SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER (SGBC/CAAC)

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 204,886 USD and 256,769 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 The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) was established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 39/2, adopted on 27 September 2018. The creation of the Mechanism was welcomed by the General Assembly in its resolution 73/264, adopted on 22 December 2018. This position is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The Senior Legal Officer SGBC/CAAC (Sexual and Gender based Crimes / Crimes Against and Affecting Children) works within the Collection, Analysis and Sharing Section (CASS), under the supervision of the Senior Legal Officers/Team Leaders of CASS.

Responsibilities- Participates in the strategic and operational planning of investigations by the IIMM, including by providing expert advice and input on issues of SGBC and CAAC, specifically through reviewing investigation plans, witness interview plans, reports and other internal documents to ensure SGBC and CAAC concerns are fully integrated into all phases of the IIMM’s investigations, including by providing input into witness protection and support measures as applicable; - Develops and oversees the implementation of policies and procedures to ensure SGBC and CAAC considerations and best practices are incorporated into all aspects of the IIMM’s investigations and casefile development; - Develops new investigative modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances; - Liaises and coordinates with other IIMM personnel, including those with dedicated SGBC / CAAC roles and witness protection and witness support experts, as well as with actors external to the IIMM including government officials, civil society actors, UN entities and other partners with a specific focus on SGBC and CAAC issues including the collection of relevant materials; - Undertakes complex investigative activities including strategizing, planning and participating in field missions to obtain statements from witnesses of serious international crimes and violations of international law with a particular focus on SGBC and CAAC; - Provides expert legal advice in relation to the analysis of evidence and preparation of casefiles for use in proceedings before national, regional and international courts and tribunals by providing expert strategic and operational guidance and input on issues of SGBC and CAAC specifically, if required; - Provides ongoing training to IIMM personnel on the gendered dimensions of serious international crimes as well as best practices in criminal investigations concerning SGBC and CAAC; - Performs extensive legal research and analysis and collate resources concerning SGBC and CAAC and ensures their dissemination within the IIMM; - Makes investigative, legal and operational recommendations to senior management in relation to SGBC / CAAC; - Any other duties as required.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrated ability and skills to oversee complex criminal investigations of sexual and gender-based crimes. Demonstrated ability to lead and conduct large scale and complex investigations and build cases. Ability to analyse complex political, military, paramilitary and other related groups’ activities in relations to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, including sexual and gender-based crimes. Ability to employ sound professional investigative experience to facilitate the production of high-quality work from the team. Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to criminal investigations. Familiarity with and experience in the use of various research methodologies and sources including digital sources. Ability to work in a high tech environment; 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.

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 An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in law is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification Certification or training in criminal investigations is desirable.

Work Experience A 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.

Experience in conducting complex criminal investigations is required.

At least five years of experience investigating, prosecuting or providing legal advice on sexual and gender-based crimes is required.

At least two years of experience investigating, prosecuting or providing legal advice on crimes against and affecting children is required.

Experience interviewing witnesses for criminal investigations or litigation, including interviewing children and victims, is required.

Experience working within common law and civil law systems 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.

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 This extra budgetary position is funded for one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the funds.

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.

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 Candidate Profile (CP) and motivation statement.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

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.

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.