Senior Legal Affairs Specialist, P-5, Office of Executive Director, NYHQ, PAT 127170

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 208,877 USD and 261,770 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, commitment

UNICEF is seeking to appoint a temporary Senior Legal Affairs Specialist in the Legal Office within Office of the Executive Director, for the period of 364 days. The position is based in New York.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of UNICEF`s Chief Legal Counsel, the Senior Legal Affairs Specialist will:

• Advise on and represent UNICEF in senior-level negotiation of complex contracts and other legal instruments, agreements, and arrangements.

• Assist in implementing the Legal Office strategy for International Financial Institutions (IFIs) under the direct leadership of the Chief Legal Counsel.

• Provide expert technical legal advisory support to the Legal Counsel and the team on the legal and other dimensions of the high priority Innovation projects.

• Supervise and provide guidance to legal affairs specialists and support staff on large scale/high risk transactions.

• Assist in the development and implementation of innovative and/or change management programmes within the Legal Office.
• Identify and implement innovative solutions and best practices for the Legal Office that address the priorities of UNICEF and help design and deliver on key areas related to Legal Office governance including decision-making processes, clearance process, building institutional precedent and knowledge and policy architecture.
• Monitor progress on work plans, priorities and budget and advise Chief Legal Counsel accordingly.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in international law, commercial law or other related social science field.
• A first University Degree (for example. Ll. B post-graduate; Ll.M.; J.D.) in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of (10) ten years of relevant professional experience as practicing lawyer in a relevant area of law is required.
• Prior experience of working either in the UN System and within an International Financial Institution is highly desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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 subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

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.

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