Chief, Compliance Assurance and Regulatory Management Unit (CARMU)

This position is based in the Compliance Assurance and Regulatory Management Unit (CARMU) of the Office of Contract Management and Capacity Building (OCMC) of the International Seabed Authority in Kingston, Jamaica. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an international organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ISA is the organization through which States Parties to UNCLOS shall, in accordance with the regime for the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction (the Area) established in Part XI and the 1994 Agreement, organize and control activities in the Area, particularly with a view to administering the resources of the Area. CARMU supports the Authority in the administration of contracts for activities in the Area, regulatory implementation, compliance assurance and monitoring of contractor obligations, including the progressive development of operational arrangements required for the future exploitation regime.

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy to the Secretary-General and Chef de Cabinet and the direct supervision of the Director, OCMC, and within delegated authority, the Chief of CARMU will be responsible for the following duties: a. Lead the effective and systematic management of contracts for activities in the Area throughout the contract lifecycle, including the processing, monitoring, review, follow-up and documentation of applications for approval of plan of works, annual reports, periodic reviews, data and other required submissions, relinquishments, contractual commitments, requests for modifications or extensions, outstanding obligations, corrective actions, and contract expiry, renewal or transition matters, as applicable. b. Develop and maintain a seabed mining registry and associated regulatory information and records-management arrangements in line with international best practice, ensuring the integrity, completeness, traceability and appropriate accessibility of information concerning applications, contracts, contractor submissions, obligations, decisions, compliance status and corrective actions. c. Assess the regulatory impact of the regulatory framework on contractors and the ISA and, in combination with other Secretariat functional units; lead the development and implementation of the Authority's compliance assurance and risk management framework and culture in support of contract administration and regulatory implementation, including effective risk identification, governance, assessment, inspection, oversight and mitigation practices. d. Design and implement a risk-based and proportionate compliance assurance strategy to support compliance by contractors with their regulatory and contractual obligations, including regulatory reporting and regulatory relationship management. e. Manage a robust regulatory reporting programme; coordinate and track regulatory compliance monitoring and relevant audit activities; evaluate compliance controls; maintain a calendar of compliance obligations; ensure that findings and corrective actions are documented, assigned, followed up, appropriately escalated and closed; and coordinate cross-functional compliance issue-management matters, drawing on technical expertise from competent Secretariat units as required. f. Develop guidance and training material for contractors, sponsoring States, where appropriate, and other relevant stakeholders. g. Develop and maintain a risk-based non-compliance decision matrix to support consistent and proportionate assessment, escalation, corrective action and documentation of potential non-compliance. h. Serve as a principal Secretariat focal point for operational contract-management and regulatory compliance matters and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, sponsoring States, where appropriate, and other relevant stakeholders, in coordination with other competent Secretariat units. i. Prepare and submit timely and accurate contract-management and regulatory compliance information ,performance reports and working documents as required by the Secretary-General or organs of the Authority, including the Council and the Legal and Technical Commission; track relevant recommendations and decisions; follow up contractor responses and required actions; and maintain an auditable record of implementation and follow-up. j. Ensure that relevant Secretariat units understand their respective responsibilities in contract administration and regulatory implementation, including applicable requirements, expected standards, deadlines and internal coordination arrangements, and support the development of scalable mechanisms and controls. k. Develop, optimize and maintain documented workflows, standard operating procedures, assigned responsibilities, controls, checklists, regulatory records, quality-assurance arrangements, corrective-action mechanisms and continual-improvement processes. l. Lead and manage CARMU, including preparation and implementation of the Unit's work programme, prioritization and allocation of responsibilities, supervision and development of staff, management of available resources, establishment of performance indicators and reporting on delivery against agreed objectives. m. Lead CARMU's progressive operational readiness for implementation of the exploitation regulatory framework, including development of regulatory workflows, contract-administration procedures, compliance and reporting arrangements, information requirements, internal coordination mechanisms and systems required for future exploitation contracts. n. Coordinate the contribution of relevant Secretariat units to contract administration and regulatory implementation, including arrangements for referral of matters, assignment of responsibilities, technical inputs, response deadlines, quality control, escalation and recording of decisions. o. Contribute to the improvement of the organizational performance of ISA. p. Perform other duties as required by the Secretary-General.

PROFESSIONALISM: Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/cases. The ability to work with high-level stakeholders is desirable. Knowledge of contemporary international relations and of UN system, organization and interrelationships. Strong knowledge of the international law of the sea, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and related international agreements. Familiarity with current legal and political developments in the international law of the sea. Familiarity with current issues relating to critical minerals policy. Knowledge of regulatory administration, contract management, compliance assurance and risk-based regulation. 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. 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 CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. 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 improvements; 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.

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in Law, Ocean Studies, Engineering, Business Administration, Geology or Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, Mining or Mineral Resources, Public Administration, Regulatory Policy or Governance, or another closely related discipline is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Not available.

Minimum 10 years of combined relevant experience in contract or regulatory administration, mining or natural-resource regulation, environmental regulation, compliance assurance, risk-based regulatory systems, inspection or assurance systems, or implementation of complex regulatory frameworks, gained in a government regulatory agency, international organization or relevant private-sector role, is required. Strong communication skills, including excellent writing ability in English, and the capacity to produce complex technical reports, studies, and official documentation, is required. Experience in building and managing an efficient and effective team is required. Demonstrated experience and expertise in leading a compliance assurance and risk function (public or private sector) is desirable. Demonstrated experience building quality assurance and compliance programmes and processes is desirable. Strong negotiation and influencing skills, along with significant technical credibility is desirable.

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

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.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.