Chief, Ethics and Conduct Unit (ECO) (P)

Role Overview

This leadership position sits at the heart of an international organization’s efforts to embed integrity, transparency, and accountability into everyday operations. You will oversee a dedicated ethics office, shaping the frameworks and advisories that guide senior management and staff through complex moral and compliance dilemmas. Day to day, your work involves interpreting conduct standards, protecting whistleblowers, managing conflict-of-interest disclosures, and designing training that shifts organizational culture—all while liaising with oversight, legal, human resources, and risk bodies to keep ethics at the forefront of institutional decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the creation and continuous improvement of ethics-related policies, procedures, and guidelines, and provide authoritative counsel on the ethical implications of broader institutional practices.
• Champion a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability, acting as a visible advocate for ethical conduct among both leadership and all personnel.
• Oversee the delivery of practical, timely, and confidential guidance on ethical matters, including interpretation of the standards of conduct, conflict-of-interest scenarios, and other emerging ethics questions.
• Lead the implementation and periodic refinement of the protection against retaliation framework, ensuring fair, impartial reviews of complaints and robust safeguards for those who speak up.
• Design and execute a comprehensive training and outreach program that reinforces institutional values, encourages a speak-up culture, and fosters a respectful, ethical workplace.
• Manage the annual disclosure and financial conflict-of-interest process for senior and key personnel, aligning it with global best practices and ensuring rigorous compliance.
• Track, analyze, and report on ethics-related data and trends, translating findings into actionable recommendations for senior management and governing committees.
• Supervise the office’s staff, budget, and daily workload, maintaining high standards of quality, confidentiality, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with oversight, legal, ombudsman, human resources, and risk management functions, as well as external networks of ethics professionals, to exchange knowledge and adopt emerging best practices.

Requirements & Qualifications

• An advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Law, Governance, International Development, or a closely related field from an accredited university, supplemented by at least ten years of relevant professional experience; alternatively, a first-level university degree in these fields combined with at least twelve years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in ethics, law, compliance, oversight, or dispute resolution, ideally gained within a public international organization, humanitarian agency, or similarly complex multilateral environment.
• Hands-on experience developing and implementing organizational ethics programs, including policy creation, integrity and compliance measures, prevention initiatives, culture-change efforts, and learning/communications strategies.
• Direct involvement in ethics casework, including providing general ethics advice, handling conflicts of interest, administering financial disclosure systems, and managing protection against retaliation cases.
• Deep familiarity with the administrative policies, procedures, and governance structures typical of international organizations.
• Unquestionable personal integrity, discretion, professionalism, independence, and the demonstrated ability to manage highly sensitive or confrontational situations with impartiality.
• Superior advocacy, communication, and negotiation skills, with a proven capacity to translate complex ethical concepts into clear written and oral guidance for diverse audiences.
• Strong leadership capabilities, including the ability to motivate teams, deliver strategic and operational results under pressure, and solve problems creatively and analytically.
• Comfort engaging with high-level officials and external stakeholders, building trust and credibility across institutional boundaries.