Senior Investigation Specialist – (Pristina, Kosovo)

Job title: Senior Investigation Specialist

Place of work: Pristina, Kosovo

Start date: As soon as possible

Employment rate: Full time (40 hours per week)

Contract duration: 12 months

Reporting: Head of Programmes, ICAR

About the International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR)

ICAR is a specialist centre of the Basel Institute on Governance that works with countries around the world to strengthen their capacities to recover stolen assets. Particular emphasis is placed on hands-on mentoring to assist law enforcement practitioners to conduct financial investigations, develop suitable strategies for the prosecution of corruption offences, and to identify, restrain and confiscate proceeds of crime. ICAR also supports legislative and institutional reform processes, develops and delivers tailor-made training, and works with other international organisations to advance innovation and global policy dialogue on asset recovery.

About our work in Kosovo

ICAR’s work in Kosovo is part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Support to Anti-corruption Efforts in Kosovo – SAEK III programme. The aim of this programme is to enhance the capacities of relevant law enforcement and prosecuting authorities to identify, freeze and ultimately confiscate proceeds of corruption and related economic crime. To this end, ICAR provides case-based mentoring – including facilitating cooperation at domestic and international levels – and delivers a customised training programme.

To date, the technical assistance has been delivered by a team of experts on a fly-in, fly-out basis. To respond to the increasing demand for assistance, ICAR is looking to deploy a full-time Senior Investigation Specialist.

Responsibilities

The Senior Investigation Specialist will provide technical assistance to strengthen the financial investigation and asset tracing capacity of the Kosovan authorities engaged in corruption and related economic crime investigation, as well as the identification and recovery of criminal assets that are derived from such criminality. In particular, this assistance will include advising on the steps necessary to identify, freeze and confiscate criminal assets abroad.

The Senior Investigation Specialist will work as a consultant to ICAR’s Legal and Case Consultancy team. This team is supervised by the ICAR Head of Programmes.

Responsibilities include:

• Assist and advise the competent authorities in developing and implementing suitable investigative strategies and analysis in support of financial investigations of corruption and related financial crimes.
• Assist and advise the authorities in the practical and efficient coordination of multi-jurisdictional investigations.
• Assist the authorities in practical coordination and cooperation with foreign law enforcement and prosecution agencies to facilitate intelligence and evidence gathering through informal networks and via formal mutual legal assistance.
• Advise the authorities on evidence-based shortcomings in the domestic legal framework in relation to asset recovery efforts.
• Assist and advise the authorities on the needs for additional multi- and bi-lateral treaties facilitating international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of corruption and related financial crimes and the recovery of assets.
• Undertake the mentoring of investigators and prosecutors in the effective use of financial investigative techniques.
• Facilitate domestic agency coordination and collaboration.
• Mentor on the increased use of forensic data and evidence from digital data extraction devices.

Skills and qualifications

• At least eight years of practical working experience investigating or prosecuting corruption or serious financial crimes, including tracing, freezing and confiscating the proceeds of those crimes.
• At least five years of practical experience with complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations and/or prosecutions.
• Ability to work both independently and as an integrative team player in challenging operational environments.
• Ability to build working relationships with senior-level government employees.
• Experience working in low- or middle-income countries (experience in Kosovo or the region an advantage).
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Remuneration package

The salary will be commensurate to experience and responsibility. The position is entitled to an allowance for health insurance, and 25 days of paid leave per 12-month period.