Chief, Administrative Law Unit (ALU), P-5, Office of the Executive Director, New York

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 208,877 USD and 261,770 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, commitment

The Chief, Administrative Law Unit (ALU), shall report directly to the Deputy Executive Director, Management (DED/Management), in the Office of the Executive Director (OED). The Chief, ALU, will lead a team of administrative law specialists responsible for the key elements of the administrative law function in UNICEF. The DED/Management, under the general direction of the Executive Director, is accountable for the administrative, financial, and risk management operations of the organization. The Chief, ALU, also works in close collaboration with the other teams such as the Division of Human Resources (DHR), Office of Internal Audit and Investigation (OIAI), Ethics Office, the Office of the Legal Adviser, and the Ombudsman, as well as the Division of Communication (DOC), and other UN Agencies.

How can you make a difference?

The position will be responsible for all administrative law functions in UNICEF, in particular: (i) conducting independent management evaluations under Staff Rule 11.2 for the DED/Management’s decision; (ii) representing UNICEF in appeals before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT); (iii) conducting independent assessments of the OIAI investigation reports for the DED/Management’s decision (both on whether or not a charge letter is warranted and in case misconduct has been established, on the appropriate sanction to impose).

The incumbent will manage the Administrative Law Unit that will serve as the secretariat to the UNICEF Disciplinary Advisory Panel which supports the DED/Management in the decision-making process for the application of disciplinary measures and reprimands in response to investigation cases and management reviews.

The incumbent will be responsible for adherence to all agreed-upon completion of key performance indicators (KPIs) and for instituting a process of continuous improvement that will further reduce time to complete disciplinary cases.

Further, the Chief, Administrative Law Unit will be responsible for internal communications in the context of the administrative law function, including but not limited to: (i) preparing regular reports on the work of the administrative law function for internal dissemination/reporting, including message broadcasts to all staff and other means, and (ii) preparing regular brochures/webinars of lessons learned for UNICEF staff and managers.

The incumbent will periodically update the Director DHR on emerging trends and key issues identified to inform management training initiatives. The incumbent shall also work with DHR and other stakeholders on monitoring whether HR policies need amendment due to DED/Management decisions and/or Tribunal judgments on evolving case-law.

The position shall work closely with the Legal Adviser in OED in cases where a staff member’s conduct may constitute criminality and shall support the Office of the Legal Adviser in discharging its accountability with regard to referrals to and engagement with relevant authorities.

The position shall regularly interact with counterparts in the wider UN system and beyond for the purpose of information and best practice sharing and represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency fora on administrative law-related matters.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Management of Section

• Promote technical excellence in the office by ensuring that any and all recommendations to the DED/Management are factually and legally sound, and in accordance with current case-law, the same for UNDT submissions.
• Promote managerial excellence in managing the ALU’s case-load, and respecting applicable time-limits.
• Promote learning and education for UNICEF staff, in strategic partnership with other offices, on workplace ethics and conduct, the interpretation/application of HR policies, and the disciplinary and appeals process.

Networking and Partnerships

• Build relationships with other entities involved in administrative law in UNICEF, including DHR (policy), OIAI, Ethics, the Office of the Legal Adviser, and the Ombudsman, as well as the Division of Communication (DOC) and other partners, to establish a mechanism to communicate to and educate staff on their rights and obligations, and the applicable administrative law processes (appeals and disciplinary).
• Build and strengthen relationships with the UNDT and offices in other UN entities that perform similar roles in their organizations.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Managerial Skills

The ability to empower others to translate vision into results.

Capacity to anticipate and resolve conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions and demonstrate the courage to take unpopular stands.

The ability to allocate appropriate time and resources for successful achievement of goals, and foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning.

Ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies, identify priority activities and assignments, adjust priorities as required.

• Technical Skills

Authoritative technical knowledge of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNICEF’s policies addressing staff members’ rights and obligations, the UN Internal System of Administration of Justice, applicable case-law.

Authoritative technical knowledge in litigating cases.

Ability to identify and analyze systemic issues, formulate opinions and make conclusions and recommendations for wider communication/education.

• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization tailoring language, tone, style and format to match audience; ability to present sometimes negative results in a considered and tactful manner to promote acceptance

• Education and Experience

An Advanced University Degree in Law is required.

Ten years of increasingly responsible professional experience as an attorney and/or legal officer in an international organization is required. Litigation experience is required, and litigation experience before the UN Dispute Tribunals is a strong asset.

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (3)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

View our competency framework at

New Competency Framework Brochure (002).pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.