Partnerships Specialist - Due Diligence

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

1. General Background 

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

This position is located in the Legal Group. The Due Diligence Specialist will report directly to the Deputy General Counsel and Director of the Legal Group. 

The main responsibilities of the Due Diligence Specialist will be to conduct due diligence reviews and develop UNOPS due diligence policies and procedures. The position includes elements of research, advice and policy development and provides exposure to a wide range of work areas overseen by the Legal Group.

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy General Counsel and Director of the Legal Group, the Due Diligence Specialist will have the following duties:

• Lead the conduct of due diligence reviews, research and screenings of prospective and existing funding sources, partners, clients and other relevant entities in accordance with the UNOPS legal framework.

• Draft and consolidate due diligence and screening reports with a special focus on reputational risks for UNOPS. 

• Administer all aspects of the UNOPS due diligence case management system, including receiving and tracking due diligence requests, assessing the need for referral to internal or external reviewers, filing and maintaining detailed due diligence records in a due diligence register, and establishing and maintaining a retrievable database of reviewed entities.

• Assess the need for and assist in the establishment and management of long-term agreements or other contractual instruments with specialised due diligence providers.

• Administer corporate intelligence service providers and tools to facilitate reputational due diligence research.

• Advise internal and external stakeholders on the interpretation and application of the UNOPS due diligence policies and related documentation and procedures, and respond to other queries related to the UNOPS due diligence process.

• ​​Develop training and awareness-raising campaigns to promote knowledge of and compliance with due diligence policies and procedures within UNOPS.

• Develop and review UNOPS due diligence policies and related documentation and procedures to ensure that (i) UNOPS' engagement with third parties is conducted in accordance with UN standards and criteria and in line with industry best practices, and (ii) UNOPS has the necessary knowledge base to assess and manage potential reputational risks.

• Develop procedures, guidelines or other tools, including risk management and mitigation tools, to implement the UNOPS due diligence policies.

• Contribute to and maintain knowledge management systems and guidelines to ensure that UNOPS due diligence policies, procedures and resources are widely accessible to all UNOPS stakeholders.

Education: 

• A Master's degree in law, international relations, business administration, finance and accounting or other relevant fields is required. 

• A bachelor's degree combined with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of professional experience, preferably in an international setting, is required. 

• Experience in risk-based due diligence, anti-fraud and anti-corruption, risk management and mitigation or compliance or implementation of internal control systems is required.

• Experience in developing policies and internal standard operating procedures is highly desirable. 

• Experience in investigative and auditing activities is an asset.

• Work experience in the UN system is an asset. 

• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certification is an asset.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is required;

• Working knowledge of other languages (in particular, Spanish, French and/or Arabic) is an asset.