Legal Liaison Officer

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 74,649 USD and 97,747 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.

Org. Setting and Reporting The position is located in the Committee, Policy and Legal Affairs Section (CPLA) of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in Vienna, Austria. The Legal Liaison Officer reports to the Chief, CPLA and the Director of the Office, who also act as the First Reporting Officer and the Second Reporting Officer, respectively.

For more information on UNOOSA, please visit: www.unoosa.org

Responsibilities The Legal Liaison Officer will be responsible for the overall planning, organization, coordination and quality assurance of the legal work in the Office aimed at supporting its activities and operations. Within this assigned authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

Legal liaison: (a)Liaise, on all matters relating to the overall planning, organization, coordination and execution of legal work in the Office relevant to its activities and operations, with the Director of the Office, managers and staff;

(b)Liaise, for the purpose of executing legal tasks relevant to the activities and operations of the Office, with the Office of Legal Affairs, other entities of the Secretariat, specialized agencies of the United Nations, as well as with the representatives of the Permanent Missions of Member States, governments, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, industry and private sector, other entities parties;

(c)Provide legal support to the Director of the Office when she/he interacts with the United Nations System, as well as performs representation and liaison functions with Permanent Missions or Permanent Observer Missions to the United Nations, the host Government and other Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in Vienna, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its Subcommittees, as well as with the General Assembly and Security Council;

Focal point for planning, organization, coordination and quality assurance of the legal work: (a) Accept, register and conduct preliminary assessment of all requests relevant to legal aspects of the activities and operations of the Office; follow-up on these requests by completing them, personally or with assistance of other relevant staff in the Office, if required and as appropriate;

(b)Conduct planning, organization, coordination, systematization and reporting to the Director with regard to all aspects of legal work in the Office relevant to its activities and operations;

(c)Present, for the final consideration of the Director, all legal instruments, documentation, assessments, advice and solutions that assist the Office in conducting its activities and operations;

(d)Develop, in consultation with the Director and managers, internal rules, processes, mechanisms and procedures needed for the organization, optimization and coordination of various aspects of the activities and operations of the Office;

(e)Create and maintain electronic and physical archives and repositories of all documents relevant to the legal aspects of the activities and operations of the Office;

(f)Perform and coordinate, upon requests form the Director and/or Chief, CPLA, other tasks and duties as needed for ensuring quality of legal aspects of the activities and operations of the Office.

Legal support and advice: (a)Draft, negotiate, and ensure successful conclusion and implementation of legal aspects, on the part of the Office, of: – Various types of agreements and legal instruments (including, but not limited to, cooperation agreements, funding agreements, memoranda of understanding, declarations of intent) between the Office and entities of the United Nations, specialized agencies of the United Nations, governments, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, other entities and physical persons, as we as with the representatives of the industry and private sector;

– Host country agreements between the Office and Member States for activities sponsored by the United Nations;

– Other legal instruments and documents that might be required for ensuring a legal support for the activities and operations of the Office;

(b)Conduct substantive legal assessment and provide substantive legal advice on a wide range of topics relevant to the activities and operations of the Office, including human resources matters;

(c)Conduct extensive legal research and analysis and prepare studies, comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence;

(d)Assist the Secretary of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and of its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and its Legal Subcommittee, in the interpretation of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and of the Committee;

(e)Assist the Secretary of the Committee and of the Subcommittees in matters pertinent to applications for membership and permanent observer status with the Committee.

Substantive secretariat support to the Committee and Subcommittees: (a)Provide substantive secretariat support to the Committee its Subcommittees and Working Groups; prepare various written outputs, including drafting, editing and compiling parliamentary reports and other documents required for those intergovernmental bodies. •Perform other work-related duties, as required.

Competencies •PROFESSIONALISM: Has demonstrated knowledge and experience in international law, public or private; sound judgment and proven negotiating skills. Has conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills for the conduct of in-depth legal and policy-related research. Has ability to draft well under time pressure; good problem-solving skills; ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

•COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

•CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education An advanced university degree in law (Master’s degree or equivalent) with specialization in a field relevant to international law is required. Specialization in a field relevant to space law and policy is desirable. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of five years of professional legal experience with three years in a field relevant to international law is required. Experience in providing general legal advice and negotiating legal agreements with various stakeholders is required. Experience in servicing intergovernmental bodies is desirable. Experience in providing legal advice on a broad range of legal, political and technical issues concerning space technology and applications is desirable. Experience with the United Nations system or similar international organization is desirable. Experience with space related activities relevant to the work of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the Office for Outer Space Affairs is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English with excellent writing, editing and speaking ability is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2021, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Vienna is classified in the H category (family duty station).

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.