Senior Risk Management Officer(m/w/x)

# Senior Risk Management Officer **Geneva, Switzerland** | **Full time** **Hardship Level** H (no hardship) **Family Type** Family **Family Type** Family **Residential location (if applicable)** **Grade** PR4 **Staff Member / Affiliate Type** Professional **Reason** Regular > Regular Assignment **Target Start Date** 2025-10-01 **Deadline for Applications** July 11, 2025 **Standard Job Description** **Senior Risk Management Officer** **Organizational Setting and Work Relationships** The Senior Risk Management Officer will be part of UNHCR Risk Management Network and will collaborate with the Chief Risk Officer and colleagues in the network to ensure strengthening of risk culture across UNHCR. Special attention is paid to coherence, identification of systemic issues requiring a corporate-wide response and sharing of good risk management practices and lessons learnt. The incumbent shall engage with internal stakeholders, including with the Bureau and HQ, as appropriate. As directed by their supervisor, the incumbent shall also engage with external stakeholders, including Government offices, partners, donors, and (for in-situ posts) contractors and refugee/host communities, to maximize collective efforts to manage risk and strengthen the accountability and the quality of services provided to forcibly displaced and stateless people. For in-situ and roving positions (while on mission), the incumbent will be in the first line, supporting the Operation in risk management. S/he shall review the adequacy of risk management systems, structures, procedures and capacities within the Operation, make recommendations as appropriate, and assist management in their implementation. For situational positions the incumbent will support the Risk Management Adviser in coordinating operations within their Area of Responsibility (AOR) in matters related to risk and oversight, as part of the second line. S/he will assess the adequacy of risk management within the Operations and provide advice, guidance and practical support. For HQs positions, the incumbent will work within the Design, Development and Risk Management Service supporting the organization-wide efforts to further strengthen the risk culture in UNHCR globally. S/he will work closely with colleagues in the Design, Development and Risk Management Service, HQ divisions and entities, the regional Bureaux, the UNHCR Risk Management Network as well as Risk Owners and Risk Focal Points across the organization to enhance the application of risk management in the organization. The incumbent may manage relevant personnel/functions relating to risk management. S/he reports directly to the Deputy/Assistant Representative in the Field or to the Senior Risk Management Adviser in a Bureau, or to a senior colleague in the ERM Service, with a functional reporting line to the Chief Risk Officer. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. **Duties** All Senior positions: * Support the effective implementation of UNHCR’s risk management strategy and policy and strengthening the risk culture in the AOR. * Facilitate risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. * Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. * Promote the allocation of resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. * Identify and escalate where risks are outside of acceptable levels and propose and support actions to reduce the risk level. * Advise and support on risk management and oversight matters, assisting relevant colleagues in discharging their responsibilities and accountabilities to manage risks in compliance with policies and procedures. * Ensure risk management, ethical and integrity considerations are integrated into decision making, planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and contingency activities in the AoR. * Promote collaboration of different functions within the operation/Bureau/divisions to address cross cutting risks and issues. * Support the implementation of oversight recommendations to improve risk management, compliance and quality of outputs. * Assess the risks of fraud committed by forcibly displaced and stateless persons in UNHCR’s protection, assistance and solutions interventions and support the completion of the Fraud Vulnerability Checklist, where applicable. * Work with internal and external oversight entities, develop and implement procedures to collect relevant data and efficiently track and report specific issues, trends and cross-cutting matters representing a high risk to the Operation(s) under AoR. * Prepare or review and input to management reports to external stakeholders. * Train and build capacity of UNHCR teams and partners in risk management to strengthen the culture of integrity and accountability. Monitor and track ERM training participation. * Support and promote ERM best practices through the risk management newsletter and risk management community of practice. * Provide field- based support and guidance jointly with Headquarters for organisational risk management developments and initiatives. * Provide regular updates to managers and other relevant senior colleagues on matters related to risk management, compliance and quality, including on emerging risks and opportunities. * Analyse risk management and oversight findings and recommendations; identify lessons learnt and root cause(s) of recurring systemic issues; prepare summary reports, with recommendations, * Undertake support missions as necessary. * Represent ERM / UNHCR in various internal and external for forums related to risk management, as required. * Perform other related duties as required. In-situ and roving posts only: * Coordinate and facilitate the risk review exercises with functional experts and management to agree on the operational risk register, and appropriate risk responses; facilitate, monitor and report on the implementation of agreed responses. * In consultation with the Chief Risk Officer and the Regional Risk Adviser, assess the methodology, tools and practices related to the implementation of risk management activities in the operation to strengthen integrity, identify root causes of risks, and propose mitigating measures with a focus on prevention. * Support the implementation of key risk mitigation actions in the operation. * As required, follow-up on specific integrity, oversight and/or compliance matters and propose improvements. Situational posts only: * Support the Risk Management Adviser in coordinating and quality assuring the risk review exercise in the operations under the AoR, monitoring that appropriate action is taken to mitigate the identified risks. * Contribute to the implementation of the cross-functional risk-based regional oversight monitoring plans of operations under AoR through missions and desk reviews. * Contribute to the analysis of risk management and oversight findings and recommendations. * Contribute to the regional risk report, summarizing key oversight themes and using risk information to highlight the highest risks, identify lessons learnt and root causes. Recommend improvements and enhancements on matters requiring management action or intervention. * Conduct risk-based monitoring and support missions to countries under their AoR to assess the adequacy of risk management systems, structures, procedures and capacities Report back to the Senior Risk Management Adviser in order to help improve risk management methodologies, tools and practices. HQ posts only: * Promote the broader use of the risk management methodology in the organization through identifying opportunities for further integration of risk management into UNHCR’s policies, processes, training programmes and other initiatives. * Support the Regional and Situational Risk Advisers, and the Chief Risk Officer in the quality assurance process for operational risk registers. * Support regions and operations, as required, based on requests for dedicated support missions or remote support around risk management and risk assessments. * Provide analysis on trends on risks at the global level. * Contribute to global ERM workstreams and initiatives. **Minimum Qualifications** **Years of Experience / Degree Level** *For P4/NOD - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree* **Field(s) of Education** *Business Administration; International Affairs; Political Science; Risk Management;* *or other relevant field.* **Certificates and/or Licenses** *Prince2-Project Management;* *HCR Risk Management Basics & ERM Programme;* (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk\* are essential) **Relevant Job Experience** ***Essential*** Relevant experience in risk management compliance and quality of results. Knowledge of and working experience with Enterprise Risk Management frameworks. Experience in quality assurance and monitoring. Experience in decision making that requires excellent judgement with proven ability to deal with complex interrelated issues and strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop solutions that address root causes. Experience in high level communication with strong interpersonal and writing skills. Proven experience in in collaboration, team building, capacity development and with ability to deliver quality results on time. For field-based positions, experience in UN or humanitarian field operations and emergencies in various geographical locations and multiple functional areas. Demonstrated high level of integrity, objectivity, impartiality, and fairness. ***Desirable*** Good working knowledge of UNHCR’s mandate, field operations, organizational structure, and policies & procedures. **Functional Skills** *RM-Risk Management* *TR-Training and Capacity Building of senior leadership and management* *DM-Data Collection and Analysis* *PG-Results-Based Management* *SC-Quality Assurance/Control/Management* (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk\* are essential) **Language Requirements** *For International Professional and Field Service jobs: **Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English**.* *For National Professional jobs: **Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language**.* *For General Service jobs: **Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English**.* **Competency Requirements** All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below. **Core Competencies** *Accountability* *Communication* *Organizational Awareness* *Teamwork & Collaboration* *Commitment to Continuous Learning* *Client & Result Orientation* **Managerial Competencies** *Empowering and Building Trust* *Judgement and Decision Making* **Cross-Functional Competencies** *Analytical Thinking* *Planning and Organizing* *Technological Awareness* All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. **Desired Candidate Profile** • Minimum 6 years of relevant, in-depth experience in risk management • Experience conducting specialized risk assessments, with a focus on contextual, programmatic, and reputational risk in humanitarian settings. • Demonstrated ability to provide strategic guidance to regional bureaus and country operations on risk identification, assessment and mitigation • Experience in delivering advanced risk management learning, both virtually and in-person • Relevant professional certifications, such as international certification in risk management (e.g., IRM, PRMIA), PRINCE2, and CFE • Fluency in English; knowledge of French or Spanish is highly desirable **Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):** , **Desired languages** , **Operational context** ## Occupational Safety and Health Considerations: ## Nature of Position: The Senior Risk Management Officer (P4) position reports to the Senior Enterprise Risk Management Coordinator. The position is also part of the UNHCR Risk Management Network, aiming to strengthen risk culture across the organization. The role focuses on strengthening risk culture across the organization by equipping personnel to make risk-informed decisions and implement effective risk mitigation measures in their daily work. In addition, the incumbent will engage and actively support the work of the ERM Service and Risk Network. The incumbent will play a key role in embedding risk management into UNHCR systems, structures and processes. The key responsibility of the incumbent will be to support operations and/or regions where there is no risk adviser capacity. The Senior Risk Management Officer will also provide technical guidance and coordination support to risk focal points in the region and operations. S/he will be expected to support the operations and regional bureaus in conducting comprehensive risk assessments to identify, analyze and evaluate potential risks that may impact UNHCR’s operational and strategic objectives. As part of the job, the incumbent is expected to travel regularly (provided funding is available) or to provide regular and systematic remote support in risk management where needed. The position requires very good communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with UNHCR teams and external stakeholders to provide risk analysis and integrate risk management principles into strategic decision making. The incumbent will actively engage and contribute to the different workstreams and products that the ERM Service engages on. ## Living and Working Conditions: **Additional Qualifications** *Skills* DM-Data Collection and Analysis, PG-Results-Based Management, RM-Risk Management, SC-Quality Assurance/Control/Management, TR-Training and Capacity Building of senior leadership and management *Education* Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: International Affairs, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Risk Management *Certifications* HCR Risk Management Basics & ERM Program - UNHCR, Prince2_Project Management - AXELOS Ltd *Work Experience* **Competencies** Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness **UNHCR Salary Calculator** ## ## Compendium Add. 1 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium - Part B **Additional Information** **Functional clearance** This position requires Functional Clearance