Technical Officer (Legal)

Overview

Provide legal support to the Convention Secretariat and assist in treaty implementation

You have:

• First level university degree in Law with an emphasis on public or private international law or comparative law is required.
• Advanced university degree in law, with specialization in public or private international law or comparative law is desirable.
• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in comparative law, public or private international law or a related field is required.
• Experience in tobacco control, criminal law, prosecution, customs law or regulation, analysis and report writing would be an asset.
• Expert knowledge of English is essential.
• Beginners' knowledge of French is desirable.

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 139,444 USD and 182,591 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.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Within the context of implementing the WHO FCTC and the Protocol, the Convention Secretariat provides the necessary support to the governing bodies of the treaties (the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC, or COP, and the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, or MOP), and implements into programme activities the decisions of both governing bodies. The Convention Secretariat also provides support to any subsidiary body established by COP and MOP.In supporting Parties in meeting the obligations under the treaties, the Convention Secretariat provides analytical and legal support, as well as training and also engages with relevant stakeholders in various technical areas and provides technical contributions on issues related to its mandate under the treaties.The Convention Secretariat also hosts different databases required by the treaties or requested by their governing bodies, as well as additional materials, to facilitate the exchange of information and to promote international cooperation between Parties.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Technical Officer (Legal) shall provide the Convention Secretariat the following assistance: - Provide legal support in the Office of the Head of the Convention Secretariat as well as being the focal point for legal support provided to the Reporting and Knowledge Management team;- Conduct legal and other research and analysis and prepare studies, briefs, reports and correspondence on a range of legal matters related to implementation by Parties of the Protocol and the WHO FCTC;- Prepare background papers and legislative drafting aimed at assisting Parties in implementing the treaties; - Prepare for and service sessions of the governing and subsidiary bodies of the WHO FCTC and the Protocol;- Prepare legal texts such as MOUs with Parties or intergovernmental organizations, as well as hosting agreements for sessions of governing and subsidiary bodies;- Review from a legal perspective draft reports and other materials produced by or under the guidance of the Convention Secretariat, including those in support of governing and subsidiary body meetings;- Prepare seminars and conferences on various legal and technical issues at such events, as wellas deliver presentations or moderate events, as requested;- Develop and deliver programmes of legal technical assistance and capacity-building in the understanding and implementation of the WHO FCTC and the Protocol;- Review legal issues identified in implementation reports submitted by the Parties of both treaties in the successive reporting cycles and assist, as required, with the drafting of the successive global progress reports on the implementation of the WHO FCTC and the Protocol;- Draft responses to Parties on specific requests for technical assistance on legal aspects of the WHO FCTC and the Protocol;- Assist Parties in implementing PartV of the Protocol on International Cooperation between Parties, including by engaging with relevant stakeholders and intergovernmental organizations; - Support the development and update of coordination platforms and databases, particularly in respect of the Protocol, but also as requested in respect of the WHO FCTC; - Prepare news pieces for the Secretariat's webpage or its social media accounts on matters related to its work;- Address legal issues that may arise in respect of the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hubs;- Participate inevents/meetings/conferences, as requested;- Assist the Senior Legal Officer and the Coordinator, Reporting and Knowledge Management in managing projects, as requested;- Perform other work-related tasks, as appropriate, and as requested by the Convention Secretariat.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: First level university degree in Law, with an emphasis on public or private international law or comparative law. Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law, with specialization in public or private international law orcomparative law. Two years of qualifying experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced university degree. Training or education in IT or media will be considered an asset.

Experience

Essential: At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in comparative law, publicor private international law or a related field is required. Desirable: Experience in tobacco control, criminal law,prosecution, customs law or regulation, analysis and report writing would be anasset. Experience with legal technical assistance programmes and/or legislative drafting would be an asset. Experience with policies, procedures and operations of a United Nations system or a similar international organization would be anasset.

Skills

Strong capacity for legal analysis and research,regulatory activity and policy making; excellent knowledge of international and comparative law; thorough understanding of intergovernmental processes and international cooperation; proven skills of working with various stakeholders at national, regional or international levels; very good project management skills; ability to multitask, to work under pressure and to work in a small team; excellent analytical and writing skills; diplomacy and tact. Good knowledge of tobacco control and familiarity with United Nations process and negotiations would be important assets.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Beginners knowledge of French. Expert knowledge of WHO Languages.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 62,692 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 4258 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.

• As a WHO staff member assigned solely and exclusively to support this Partnership, selected staff will have no right of reassignment or transfer outside the Partnership either during or at the end of his/her appointment, including pursuant to WHO Staff Rule 1050. (This does not apply to WHO fixed-term staff members reassigned from a non-Partnership position.)

Potential interview questions