International Consultant - Legal Consultant

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Background:

Please note that this is a consultancy assignment of a temporary nature to cover parental leave and related staff shortages, subject to the availability of sufficient funds.

The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) delivers centralized advice to the OSCE Secretary General, Chair and all OSCE executive structures on the full range of legal issues that affect the OSCE. These include interpreting the regulatory framework, handling administrative appeals and complaints and advising on host country arrangements, privileges and immunities issues, dispute settlement, tenders and negotiations of complex contracts and administrative policies, along with other requests to advise on ad hoc issues.

OLA sits within the Office of the Secretary General (OSG), which in turn plays a key role in supporting the Secretary General in the effective implementation of his/her mandate and specific tasks given to him/her by the OSCE participating States. This includes primarily assisting the Secretary General in his/her activities, serving as a focal point for liaison and support to the Chairperson-in-Office, co-ordinating policy advice provided to the Secretary General and the Chairpersonship as well as management decisions taken by the Secretary General.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the Secretariat, please see: http://www.osce.org/secretariat

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the general supervision of the Head, Office of Legal Affairs, the consultant will contribute to the delivery of the work of the unit on all legal issues relating to the functions, structure and activities of the Organization. Specifically, the successful candidates will:

1. Provide legal advice on issues concerning the legal status and privileges and immunities of the OSCE and its officials; 2. Provide legal advice in the negotiation and interpretation of legal instruments, such as agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other legal materials relevant to the work of the Organization; 3. Provide legal advice on representation or procedure in the OSCE decision-making bodies; 4. Provide legal advice in the negotiation or interpretation of commercial contracts, such as for the lease of premises, as well as on issues concerning intellectual property rights and insurance; 5. Provide legal advice on the elaboration, review, interpretation and application of the regulatory framework of the Organization, including Staff Regulations, Rules, Instructions, Financial Regulations and other administrative issuances; 6. Provide legal advice on internal justice cases, including by examining claims by or against the Organization and its officials; 7. Perform extensive legal research and analysis for the preparation of legal opinions, studies, reports or correspondence;

Deliverables:

Comprehensive and timely legal advice provided to the relevant stakeholders throughout the period of consultancy.

Head/OLA will verify the performance of the Consultant and will certify whether the services have been successfully performed.

Necessary Qualifications:

• University degree in law with specialization in public international law; • A minimum of one year of directly-related professional experience, preferably at the international level; • Demonstrated ability to grasp the important aspects of complex issues and make expeditious and firm decisions based on sound judgement; • Strong ability to deliver written and oral information clearly; • Professional fluency in English, including excellent drafting skills; working knowledge of Russian and/or German would be an asset; • Proficiency in standard software applications, including practical experience with Microsoft packages; • Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities; • Ability to establish and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.

Additional Information

• Issued by: OSCE Secretariat
• Requisition ID: SEC000414
• Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA) / Consultant
• Grade: No grade
• Job Type: Consultant
• Number of posts: 1-3 posts
• Location: SEC - OSCE Secretariat, Vienna
• Issue Date: Mar 25, 2024
• Closing Date: Apr 1, 2024
• Job Field: Legal Services
• Target Start Date: As soon as possible