LEGAL OFFICER

Overview

Serve as a legal officer for counter-terrorism initiatives.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, criminal law, national security, criminal justice or other related field.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in criminal law, international law, law enforcement, criminal justice or related area is required.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
• Experience in legal analysis and research in counter terrorism aspects of international law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law is desirable.

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 159,743 USD and 205,956 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 This position is located in the Specialized Technical Expertise and Research Branch of the Assessment & Technical Assistance Office, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). It is available through January 2024 with the possibility of extension. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Branch.

Responsibilities Serves as coordinator and lead officer in the legal and criminal justice field and independently handles a wide range of multi-discipline and complex legal matters involving issues of legislation, criminal justice including international cooperation in criminal matters and IHL to include identification of existing practices, challenges and policy options for States to implement counter-terrorism measures in compliance with member states’ obligations under international law, IHL and international human rights law, co-lead the global compact working group on legal and criminal justice matters, partner with UNOCT, UNODC and other entities active in this area, support and supervise staff as needed.

-Initiates activities and initiatives aimed at strengthening CTED partnerships with relevant regional or multilateral stakeholders, UN entities, including UN Country Teams, possible donors and technical providers including UNOCT and UNODC to support identification of new and emerging challenges, ensure translating recommendations into technical assistance programming, mobilizing and leveraging of resources and coordination of activities.

· Performs extensive legal research and analysis and contributes to the enhancement of CTED' s targeted and focused assessments on complex and emerging CT related issues; Provides legal advice on diverse substantive questions of considerable complexity, and evolving trends and threats based on resolutions 1373 (2001), 2178 (2014), 2395 (2017), 2396 (2017), 2462 (2019) and 2482 (2019); · Advises and facilitates the delivery of technical assistance for legal and criminal justice practitioners, taking into account new requirements and standards in these areas; · Serves on various ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required; promotes the work of the United Nations and represents the organization at meetings, conferences, and seminars. · Advises and supports Senior Management and the CTC on issues relating to legal and criminal justice matters including by providing substantive legal inputs, identification of experts, preparation of position and policy papers and presenting them. · Contributes to review and design of new policy, relevant guidelines on assessment methodology and benchmark criteria on assessing legal and criminal justice matters. Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies Professionalism: Excellent knowledge of criminal law, international criminal law, IHL and international human law. Ability to apply expertise to analyzing a diverse range of legal and political issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions in dealing with complex counter-terrorism problems. Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct comprehensive legal and political research on a range of issues, including those of a unique and/or complex nature; proficiency in writing and expression and ability to prepare briefs, opinions and a variety of documents. Discretion and sound judgment. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/cases. Knowledge of contemporary international relations and of UN system, organization and interrelationships. 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.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box"; Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, criminal law, national security, criminal justice or other related field. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in criminal law, international law, law enforcement, criminal justice or related area is required.

Experience in legal analysis and research in counter terrorism aspects of international law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

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

Special Notice The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff members are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

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.

Potential interview questions