HR Legal Officer
Provide legal support and advice to HR policies and rules.
Overview
Provide legal support and advice to HR policies and rules.
You have:
- A master's degree in law is required for this post.
- Preferably have between two and five years of professional experience in the legal practices of international organisations, and have worked in English and/or French during that period.
- Excellent communication skills, oral and written.
- Understand HR policies, procedures and best practices.
- Capable of developing innovative legal and HR solutions.
This is a non-renewable post for a limited duration of four years.
Location ESA Headquarters, Paris, France
Description
HR Legal Officer in the HR Legal Unit, Central Affairs Division, Human Resources Department, Directorate of Internal Services. Reporting to the Head of the HR Legal Unit you will provide support in the drafting and interpretation of rules and policies under the responsibility of HR. Your duties will include the preparation of documentation in relation to possible reforms (such as preparatory work for discussions with the Staff Association, proposing amendments to the rules, drafting documents for AFC/Council approval), as well as the provision of legal advice and support in relation to the management of individual cases (drafting of opinions on the interpretation of the rules, drafting of memos and letters and support for the Legal Department in the event of internal proceedings).
Duties
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:
- drafting, updating and revising legal texts prepared by the Unit, notably Staff Regulations and Rules, Pension Rules and related Instructions and human resources policies;
- supporting the development of the Agency’s employment conditions, through the drafting of legal opinions, internal memoranda and articles relating to human resources policies;
- supporting the consistent application of the Agency’s policies and rules in relation to staff employment conditions, within HR and beyond the service, via the management of individual cases;
- supporting the Legal Services Department in preparing case files to defend the Agency’s interests in internal legal proceedings;
- participating and taking minutes in meetings such as Joint Working Groups with the Staff Association and in meetings with other services;
- carrying out other tasks as requested by the Head of Unit.
Technical competencies
Understanding of the ESA institutional framework
Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects
Understanding of the specific processes/procedures of Coordination
Understanding of the ESA Staff Rules and Regulations and HR-specific processes and procedures
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation Operational Efficiency Fostering Cooperation Relationship Management Continuous Improvement Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
Education
A master's degree in law is required for this post.
Additional requirements
You should also:
- preferably have between two and five years of professional experience in the legal practices of international organisations, and have worked in English and/or French during that period;
- understand HR policies, procedures and best practices;
- possess excellent communication skills, oral and written;
- be capable of developing innovative legal and HR solutions.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.
At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at [email protected].
Important Information and Disclaimer In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.
Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Nationality and Languages Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a situation where you had to draft a complex legal document? | This question assesses your drafting skills and attention to detail. | Provide a specific example that showcases your skills in legal drafting. |
| How do you ensure compliance with international HR policies? | The interviewer wants to know your understanding of HR compliance. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of a time when your advice influenced a decision? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe how you handle disagreements within a legal context. Provide an example. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you use to stay updated on legal and HR trends? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |