Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Secretariat to the International Narcotics Control Board (SINCB), Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Secretary of the INCB and the Chief of INCB Secretariat reports substantively to the Board of INCB and administratively to the Director, DTA. For more information on INCB visit www.incb.org; for more information on UNODC visit www.unodc.org
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority and within the parameters of the Board’s mandates pursuant to the three international drug conventions, the Secretary of INCB will be responsible for the following specific duties:
Provide support to the INCB in the development of activities to carry out its mandate under the international drug control treaties.
Implement decisions of the Board and coordinate their execution, act on behalf of the Board between its sessions.
Carry out negotiations on behalf of the Board and develop and maintain relations between the Board and Governments.
Initiate appropriate diplomatic actions to facilitate effective national action to attain the aims of the international drug control treaties and identify and recommend remedial measures to Governments.
Advise Governments on technical questions of treaty implementation and evaluate their compliance with those treaty obligations.
Participate on behalf of the Board in international, regional and national meetings and provide programmatic/substantive expertise on international and national drug control issues, hold substantive discussions with Government officials and international/regional organizations, represent the Board in these events.
Formulate and implement, as Chief of the INCB Secretariat, the substantive work programme of the Secretariat under his/her supervision. Oversee the management of activities undertaken by the Secretariat, ensure that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinate work in the different areas both within the Division and Secretariat, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate.
Lead, supervise and carry out the work programme of the Secretariat under his/her responsibility. provide programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others.
Co-ordinate and oversee the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.
Report to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/ substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
Ensure that the outputs produced by the Secretariat maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensure that all outputs produced by the Sections under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
Lead team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provide insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensure that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
Assist in preparing the work programme of the Secretariat, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
Undertake or oversee the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Secretariat, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (e-Performance), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
Recruit staff taking due account of geographical balance.
Manage, guide, develop and train staff under his/her supervision.
Foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Secretariat and across organizational boundaries.
Lead and supervise the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive-related issues. Manage the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars.
Participate in international, regional or national meetings and provide programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or hold programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
Represent the Secretariat at international, regional or national meetings.
Competencies
Competencies:
Professionalism: Expert knowledge or/and cognate experience in national and international control of drugs and chemicals and in the implementation of the international drug control treaties; proven ability to produce reports and papers; ability to review and edit work of others; ability to negotiate with a wide range of individuals from different cultural environments; ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations.
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.
Planning & Organizing: Proven ability to plan and organize work, requiring an in-depth understanding of its strategic direction and ability to carry out work in line with guidance received by a supervisory body. 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.
Client Orientation: Ability to identify clients' needs and propose appropriate solutions as well as establish and maintain effective relationships with outside collaborators and other contacts, including members of the INCB and representatives of member states and the public.
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. Managerial Competencies
Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, law, social sciences, medicine or health sciences, or related area is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying and relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible professional work experience in law, criminal justice, medicine, health sciences, administration or related field is required. Experience in national and international drug control is required. Demonstrated strong leadership in managing teams and relevant technical work areas is required. Experience in managing intergovernmental processes and servicing intergovernmental bodies is required. Experience in liaising with United Nations Member States and independent expert bodies is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. 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
Desirable Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking
French | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. 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. Vienna is classified in the H category (family duty station).
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Libya, Liberia, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, and Vanuatu.
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.