Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other member organizations of the Fund. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 17 currencies to more than 80,000 beneficiaries who reside in 190 countries, and services more than 140,000 participants who work in the 24 member organizations of the Pension Fund. The Fund has offices in New York (United States) and Geneva (Switzerland) and two liaison offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 250 staff from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system. This position is located in the Legal Office of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (“UNJPSF” or “the Fund”). The Legal Office provides unified legal services for the Fund’s management and operations in the New York and Geneva offices. The Legal Officer reports to the Chief, Legal Office, and the position is based in New York.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Legal Officer is responsible for the following duties:
- Independently handles a wide range of multi-discipline, highly complex, and often sensitive and/or conflicting legal matters involving issues of international, public, private and administrative law;
- Provides legal support and guidance and makes recommendations to the Chief of the Legal Office as well as Benefit Officers and Senior Officials of the Fund on substantive and procedural questions of law regarding the interpretation of and possible changes to the Pension Fund Regulations, Administrative Rules and Pension Adjustment System in cases involving UNJSPF participants, beneficiaries, family members and their representatives.
- Communicates with various clients (participants/beneficiaries), including their attorneys, and with other stakeholders, including staff pension committee secretariats and administrations of member organizations.
- Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports, indictments and correspondence; provides legal advice to the unit/division.
- Provides legal advice on the interpretation and application of UNJSPF regulations and rules; prepares draft amendments to the UNJSPF regulations and rules; prepares draft policies or amendments thereto and verifies their consistency with the existing regulation and rules; prepares analyses and evaluations of pension policies and practices.
- Represents the Pension Administration on more complex cases before arbitral and other tribunal or administrative proceedings. •Serves on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required; promotes the work of the UNJSPF and represents the organization at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.
- Coordinates and direct work of other legal officers dealing with significant problems as required, and/or mentors and supervises the work of junior officers on specific projects.
- Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. •Performs other duties as assigned.
Competencies
- PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of organizational legal framework, relevant legal processes, procedures and terminology for review, examination, preparation and processing of legal documents. Ability to conduct research using diverse legal research sources (including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other data bases). Ability to review and synthesize information and present findings and recommendations in a required format. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Knowledge of information management, classification and retrieval systems. Ability to show tact and discretion in dealing with high-ranking officials and with confidential matters and materials. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;
- COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
- 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.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required. At least two years’ experience in an employee benefit scheme of an international organization is desirable. Experience in representing an international organization in tribunal and administrative proceedings is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required; and knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage
Application instructions
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