Chief, Office of Internal Oversight (OIO)

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Office of Internal Oversight (OIO) is responsible for the systematic evaluation and internal audit of ICAO’s programmes, projects, and activities, with a view to assessing whether the Organization’s stated objectives and impacts have been achieved, and resources have been expended in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and with due regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness. The Office provides an annual report of its evaluations and internal audits to the ICAO Council. Evaluation is mainly focused on assessing the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of programmes and activities against established plans and objectives.

Internal audit ensures that a system of cost-effective internal controls has been established to mitigate potential risks to the Organization, to ensure compliance with policies, regulations, rules and administrative directives, and to ensure accountability for the proper, efficient and economical use of resources, consistent with organizational objectives and applicable best practices.

Under the general direction of the Council and the Secretary General, the Chief, OIO will provide leadership of, and will have overall administrative responsibility for, the management of OIO. The Chief, OIO will also play an active role in all oversight matters.

Responsibilities

Function 1 (incl. Expected results)

Designs and proposes a strategy for the implementation of the mandate of the Office, achieving results such as:

• Effectively plan and direct the work of the Office in accordance with relevant and established professional standards for evaluation, internal audit and oversight.
• Build trust and confidence in the work of OIO.
• Provide independent advice to the Council and/or the Secretary General and senior managers of the Organization on organizational planning, management, internal control, and other operational issues.
• Participate, as a member of the Senior Management Group, and advise on policies and innovative approaches and strategies to further strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization.
• Provide advice to the Council and/or the Secretary General on the impact of risks to ICAO.
• Establish a quality assurance and improvement programme that covers all aspects of OIO’s activities, and continuously monitor its effectiveness.

Function 2 (incl. Expected results)

Directs the development and completion of an evaluation and risk-based annual work plan and manages other oversight activities for OIO, achieving results such as:

• Plan and carry out the work of the Office in accordance with relevant and established professional standards for evaluation, internal audit and oversight.
• Provide independent evaluation reports to the Council and the Secretary General, with recommendations to develop Organizational learning and improve programme performance. 
• Provide independent internal audit reports to the Secretary General, with recommendations to improve internal controls and organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Provide reasonable assurances to the ICAO Council and the Secretary General on governance, risk management, system of internal controls, as well as other organizational matters as appropriate. 

Function 3 (incl. Expected results)

Manages the Office and its resources, achieving results such as:

• Manage, motivate and coach staff to ensure that they give their best performance.
• Set objectives for staff and assess their performance.
• Ensure that professional internal audit and evaluation staff maintain their qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience to meet OIO requirements.
• Manage OIO budgets, ensuring that financial resources are optimized.
• Develop and maintain tools, such as dashboards, charts, etc., enabling the Secretary General and other appropriate parties to receive relevant and timely information about the Office's activities.

Function 4 (incl. Expected results)

Reports to the Evaluation and Internal Audit Advisory Committee (EAAC), and liaises and coordinates the work of the Office with the External Auditor, the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), and other external oversight bodies within the UN system (e.g. United Nations Representatives of Internal Audit Services (UN-RIAS), United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG), among others), achieving results such as:

• Provide regular reports to the EAAC on the work of the Office. Provide support for the functioning of EAAC meetings.
• Coordinate OIO's internal audit and evaluation activities with ICAO’s External Auditor, ensuring optimal and most cost effective coverage of oversight activities.
• Serve as the Focal Point for all JIU activities relating to ICAO.
• Network with counterparts in other UN and international organizations to keep abreast of developments in professional practices, and to implement applicable best practices in OIO.

Function 5 (incl. Expected results)

Follows up on the status of implementation by Bureaus and Offices of all recommendations issued by the Office, the External

Auditor, and the JIU, achieving results such as:

• Improve rates of implementation of recommendations by relevant Bureaus and Offices.
• Reduce number of overdue recommendations.
• Issue periodic reports to the Secretary General and the Council on the status of implementation of oversight recommendations.

Function 6 (incl. Expected results)

Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: In-depth technical knowledge in the field of internal audit, risk management and internal control. Thorough knowledge of planning and conducting audits in accordance with the Standards by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Ability to maintain harmonious working relationships in a multicultural environment. Demonstrated professional competence and integrity. Ability to perform in depth analysis of business processes and systems using data analytics tools and presenting the results in a strategic manner. Demonstrated business acumen and strategic thinking. International outlook, character and integrity. Adherence to and capacity to promote the values and framework of the United Nations (UN) Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service and/or equivalent national or international standards of conduct. Excellent communication and organizational skills. Excellent drafting skills to prepare reports to present audit findings, conclusions and recommendations effectively and adequately. Demonstrated ability to deal with complex issues with diplomacy and tact. 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.

Accountability: Takes ownership for all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

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 the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; Generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction inspiring others to pursue that same direction; Conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to others; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Empowering Others: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them.

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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Essential

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

• Professional certification in auditing or evaluation is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen (15) years’ of progressively responsible experience in an oversight function, in both of the key functional areas (evaluation and internal audit) for which the Office is responsible, including several years at a senior management level is required.

Significant management experience (at least five years) at a senior executive level in a large organization is required.

Experience at the international level, including participation in international working groups is required.

Experience in change initiatives, promoting quality management, and fostering innovative reforms is required.

Experience with corporate performance management in the public or private sector is required.

Experience in IT audits and use of data analytics is desirable.

Specific evaluation/audit experience within the United Nations system or a multilateral or bilateral development organization is desirable.

Languages

Essential

• Fluent reading, writing and speaking abilities in English.

Desirable

• A working knowledge of any other language of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

The ICAO Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing gender equality and the advancement of women by supporting UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.”

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for ICAO positions, especially in the Professional and higher-level categories.

It should be noted that this post is to be filled on a fixed-term basis for a period of seven (7) years, non-renewable (first year is probationary for an external candidate).

ICAO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Secretary General and may be assigned to any activities or offices of the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the ICAO service code.

ICAO staff members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their status as international civil servants. In this connection, ICAO has incorporated the 2013 Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service into the ICAO Personnel Instructions.

ICAO offers an attractive benefit package to its employees in accordance with the policies of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC).

The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service after 1 January 2014 is 65. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

ICAO offers an attractive remuneration package, including a tax-free annual net base salary in US dollar (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), and a variable post adjustment* which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station.

Annual Salary for this post: US $157,020 (which includes a Net Base Salary of US $106,023 + Post Adjustment of US $50 997).

ICAO also offers the following benefits, subject to conditions as defined in the Staff Rules:

•  Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Settling-in grant, to assist in meeting initial extraordinary costs when arriving at or relocating to a new duty station
• Travel and relocation shipment, when moving to a new duty station
• Education grant for children in full-time attendance at an educational institution
• Home leave travel (normally once in every two years of qualifying service) 
• 30 working days of vacation per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund 
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection

ICAO encourages a positive workplace culture, and promotes inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. 

(*Post Adjustment: The base salary is supplemented by a post adjustment which varies according to the cost of living in the duty station and the exchange rate of the United States dollar. The post adjustment, set by the United Nations as a percentage of the base salary, ensures that all staff members at the same salary level have a similar purchasing power in every duty station by compensating for the differences in cost of living while taking currency fluctuations into account.)

United Nations Considerations

In accordance with ICAO Staff Regulations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard shall be paid to the importance of recruiting staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible and ensuring equal gender representation. Subject to the foregoing, selection of staff members shall be made without distinction as to race, sex or religion, nor shall there be any discrimination on account of any disability of a candidate who meets the qualifications required to perform the tasks. Unless otherwise permitted under the ICAO Staff Regulations, appointment and promotion of staff members shall be made on a competitive basis.

Candidates will not be considered for employment with ICAO 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.

Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, Inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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 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.

Job openings advertised in Inspira will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

ICAO does NOT charge any fees or request money from candidates at any stage of the recruitment process, nor does it concern itself with bank account details of applicants. Requests of this nature allegedly made on behalf of ICAO are fraudulent and should be disregarded.