Legal Officer P2 - Rome, Italy

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This P2-level post is located in the Contractual and Constitutional Law branch of the WFP Legal Office (LEGC) and is based in WFP’s Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The post will primarily focus on matters relating to:

• Agreements with external parties, such as public -sector donors, other UN agencies and international organizations, international financial institutions, NGOs, cooperating partners, and service providers;
• Legal aspects of the governance of WFP and the interpretation of WFP’s institutional legal framework, such as WFP General Regulations, General Rules, Financial Regulations and Financial Rules and other administrative issuances;
• International law, including WFP’s institutional privileges and immunities and humanitarian law.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the supervision of more senior Legal Officers, the P2 Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Undertake legal research and analysis, handle a range of multi-disciplinary legal matters including interpretation and application of various legal instruments in the aforementioned areas of concentration to facilitate the provision of quality legal services.
2. Review legal documents, identify and analyze issues, presenting findings and recommendations for internal review to contribute to the decision-making process.
3. Assist in preparation of legal opinions or advice and background papers, studies, memoranda, reports and other legal documents to contribute to coherence and quality of legal documents.
4. Contribute to the preparation of agreements and contracts including participation in negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes to meet unique client needs.
5. Identify potential liabilities, particularly vis-à-vis other parties, and assist in the management of risks in WFP’s activities to contribute to well-informed decisions.
6. Prepare and assess briefs of evidence to contribute to legal analysis and solutions.
7. Assist more senior Legal Officers in servicing committees, task forces, expert working groups and other bodies with legal advice and preparation/review of legal documents to contribute to the formulation of WFP’s position.
8. Other as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Law, or First University degree in Law with additional relevant experience and training in private, commercial, or public Law.
• Must be qualified to practice or admitted to practice by a recognized national or state bar or law society, or have equivalent experience of professional legal practice.

Experience:

• A minimum of three years of relevant experience in law and provision of legal services.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts, procedures and terminology for review, examination and processing of a range of legal documents.
• Knowledge of various legal research sources, techniques and ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments and draft legal papers.
• Tact and a high degree of discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to work autonomously with minimum supervision.
• Clear and concise thinking and drafting.
• Business acumen.
• Strong multi-tasking and time management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English language.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language would be desirable: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. This position is however classified as “non-rotational” which means the incumbent shall not be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as rotational.

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year. He/she will be required to travel abroad sometime to remote and difficult locations.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

January 14th, 2021

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.