LEGAL OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 127,176 USD and 163,967 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 Office of the Head of Mission of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA). The budgeted location for the position is Hodeidah, due to operational requirements the post has been temporarily moved to Amman. The incumbent will be based in Amman, Jordan and will report to the Head of Mission.

Responsibilities Within the limits of delegated authority, the Legal Officer will be responsible for performing the following duties:

• Provides legal advice on a wide range of legal issues affecting UNMHA’s mandate and activities, including public international, private and administrative law matters, as well as issues of constitutional and other national law as they affect the Mission or the mandate;
• In particular, provides legal advice and expertise on the interpretation of the Mission’s mandate, the legal status of the Mission and its members, including in areas such as privileges and immunities and issues related to Status of Mission Agreements; advises on aspects of the Mission’s operational activities, matters relating to international law, including international humanitarian law, and international criminal law as appropriate;
• Leads on the provision of legal advice on a wide range of issues relating to special political missions and their operations, including collaborative agreements with actors including the United Nations system, external actors, and local authorities;
• Advises on administrative, personnel and contractual matters, including issues relating to the accountability of personnel, procurement matters, third party claims, as well as legal questions involving the interpretation or application of UN regulations and rules;
• Advises on, drafts and reviews agreements, institutional and operational modalities, major contracts, legal submissions and other legal documents and provides advice on and participates in negotiations for the settlement of claims and disputes.
• Liaises and participates in meetings and discussions with governments and other institutions and entities; and with other UN agencies, funds and programmes, as well as other internal and external actors and organizations, as required;
• Assists senior leadership in servicing diplomatic conferences and meetings, commissions, committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and meeting reports, etc.
• Serves on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required.
• Performs extensive legal research and analysis on highly complex or novel legal issues/questions and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports, and correspondence; represents the Section at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc;
• Supports the functioning of the Office of the Head of Mission, including drafting and reviewing correspondence, monitoring politico-legal developments, and arranging engagements where required;

• Performs other duties, as assigned.

  Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Thorough knowledge of the Charter of the United Nations, its objectives, provisions and privileges, and familiarity with UN Regulations and Rules, policies and practices. Able to interpret, apply and adapt guidelines and to contribute to the development of policy guidelines, consistent with the established legal framework of the Organization. Shows pride in work and 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 the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments and adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.

Education An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law is required. A first level university degree in law, in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional legal experience, including legal analysis, research and writing, is required.

Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds and programmes) or a comparable international organization is required.

Experience working in the front office of a senior UN official or comparable international organization is required.

Experience in providing legal support to strategic planning, technical assistance, and policy development in a UN field presence or comparable international organization is required.

A minimum of two (2) years’ experience working in Yemen and/or the Middle East is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice Due to operational requirements of the mission, please note that the position has been temporarily moved form Hodeidah to Amman pending approval of budget. Interested candidates must be ready to deploy and serve in Hodeidah in the event the position is not approved and has to be returned to Hodeidah. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

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.

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.