Legal Counsel/Director, Office of Legal Affairs (D2)

Legal Counsel/Director, Office of Legal Affairs (D2)

United Nations – International Seabed Authority

Kingston, Jamaica

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is based in the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) of the International Seabed Authority in Kingston, Jamaica. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an international organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ISA is the organization through which States Parties to UNCLOS shall, in accordance with the regime for the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction (the Area) established in Part XI and the 1994 Agreement, organize and control activities in the Area, particularly with a view to administering the resources of the Area.

Responsibilities

The incumbent is a member of the Senior Management Team. Under the overall guidance and the direct supervision of the Secretary General and within delegated authority, the Legal Counsel and Director of OLA (See ISBA/ST/SGB/2022/2 for the functions of OLA) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Formulate the work programme of OLA, particularly by determining priorities and identifying implementation modalities, and allocate resources accordingly for the completion and timely delivery of outputs.
• Ensure that the outputs produced by OLA maintain high-quality standards and conform with relevant mandates and that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data.
• Oversee the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of OLA, including supervision of the preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting and evaluation of staff performance (e-Performance).
• Oversee the recruitment of the staff of OLA, taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values, and participate, as appropriate, in interviews of candidates for job openings and the evaluation of candidates. 5. Manage the development of staff of OLA, foster teamwork and communication among staff in OLA and across organizational boundaries.
• Provide timely and accurate legal advice to the Secretary-General, the other principal organs of ISA and their subsidiary bodies on all matters within their mandates.
• Provides general legal advice to other offices or units of the secretariat on matters relating to applications for the approval of plans of work for exploration or exploitation, contracts for exploration or exploitation and their extension, annual reports and periodic review reports submitted by the contractors 8. Represent the Secretary-General in legal proceedings before bodies such as the Joint Appeals Board, the United Nations Appeals Tribunal, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, including the Seabed Disputes Chamber, and commercial arbitral tribunals.
• Provide legal and policy advice on external relations, including relationship agreements with other international organizations and provide legal advice on all matters relating to the grant and use of privileges and immunities, the relationship with the host government, the United Nations, and other protocol matters.
• Lead the provision of secretariat services to the principal organs of ISA and their subsidiary bodies, including managing the provision of meeting services.
• Maintain and develop the Satya N. Nandan Library, oversee the production of all official documentation, maintain the archives of the Authority, and manage the knowledge management function of the secretariat. 12. Support strategic coherence and coordination of the work of the secretariat through the Senior Management Group.
• Represent the Secretary-General in international conferences and meetings when required, and ; provides substantive support to workshops and seminars, as appropriate
• Consult with Permanent Missions, government entities, other international organizations and the private sector on matters relating to the work of the Division.
• Performs other duties as requested by the Secretary-General.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Comprehensive and in-depth theoretical knowledge of international law, as well as practical application of legal principles, concepts and policy to a range of legal issues in the area of public international law. In-depth knowledge of the process of progressive development of international law and its codification is essential. Outstanding analytical and drafting skills. Proven ability to design research projects, conduct and supervise such research on a variety of complex and intricate international law issues with special emphasis on areas relevant to progressive development and codification of international law. Demonstrated ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of legal briefs and studies on multi-dimensional, complex and sensitive legal issues and instruments under negotiation. Strong capacity to work to tight deadlines and manage stressful situations.
• Planning& 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. Managerial Competencies
• 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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.
• Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. 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.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public international law, including excellent knowledge of the law of the sea and the law of international organizations, or in a related area. A first-level university degree within combination two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible professional legal experience advising on issues of public and private international law, including the law and practice of international organizations, is required. A minimum of two years of professional experience in a senior managerial and advisory position in the legal office of a government ministry or department or of an international organization is required. Experience in professional legal work advising on issues of privileges and immunities, settlement of disputes and litigation is desirable. Prior experience working in a regulatory environment is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the Authority. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is desirable.

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