SENIOR JUDICIAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 176,503 USD and 221,199 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 in The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in Bangui. The Senior Judicial Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of the Justice and Corrections Section.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Senior Judicial Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

. Participates in the development and implementation of the mission’s strategies related to the rule of law and the development/reform of the justice and legal system to include advising national counterparts, providing training and monitoring the Court and legal system, etc.

. Serves as Senior Officer and recognized expert in legal aid and in legal sector reform; provides policy and operational advice to senior management on an ongoing basis and assist in programming related activities et the national level, independently handles a wide range of multi-disciplines highly complex and often sensitive and/or conflicting matters involving issues relating to the development or reform of legal or judicial system/institutions.

. Coordinates and directs work teams; guides, supervises and evaluates the work of junior officers; may assist the general management administration of the work unit, organizing and prioritizing the workload and providing the general coordination and supervision of assignments.

. Makes various types of recommendations to senior officials with respect to action to take; recommendations are usually accepted as proposed.

. Plans, coordinates and supervises all activities in assigned area; ensures an integrated and harmonized approach among other components of the mission (e.g., Corrections, Human Rights, Political Affairs, Policy, Gender, Child Protection …) and UN entities.

. Takes the lead in promoting knowledge management and information sharing including developing a culture of respect for, and inclusion of, local actors in all judicial and legal system initiatives.

. Organizes and supervises research studies and the preparation written outputs as well as perform extensive legal research and analysis in highly complex or novel legal issues/ questions and prepares reports, studies, briefs, reports and other written material, participates in legislative reviews and prepares commentaries.

. Provides innovative technical advice and assistance to regional and local commissions, standing committees and other offices.

. Serves as spokesperson for the mission as required, develops and maintains the relations with high level, Government officials, magistrates, local leaders and other key players; and actively promotes coordination and communication between international and national partners with a view to pursuing objectives and ensuring participation in and effective integration of idea in the planning and implementation of the judicial affairs programme.

. Coordinates/performs programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the work unit, including contributing to the preparation of budget, reporting on performance and results, managing and evaluating staff performance, job interviewing and evaluation of candidates.

. Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of judicial and legal system issues, including knowledge of criminal law and procedure in a civil law system, as well as of relevant international human rights standards and their relationship and linkages to the broader developmental/post-conflict recovery framework and initiatives. 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.

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.

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.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

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 Law, or bar qualification, or equivalent, in addition to a first level degree in law, is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of relevant academic qualifications and/or legal experience in the field of justice and/or rule of law assistance may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of ten (10) years with a master’s degree or twelve (12) years with a bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible professional experience including seven (7) years as practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, legal academic, legal consultant or advisor in the field of justice is required.

At least one year of experience outside of his/her country of citizenship working on with legal or judicial reform is required.

Two years of experience leading the management of projects and programmes is required.

Two years of experience through a legal aid provider, in a civil law system, representing indigent defendants and victims is required

One year of experience in a post-conflict or development setting in the development and implementation of a justice sector policy at the national level is required.

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

Assessment Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. 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.

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.