Readvertisement - Legal Affairs Specialist, P-3, Office of Executive Director, Copenhagen - PAT 121867

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 134,294 USD and 175,847 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.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a champion

UNICEF’s mission is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does. Our focus on equity accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF’s Legal Office supports the organization’s business units around the world – our clients – by delivering strategic legal solutions through collaboration. We provide legal advice that is risk-informed, timely, responsive, and pragmatic. We empower clients and build their capacity to self-help. We engage clients strategically to anticipate trends and challenges and develops systemic solutions, and we protect UNICEF by identifying legal, reputational and other risks, and helping to mitigate those risks. Our lawyers are located in five strategic UNICEF locations, including Copenhagen where UNICEF’s Supply Division is located.

In 2021, UNICEF procured $7.1 billion worth of goods and services for children in 160 countries and areas. UNICEF-procured supplies are critical in providing for children’s health, education and protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and neglect: UNICEF procures vaccines to immunize 46 per cent of the world’s children under 5 years old; invests in product innovations like ready-to-use-therapeutic food and the oxygen plant-in-a-box; builds innovative financial partnerships; and convenes industry stakeholders.

We seek to hire a Legal Affairs Specialist to join the Legal Office. The Legal Office is situated under the Office of the Executive Director in New York and the position is outposted to Copenhagen, Denmark. The Legal Affairs Specialist will be part of the Legal Team in Copenhagen and work under the overall guidance of the Chief of Section and direct supervision of the Lead, Legal Affairs Specialist in Copenhagen and will support UNICEF’s Supply Division as well as other business units globally on a broad range of matters ranging from commercial contracts to partnerships, disputes, programmes, and institutional matters.

How you will make a difference:

The Legal Affairs Specialist will support more senior members of the office in:

1. Advising on contracts and other legal instruments, agreements, and arrangements (including but not limited to funding agreements with private sector donors and other international organizations) by developing draft agreements and term sheets, identifying risks and possible mitigation strategies and proposing these to more senior members of the Office, and other tasks.

2. Advising on the legal dimensions of establishment, structure and implementation of UNICEF collaborations with external partners including but not limited to other UN organizations (including international financial institutions), civil society, and the private sector (such as, by way of example only, in connection with the design and establishment of UNICEF shared value partnerships) by developing draft agreements and term sheets, identifying risks and possible mitigation strategies and proposing these to more senior members of the Office, and other tasks.

3. Advising on the resolution of disputes, particularly those disputes involving possible liability for the Organization.

4. Advising on the legal interpretation of decisions, regulations, rules, procedures, and pertinent administrative instructions.

5. Designing and implementing new and existing team management, knowledge sharing and professional development initiatives.

6. Coordinating projects managed by the Office throughout their entire lifecycle, including design & planning, stakeholder engagement, monitoring & evaluation.

7. Take on other tasks and duties as required.

The impact you can make in this position

The Legal Affairs Specialist position is an advisory and support function. Recommendations and advice relate to a wide range of organizational activities and interests, and concern, among other things, the interaction of UNICEF with governments and other major organisations. These can be a crucial factor in UNICEF’s decision-making. Erroneous advice by the incumbent could cause the organization to enter into commitments on the basis of incorrect opinions in law or fact, therefore exposing the organization to potential liability and resulting in potential financial loss. This could ultimately affect the ability of the organization to be accountable to its stakeholders and result in loss of credibility as well as funding from member states and other donors, both public and private.

To qualify as an advocate for every child in this post…

• A minimum of a post-graduate university law degree (for example. LL. B post-graduate; LL.M.; J.D.) in a relevant field of law (e.g. international law, commercial law) is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law in a relevant field is required (e.g. international law; commercial law). Experience in private practice or as in-house counsel in private industry, or an international organization is highly desirable.
• A constructive and client-oriented approach to resolution of problems is required.
• Excellent research, legal writing and drafting skills are required.
• Excellent verbal communication and negotiation skills, excellent interpersonal skills with staff at all levels, and the ability to work with utmost discretion in handing sensitive and confidential matters are required.
• Knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required and proficiency in one of the other official languages of the United Nations is highly desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability.

And

UNICEF’s core competencies are:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

View our competency framework at https://www.unicef.org/careers/media/1041/file/UNICEF%27s_Competency_Framework.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a critical aspect of employment with UNICEF, as it enables the organization to identify and deploy skilled individuals to support its global mandate and evolving operational needs. A geographical mobility policy is used as a strategic tool to facilitate this process. Staff members benefit from increased international exposure and professional development, as well as opportunities to exchange skills, competencies, and experiences across UNICEF, from HQ to emergency and different development contexts. Mobility also allows for movement of staff between duty stations, subject to different ICSC hardship conditions. Overall, mobility plays a vital role in creating a more effective and efficient organization.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.