Job Description
Dutystation: Home based
Functional responsibilities
Legal Advice and Representation:
- Support the Administrative Law Practice in providing legal advice in connection with a wide range of complex and straightforward personnel disputes and misconduct matters and a wide range of legal issues pertaining to personnel matters, with a focus on providing timely, accurate, practice and high-quality legal advice.
- Engage with internal and external parties in relation to handling matters through UNOPS formal and informal dispute resolution mechanisms (ombudsman proceedings, management evaluation requests, disciplinary processes)
- Assist with the provision of other legal advice and representation support as needed including but not limited to supporting in the drafting of legal agreements and negotiating with external parties in relation to those agreements.
- Provide technical guidance and support to Legal Senior Analyst - Administrative Law, as directed by the Legal Advisor and as needed.
Policy and Institutional Development:
- Support reporting in the Administrative Law Practice’s databases and trackers, including maintaining overviews and databases of disputes handled by the Administrative Law Practice for audit and record keeping purposes and managing dispute deadlines.
- Support analyses of LG-related data to identify risks, opportunities and trends to inform policy and institutional development within UNOPS.
- Work closely, under limited supervision of the Legal Advisor and with relevant policy units within UNOPS, to advise on UNOPS legal framework.
- Support corporate and cross-functional initiatives and contribute to ensure that internal policies, processes and systems are aligned with the overall regulatory framework, and are practical, relevant and add value to organizational operations.
Contribute to Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:
- Contribute to legal knowledge and information management within the Administrative Law Practice and across the organization.
- Support in maintaining and actively sharing knowledge and information about administrative law matters and other related legal matters within LG so that it can be easily disseminated to relevant stakeholders throughout the organization.
- Keep abreast of internal and external developments and best practices.
- Develop and provide training on administrative law matters.
- Support the Legal Advisor in the development of guidance notes for LG and to clients on legal topics.
Impact of Results:
Achievement of results by the Legal Specialist (Retainer) supports UNOPS entities in delivering the organization’s long term strategic plan and reinforcing UNOPS reputation as an effective partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the countries served.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
- Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in law is required.
- A first-level university degree in law (Bachelor’s or equivalent) from an accredited university in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Satisfaction of all requirements to practice law in a national jurisdiction of a UN Member State is required.
Experience
- Minimum of seven (5) years of professional legal experience, defined as experience as a lawyer/counsel in administrative or international law, including legal analysis, legal advice, legal research and drafting of legal texts.
- Experience in administrative, employment or labour law is a strong asset.
- Experience in working with the status and the privileges and immunities of international organisations is desirable.
- Experience with Staff Regulations and Rules, policies and operations of the United Nations or other similar international organization is desirable.
- Legal experience at the United Nations is desirable
- Demonstrated experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
- Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable.
About the Organization
TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE
UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.
Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.
We are proud of our people and embrace diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunities. Our workforce brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners. Spread across 80 countries from a range of backgrounds, and languages and have different gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
We encourage women and candidates from underrepresented groups in UNOPS to apply. These include candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
