Legal Analyst

Entry Mid Legal

Overview

Provide legal advice and support to ensure compliance and efficiency.

You have:

• Advanced University degree (Master's or equivalent) preferably in international or commercial law or a closely related area is required.
• A first-level university degree preferably in law (Bachelor's or equivalent) and two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted.
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in law is required.
• Satisfaction of all requirements to practice law in a national jurisdiction of a UN Member State is desirable.
• Experience in application of regulations and rules, policies, procedures and decision-making processes of an international organisation is desirable.
• Experience analysing legal issues and conducting legal research in support of a legal office or governmental agency is desirable.
• Experience in commercial arbitration is desirable.
• Experience working with the status and the privileges and immunities of international organisations is desirable.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language such as French and Spanish is an advantage.

Contract

This is a IICA-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's an external contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-1 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our diversity through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates and strengthen our inclusion.

Work life harmonisation

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - LG

Based in New York, USA, the UNOPS Legal Group serves all the regions and headquarters, primarily with legal advice and services to address issues arising from UNOPS’ operations and activities.

Functional Responsibilities

The Legal Analyst will report directly to UNOPS’ heads of Unit or workstream, under the overall supervision of the Deputy General Counsel.

The Legal Analyst works with all the teams within the Legal Group, as well as with the Integrated Practice and Support (IPAS) Legal team at UNOPS Headquarters in Copenhagen if necessary, to assist in the provision of legal advice and services under the direct supervision of Unit and workstream leads in LG. The quality of the provision of advice and services must enable UNOPS to deliver its mission to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

As a Legal Analyst, you will require a good understanding of the operational context UNOPS works in. You must be a good communicator, open to challenges and comfortable learning how to navigate complexity. Your analytical skills will allow you to assist in the preparation and implementation of plans to address operational matters, remove blockages and follow through with opportunities.

In order to exercise their legal responsibilities, the incumbent acts with designated authority provided by the Units or workstream leads, under the overall supervision of the Deputy General Counsel.

Core Functions:

1. Advice on administrative and commercial law as well as institutional and dispute resolution matters:

• Assist in the provision of legal advice on the application of UNOPS Staff and Financial Rules and Regulations;
• Review and analyze various documents, assessing institutional risk and assisting in addressing institutional, commercial and administrative law issues;
• Assist in the analysis of human resources and commercial disputes and claims against the Organisation;
• Support the implementation of UNOPS standards and coordination and review of audit responses; follow-up of the implementation of audit recommendations;
• Provide advice on and/or development and institutionalization of new approaches and standards relevant to the legal practice;
• Develop and maintain a system for keeping records of decisions made and actions taken.
• Perform other duties as required.

2. Business Efficiency

• Assist in ensuring a systematic approach to collect and address issues, feedback and suggestions from operations in regards to improvements of policies, processes and systems related to finance.
• Assist in working closely with other HQ and field business units to address business critical issues and find solutions that are fit for purpose and contribute with specialist and practical knowledge to policy development to be responsive to UNOPS strategy; to improve efficiencies and strengthen internal controls.
• Assist in ensuring data analytics of the Legal Group related data to identify risks, opportunities, trends and root causes with a view to mitigate risks;
• Assist in contributing to cross-functional initiatives to ensure that internal policies, processes and systems and tools are aligned with the overall regulatory framework, practical, relevant and add value to organisational operations.

3. Knowledge management and capacity building

• Assist in contributing towards long-term solutions through the development and improvement of processes for efficient project implementation, including by assisting in ensuring a systematic approach to collect and address issues, feedback and suggestions from operations in regards to improvement of processes related to root causes of legal issues.

• Assist in ensuring knowledge and information on legal matters is maintained and shared actively within the team, and packaged in appropriate formats that can be easily communicated with the country offices.

• Keep abreast of internal and external developments and best practices and assist in providing recommendations to relevant stakeholders.
• Perform any other duties, as requested by the heads of units or workstream in the Legal Group or the Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel, including in respect to human resources, ICT and procurement matters.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Advanced University degree (Master's or equivalent) preferably in international or commercial law or a closely related area is required;
• A first-level university degree preferably in law (Bachelor’s or equivalent) from an accredited university in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in law is required;
• Satisfaction of all requirements to practice law in a national jurisdiction of a UN Member State is desirable;

• Within the 2 years of professional experience, experience in the application of regulations and rules, policies, procedures and decision-making processes of an international organisation is desirable;

• Experience analysing legal issues and conducting legal research in support of a legal office/government agency/international organisation is desirable;

• Experience in commercial arbitration is desirable;
• Experience in working with the status and the privileges and immunities of international organisations is desirable.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, required.
• Knowledge of another UN language such as French and Spanish is an advantage;

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: IICA1 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to availability of funds

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.unops.org