SENIOR EVALUATION OFFICER, P5

The position is located in the Strategic Planning, Programme Management, Evaluation and Change Management Service of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Service.

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: • Ensures evaluations are conducted in an impartial, independent and credible manner; • Leads the design and management of all process and programme evaluations in collaboration with the relevant Divisions/Branches; • Ensures the integration of gender and other cross-cutting issues into the OHCHR's evaluation System; • Provides guidance and technical support to staff members for conducting evaluations, assessments and reviews and conducts them him/herself when required; • Ensures that evaluations meet the highest professional standards, in accordance with the United Nations evaluation Norms and Standards and are informed by emerging innovative evaluation practices; • Participates in Human Rights and OHCHR performance and impact evaluations conducted by other entities when appropriate, e.g., donor evaluations; • Cooperates with other UN evaluation units and professional evaluation bodies and networks to ensure the sharing of lessons learned and good practices. This may include but not be limited to representing OHCHR in the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG); • Ensures evaluation results are systematically used to inform decision-making at the strategic and programme levels; prepares reports and briefings to the Senior • Executive Team (SET) on evaluation recommendations and lessons learned of strategic importance; • Coordinates with relevant Divisions to prepare and finalize all management responses to evaluation results; • Prepares follow-up action plans to closely monitor the implementation of evaluation recommendations across OHCHR; • Maintains effective liaison with all Divisions and Branches responsible for implementing evaluation recommendations • Prepares progress reports to the SMT and other relevant entities such as the General Assembly when required on progress made towards the implementation of evaluation recommendations; • Prepares progress reports to the SET, OG and other relevant entities such as the General Assembly when required on progress made towards the implementation of evaluation recommendations; • In collaboration with Divisions and Branches, ensures that evaluation results are taken into account for the design and appraisal of strategies, policies and new projects/programmes; • Ensures evaluation principles, prerequisites and benefits are widely known and recognized in the organization; • Designs and implements an evaluation capacity development programme as part of the OHCHR capacity building strategy on Results Based Management (RBM); • Participates in conducting the RBM training for staff Office-wide; ensures continuous methodological improvement of and support to self-evaluation, • Contributes to maintaining a network of evaluation focal points across the organization; • Provides effective supervision for evaluation colleagues, assists in planning the human and financial resources needed for a fully operational monitoring and evaluation function; • Selects and supervises evaluation consultants effectively. • Provides leadership, guidance and direction for the effective application of the evaluation function at the strategic and policy-related levels; • Ensures that the evaluation function serves as an effective feedback loop, within OHCHR’s RBM system, supplementing the self-assessment in the Performance Monitoring System with office-wide evaluative evidence; • Ensures the effective linkage and synergies between information provided through the Performance Monitoring System and the evaluation functions; • Provides guidance and support for the Office-wide implementation of the Performance Monitoring System; • Supports field presences and Divisions at the headquarters level with the design of baseline studies, action research and surveys to systematically collect data/evidence for reporting on progress; • Leads the preparation and update of evaluation tools and guidance for all staff;

• Professionalism: Detailed knowledge of the role of the UN and its components; good knowledge of key UN topics; sound knowledge of and wide exposure to the full range of human rights issues, to include approaches and techniques to address highly sensitive/complex problems; excellent knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to human rights; original thinking, independent judgment and discretion in advising on and handling major issues and problem. Experience in and ability to develop evaluation design, well-focused Terms of Reference; various methodologies in evaluation; and various sampling techniques and their applications; ability to collect reliable, valid and accurate information in an objective way; ability to develop questionnaires and other review instruments that will address issues identified in the design, independently; comprehensive understanding of the uses and limits of various methods available for quantitative analysis and innovative and creative analyses techniques. 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. 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. • 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. • Accountability: Takes ownership of 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. • 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. • 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 confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed-upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in social sciences, international relations, development studies or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Not available.

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in programme management is required A minimum of seven years of recent experience as an Evaluation Officer within the UN system or similar international organization is required. A minimum of five years of experience related to evaluation and programming in the field of human rights is desirable. Experience in knowledge management, results-based management (RBM) and organizational change is desirable

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

Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Un-represented: Andorra, Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu. Under-represented: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Libya, Liberia, Luxembourg, Monaco, Oman, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Candidate Profile (CP) and cover note. 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 in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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.