Legal Specialist, Dispute Resolution

Job Description

Dutystation: Multiple

Functional responsibilities

• Provide legal advice in connection with disputes between UNOPS and external parties arising from commercial contracts, with a focus on protecting the organization from financial and reputational risks.
• Represent UNOPS in settlement negotiations, mediations, conciliations and arbitration proceedings, with the support of outside counsel as needed.
• Provide other dispute resolution support as needed.

• Advise on UN privileges and immunities.
• Review and negotiate legal agreements.
• Support the application, interpretation, adoption and development of corporate policies, guidelines and best practices.
• Provide other legal advice falling under the responsibilities of LG as needed

• Support regular reporting on UNOPS’ liability risk and maintain overviews and databases of disputes handled by LG for audit and record keeping purposes.
• Support ongoing analyses of LG-related data to identify risks, opportunities and trends.
• Work closely with other legal advisors and relevant policy units within UNOPS to address country and project challenges aiming at finding suitable and timely solutions.
• Support the development and improvement of the UNOPS regulatory 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 legal knowledge and information management within LG and across the organization.
• Support in maintaining and actively sharing knowledge and information about dispute resolution 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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

• 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

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional legal experience is required.

• Experience in dispute resolution and knowledge of international commercial arbitration is required.

• Prior experience working as an arbitration lawyer in a law firm is a strong asset.

• Experience in advising on United Nations privileges and immunities is a strong asset.

• Experience in providing legal advice in support of a government agency or international organization is a strong asset.

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

• Working knowledge of other languages, in particular French or Spanish, is a strong asset.

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.