Legal Officer, P-4

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP’s Corporate Services Division (CSD) is the guardian of UNEP’s corporate interest, mitigating its exposure to risk and supporting the organization with management tools, plans and related capacity building. It oversees UNEP’s efficient and effective management, in line with UNEP’s accountability requirements, rules, regulations and UN core values. This position is located in the Legal Office in UNEP’s Corporate Services Division. Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Senior Legal Officer, and within delegated authority, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

• Serve as a lead officer in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handles a wide range of multi-discipline and complex legal matters involving issues of international, public, private and administrative law, to include interpretation and application of instruments in that area of concentration.
• Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, which may include those related to administration and management, institutions support, and other operational matters.
• Advise and engage with UN internal justice system including the tribunals, represents the organization on cases before the UNDT, participates in negotiations and settlement of claims, to include establishing strategy and approach; deciding on the recommendations on the merit of claims and in connection with the reviewability of administrative decisions.
• Review, advise on and draft complex agreements, institutional and operational modalities, or legal motions/submissions and other legal documents; develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances.
• Review complaints relating to prohibition of discrimination, harassment, including sexual harassment, and abuse of authority as well as retaliation investigations to determine if prohibited conduct or retaliation occurred as alleged, and provide legal support to the Conduct and Discipline focal point.
• Perform extensive legal research and analysis and prepares determinations, briefs, and correspondence, in particular to remediate situations where prohibited conducts or retaliation has occurred and effectuate the consultation/resolution process; provides legal advice to the unit/division.
• Provide timely and confidential legal advice and guidance on diverse and substantive questions of considerable complexity, including monitoring trends and conducting analysis into root causes of legal dilemmas for staff.
• Provide legal advice on the interpretation and application of staff regulations and rules in relation to investigations, including the review of administrative decisions.
• Consult and liaise with the Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM), Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), among others with regard to investigation, as necessary

Corporate legal advice:

• Review, advise on and drafts complex agreements, institutional and operational modalities with governments, non-governmental organizations and other public and private entities. or legal motions/submissions and other legal documents; develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances
• Prepare or assist in the preparation of drafts of background papers, studies, reports, legislative texts and commentaries on those texts.
• Contribute to review and design of new, or new applications of, legal instruments, policy and guidelines.
• Collect and analyze 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.
• Coordinate and direct teams of other legal officers as required, and/or mentors and supervises the work of junior officers on specific projects.
• Serve on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required; promotes the work of the United Nations and represents the organization at meetings, conferences and seminars.
• Collect and analyze 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
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. Knowledge of various legal research sources, including electronic, and ability to conduct research and analyze information on a wide range of legal issues. Knowledge of the civil law and/or common law legal systems and principles. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Ability to draft legal papers and work under pressure. Ability to apply good legal judgment in the context of assignments given. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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.
• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• 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.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international law is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in law, preferably administrative, employment, civil and criminal law or a related area is required. Experience in legal analysis, research and writing is required. Experience in litigation and first-hand experience appearing and leading evidence of witnesses before a court, tribunal, or equivalent administrative boards or bodies is desirable. Experience with staff regulations and rules, policies, procedures and operations of the United Nations and United Nations Internal Justice System or other similar international organization is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. NOTE: ”Fluency” equals a rating of ”fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ”Knowledge of” equals a rating of ”confident” in two of the four areas.

Application instructions

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