This position is located in the UNODC Programme Office in San José, Costa Rica (POCRI) operating under the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean in Panama (ROPAN), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the UNODC Representative of ROPAN, as first reporting officer and the overall guidance of the Programme Coordinator (Head of the Global Programme on Cybercrime) assigned to the Cybercrime and Technology Section (CTS), Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch (OCB), Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as second reporting officer, and the substantive guidance of the Team Leader, Technical Cooperation, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section (HTMSS), Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch (OCB), Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA), as additional supervisor. For more information on UNODC visit www.unodc.org.

Within assigned authority the National Programme Officer (Cybercrime Expert) will be responsible for the following specific duties: • Provide support in coordinating project activities in Central America of the digital component of the European Union funded Global Action against the Financial and Digital Dimensions of the Smuggling of Migrants. This includes overall activity coordination, procurement of equipment, contracting service providers and meeting monitoring and reporting obligations related to national stakeholders in Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador and Colombia. • Contribute to the design and update courses on investigating cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled smuggling of migrants for law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges, first responders and other counterparts incorporating specialized content on digital evidence handling and seizure of devices, specialized and special investigative techniques, and emerging technologies. • Deliver capacity-building workshops and other technical assistance activities on the detection, investigation and prosecution of cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled smuggling of migrants in the clear and darknet, including open-source intelligence (OSINT) and special investigative techniques, such as digital undercover techniques, covert operations, interception of communications, social engineering of networks or data carving • Deliver technical advice and mentorship to national law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and other government officials, including to effectively seize and handle mobile and electronic devices, respecting due process of law. • Draft reports, guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) on cybercrime investigation and digital evidence matters relating to migrant smuggling to support knowledge-sharing and the development of investigative best practices. • Conduct training needs assessments of law enforcement agencies, digital forensic services, prosecution and other criminal justice responses to identify gaps in skills and knowledge related to investigating migrant smuggling, including (in collaboration with other relevant experts) assessing needs in digital evidence collection, the use of specialized software, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques and tools. • Research and analyse actual adjudicated cybercrime and migrant smuggling cases and trends, including cyber-dependent incidents of migrant smuggling, to identify lessons learned and emerging trends that inform the project’s strategy and law enforcement training activities. • Coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders, including intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, CSOs, private sector, academic institutions, and other UN agencies, that provide training or support on cybercrime and migrant smuggling, to ensure synergies and avoid duplication. • Assist in ongoing monitoring and evaluation of project activities by collecting data on implementation, drafting progress and evaluation reports, participating in project review meetings, and following up on recommended actions to ensure effectiveness and impact of the project. • In coordination with the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling of Persons Section, liaise with relevant parties to ensure project implementation, including Law Enforcement Agencies, Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Justice, Attorney General Offices, and Supreme Courts in selected countries for the purpose of project implementation and the advancement of the Global Action against the Financial and Digital Dimensions of the Smuggling of Migrants. • Support the visibility of UNODC’s anti-migrant smuggling work in the region in accordance with the communications plan, including by submitting inputs to communication actions and products in a timely manner; ensure project donor(s) visibility in all public activities; • Contribute to the collection and analysis of data and identification of trends or patterns and provide draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Document requirements and background information used for data analysis. • Report to the Project Coordinator of the Global Programme on Cybercrime overseeing the cybercrime component of the Global Action against the Financial and Digital-based Dimensions of the Smuggling of Migrants. • Perform other work-related duties as required by the UNODC Representative for Central America and the Caribbean, and the Head of the Global Programme on Cybercrime and other Regional Offices.

Professionalism: Demonstrates in-depth substantive knowledge and specialization in the field of counter-cybercrime law enforcement and/or prosecution. Demonstrates ability to adapt knowledge and skills to the field of migrant smuggling. Has knowledge of policies and practices in international criminal justice and crime prevention and relevant UNODC mandates. Has knowledge of programme/project administration, implementation, evaluation, technical cooperation, programming and budgeting. Has very good research and analytical skills. Has knowledge of and ability to provide training to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, digital forensic experts, or other criminal justice officials in matters relating to the investigation and prosecution of organized crime. Is able to evaluate, identify and contribute to the solution of problems/issues. Demonstrates ability to apply good judgement in the context of assignments given and to coordinate the work of others. Is able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning and 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.

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, criminal justice, law enforcement, computer science, digital forensics, or a closely related field is required. A first-level university degree in a similar field, in combination with two additional years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Not available.

A minimum of two (2) years of relevant, progressively responsible work experience, in crime prevention and criminal justice is required. Work experience in investigating or prosecuting cybercrime, online child sexual abuse and exploitation, or crimes related to virtual assets is desirable. Work experience designing and delivering training on cybercrime or digital investigations is desirable. Work experience related to the smuggling of migrants and related crimes is desirable. Work experience in investigating crimes involving darknet platforms or cryptocurrencies is desirable. Work experience within the United Nations system or in a similar international organization is desirable. Experience with projects related to law enforcement or criminal justice is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable.

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

This position is funded from extra budgetary resources. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment Note to current staff members at the General Service level: Locally recruited General Service staff members applying for this post must meet the minimum requirements, including academic qualifications and years of relevant experience. Relevant experience in the General Service category at G-6 and G-7 levels may count towards experience requirements. 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. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Contact Us” link. San Jose is classified in the A category (family duty station).

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

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