Legal Officer, P2

Position description

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Legal Office is organized in three branches that advise on the various aspects of WFP’s work:

• The Administrative and Employment Law Branch (LEGA) provides advice to management on all aspects of the employment relationship between WFP and its employees;
• The Contractual and Constitutional Law Branch (LEGC) provides advice on all aspects of WFP’s internal governance, private sector contributions, commercial and other contractual activities, including also cash-based transfer programmes, treasury functions and communications; and
• The Maritime, Transport and Insurance Law Branch (LEGM) provides advice on all aspects of WFP’s supply chain activities, including Procurement (Food, Goods & Services), maritime, aviation, logistics (inland transportation, storage and warehousing), United Nations Humanitarian Response Depots and insurance.

WFP is seeking to fill a Legal Officer P2 position in LEGA, based in our headquarters in Rome, Italy and involved in:

• Providing legal support and advice on the development, interpretation and application of WFP’s employment framework;
• Providing legal support and advice on appropriate contractual modalities and conditions of service for deployment of personnel and technical expertise from private and public sectors;
• Advising on matters concerning conduct and discipline including at the investigation and disciplinary stages;
• Handling contentious matters arising in connection with WFP’s various contracts of employment, including the negotiation and settlement of claims, and the representation of WFP in legal actions brought before adjudicatory or other bodies;
• Advising on the privileges and immunities of WFP personnel.

While LEGA will be the base branch for this Legal Officer P2 position, please note that the Legal Office is adopting a pooled service arrangement for posts at this level aimed at promoting inter-branch engagement and expanding staff knowledge and skills. This includes an expectation to undertake up to 50% of work on matters pertaining to the other branches of the Legal Office.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the general supervision of a more senior Legal Officer in LEGA, the Legal Officer P2, LEGA will be responsible for the following duties and may supervise others carrying out these duties:

• Undertake legal research and analysis on legal issues of a substantive and procedural nature;
• Review a variety of legal documents, including agreements, memoranda of understanding and contracts in order to identify relevant legal issues and risks and to ensure compliance with the applicable legal framework and jurisprudence;
• Assist in preparing legal advice on the interpretation and application of WFP’s internal Regulations, Rules, Policies and Procedures as well as applicable conventions, resolutions and agreements;
• Draft legal documents including opinions, reports, memoranda, submissions, agreements and contracts;
• Provide legal support in representing WFP in administrative or tribunal proceedings and arbitration;
• Assist in the preparation of the negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes involving WFP and its personnel.
• Perform other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Advanced university degree in law, or first university degree in law with additional relevant experience and training in private, commercial, or public law;
• Must be qualified to practice or admitted to practice by a recognized national or state bar or law society.

Experience:

• At least three years of progressively responsible experience practicing law within a law firm, an international organization, a governmental service, or a company;
• Prior litigation and/or employment law experience are assets.

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written (Level C) English;
• Intermediate knowledge (Level B) of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages).

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Ability to work autonomously with minimum supervision;
• Tact and a high degree of discretion and confidentiality;
• Knowledge and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts, procedures and terminology for review, examination and processing of a range of legal documents;
• Knowledge of various legal research sources, techniques and ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments and draft legal papers;
• Eloquent and concise thinking and drafting;
• Business acumen;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Application instructions

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