Senior Legal 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. More about P-5 contracts and their salaries.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located within the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar (IIMM) and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The Senior Legal Officer works within the Collection, Analysis and Sharing Section, under the overall direction of the Head, and the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of the IIMM. The position may require extended periods of work outside the duty station. Responsibilities Within delegated authority the Senior Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties: \- Coordinates and directs teams of legal officers, investigators and analysts in the analysis of information and evidence related to the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011; \- Supervises the mapping of relevant criminal conduct and responsibility arising from the analysis of materials in the IIMM's possession; \- Provides direction to the sub-units on the collection of information and evidence, and on the development and implementation of investigative plans; \- Reviews requests for assistance and information from national, regional or international courts and tribunals concerning their on-going investigations and proceedings; \- Organizes and supervises the preparation of materials and case files to be shared with national, regional or international courts and tribunal which have or may have jurisdiction over the relevant crimes; \- Interacts with outside judicial authorities and entities on requests for sharing information and the implementation of any sharing approved; \- Provides legal advice on highly complex substantive and procedural questions of law; \- Makes recommendations to senior management in his/her area of expertise on strategic issues concerning the implementation of the IIMM's mandate; \- Develops plans, goals and indicators of achievement for the those under her/his supervision. Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments, including criminal law, both substantive and procedural as well as of international criminal justice systems is required. Ability to apply legal expertise to analysing a diverse range of complex and unusual legal issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions in support of accountability for the most serious international crimes; proficiency in legal writing and expression and ability to prepare legal briefs, and a variety of legal instruments and related documents. Discretion and sound judgment in applying legal expertise to sensitive, complex legal issues. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/cases. Good knowledge of UN system is essential. 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. 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. PLANNING AND 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. 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. 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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. Education First-level University Degree and Advanced University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law. A first level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Work Experience Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional legal experience, with a minimum of seven years working on international criminal law cases at either the national or international level, is required. At least five years of experience managing a multi-disciplinary team is required. Experience interviewing witnesses for criminal investigations or litigation is required. Experience drafting or reviewing indictments, criminal complaints, or the equivalent, is desirable. Experience within common law and civil law systems is desirable. Experience working on sexual and gender-based crimes is desirable. Experience working on crimes against children is desirable. Experience working with information technology used in litigation with large volumes of evidentiary material is desirable. Experience working on issues relevant to Myanmar is desirable. Experience with criminal litigation in a national system is desirable. Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance 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. 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.