignments with Member States and partners by planning and facilitating workshops, organizing interactive sessions, and supporting the development of actionable policy and operational frameworks in the areas of penitentiary reform, prison management, rehabilitation, and social crime prevention in Mexico and Guatemala.
Research, analyze, and synthesize information on penitentiary systems, rehabilitation models, prison management practices, and social crime prevention policies in Mexico and Guatemala, including comparative and regional best practices.
Establish and maintain technical working relationships with relevant Italian central authorities, penitentiary institutions, prosecutorial offices, and specialized law enforcement and judicial counterparts, in coordination with the Rome Liaison Officer where necessary, to identify good practices and lessons learned and support project-related technical assistance and capacity-building activities in beneficiary countries.
Prepare and adapt technical training materials, operational guidance, and knowledge products drawing on Italian penitentiary, prosecutorial, and criminal justice experience, contextualizing them to the legal, institutional, and operational frameworks of beneficiary countries; maintain strict confidentiality standards and foster trusted professional relationships through regular technical exchanges with relevant Italian counterparts, in coordination with the Rome Liaison Officer where necessary.
Assist in policy development by reviewing and analyzing emerging issues and trends related to penitentiary reform, prison overcrowding, rehabilitation programmes, reintegration strategies, and social prevention of crime, and contribute to research on innovative approaches in these areas.
Prepare various written outputs, including background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, and contributions to publications covering penitentiary reform, rehabilitation policies, and social crime prevention initiatives in Mexico and Guatemala.
Provide substantive support to consultative meetings, conferences, and workshops, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, and preparing presentations and documentation, particularly in relation to penitentiary reform, rehabilitation, social reintegration, and institutional capacity-building in Mexico and Guatemala.
Coordinate capacity-building activities, including training workshops and scenario-based exercises for national authorities and relevant stakeholders on key issues such as prison management, rehabilitation and reintegration of incarcerated persons, social crime prevention policies, and strengthening institutional coordination in Mexico and Guatemala.
Participate in or lead field missions, providing technical guidance to consultants, government officials, and other stakeholders; draft mission reports and actionable recommendations to support the implementation of penitentiary reform and social crime prevention initiatives in Mexico and Guatemala.
Contribute to project-related budget and funding activities, including programme and project submissions, progress tracking, financial reporting, and preparation of financial statements to ensure effective and sustainable implementation of activities under the programme.
Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
Perform other work-related duties as required.
Competencies
Professionalism: Has knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches related to the field of areas of penitentiary reform, prison management, rehabilitation, and social crime prevention. Is able to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Has the ability to collect both quantitative and qualitative data using various methods. Demonstrates conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis.
Is able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all work areas.
Planning & 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.
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.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, criminal justice, political science, international relations, security studies, psychology or behavioral sciences, sociology or a related discipline is required. A first-level university degree in a similar discipline in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in programme management, project coordination, technical assistance, or policy development in the field of criminal justice, security governance, penitentiary reform, correction management, or social crime prevention is required. Work experience in conducting research, policy analysis, and preparing technical reports, guidance materials, or knowledge products related to criminal justice, penitentiary systems, rehabilitation, or crime prevention is required.
Work experience in organizing and delivering capacity-building activities, including workshops, training programmes, technical assistance, or stakeholder consultations for government institutions or criminal justice actors is required. Work experience with prison reform, prison management, rehabilitation, reintegration, or correctional systems strengthening initiatives is desirable. Work experience in high-crime or complex security environments is desirable.
Work experience collaborating with law enforcement, prosecutorial, judicial, correctional, or other criminal justice institutions on organized crime, prison security, or related criminal justice matters is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Work experience within the United Nations system or other comparable international or multilateral organizations is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and Spanish are required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking
English | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III
Spanish | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is funded from extra-budgetary resources. This temporary position is available for six
(6) months and will be limited to service with UNICRI. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection may 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.
(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. 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. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Rome is classified in the H category (family duty station).
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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2
(a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2.
(c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.