Principal Legal Officer

Contract

This is a D-1 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 15 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 128,707 USD and 162,415 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 United Nations Investigative Team to promote accountability for crimes committed by Da'esh / ISIL, Office of Field Investigations. The Principal Legal Officer (Investigations Coordinator) reports to the Director of Investigations.

UNITAD was established by the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council resolution 2379 (2017), according to which it is mandated to support domestic efforts to hold ISIL (Da'esh) accountable by collecting, preserving and storing evidence in Iraq of acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed by the terrorist group ISIL (Da'esh) in Iraq.

Responsibilities The Principal Legal Officer (Investigations Coordinator) is responsible for ensuring that the activities undertaken by UNITAD’s Field Investigations Teams are carried out effectively, and in a coordinated and timely fashion.

Specifically, the Principal Legal Officer: •Coordinates and supervises overall investigative activities of relevant Field Investigation Units; develops, implements, monitors and evaluates assigned investigations; •Leads the development of case theories and investigation implementation plans governing the work of relevant Field Investigation Units; •Serves as a recognized expert with respect to international criminal law, in particular as it relates to crimes committed by Da’esh / ISIL which may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, including cases involving sexual and gender-based violence; •Ensures that the outputs produced by relevant Field Investigation Units maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data, information and evidence collected. Ensures that all outputs produced by the Field Investigation Units under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the mandate of the Investigative Team. •Independently handles a wide range of highly complex, and often sensitive legal matters relating to the investigative activities of UNITAD pursuant to its mandate under Security Council resolution 2379 (2017), including issues relating to international criminal law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and the development of case-files capable of supporting domestic prosecutions; •Coordinates and direct teams of other legal officers and investigators in relevant Field Investigations Units including by: (i) Defining the parameters and timetable of investigations, in close consultation with the Director of Investigations and the Special Adviser; (ii) Developing corroboration procedures and actions for all investigations under consideration; (iii) Developing or contributing to the development of analysis and corroboration policy; (iv) Ensuring identification and closure of emerging gaps in investigations; •Assists the Director of Investigations in general management and administration of the Office of Field Investigations, organizing and prioritizing the workload and providing general coordination and supervision of assignments as regards the legal work and investigative strategy; •Assists the Special Adviser and Head of the Investigative Team and the Director of Investigations in preparing the work programme of the Office of Field Investigations, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery; •Undertakes or oversees the programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of relevant Field Investigation Units and the Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes and Children Unit in relation to which the incumbent has been allocated responsibility, including evaluation of staff performance, interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results- based budgeting; •Recruits staff, taking due account of gender and geographical balance; •Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision; •Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in relevant Field Investigation Units and the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit; •Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive issues. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Managers and staff throughout the Investigative Team

Results expected: Ensures the production of high-quality case theories and investigation implementation plans by the Investigative Team, in close coordination with the Director of Investigations. Effectively and efficiently manages available human and financial resources within relevant Field Investigation Units and the the Sexual, Gender Crimes and Children Unit. Ensure the timely delivery of programmed outputs. Provides solid substantive support and strategic guidance to relevant Field Investigation Units and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit. Effectively develops staff under his/her supervision, including their on-going learning and development. Effectively assists, guides and all members of relevant Field Investigation Units and Sexual, Gender Crimes and Children Unit in meeting their objectives and outputs.

Competencies - Professionalism: Comprehensive knowledge of the development of legal analyses and case-files with respect to to international criminal law, in particular as it relates to crimes committed by Da’esh / ISIL which may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possible genocide, including cases involving sexual and gender-based violence.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. - 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. - Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; 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.

Managerial Competencies - Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. - Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international law, or related area, is required. 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 fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in international criminal law, international humanitarian law or related field is required. Experience in the analysis of legal issues relevant to the investigation and prosecution of ISIL crimes in domestic proceedings is required. Experience working in a United Nations or other international accountability mechanism is required.

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

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice •UNITAD is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. •While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. •Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. •This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. •Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. •Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

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.

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.