Legal Officer P2 – Rome, Italy (2 positions)

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

Are you an experienced legal advisor interested in further developing your professional experience while contributing to ending global hunger? Are you passionate about helping those in need? Would you like to join a global organization that invests in its people?

If so, an exciting and fulfilling career awaits you! Join our diverse and passionate team that works on varied and international projects directly contributing to saving and changing millions of lives around the globe.
 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, June 5, 2024 (11:59 PM CET).

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP’s values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: UN World Food Programme (WFP) and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

WHY JOIN US?

• WFP is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment. 
• WFP invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities. 
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across various country, regional, and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section)

ABOUT LEGAL DIVISION AT WFP

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.

THE ROLE

WFP is seeking to fill one Legal Officer P2 position in LEGC and one Legal Officer P2 position in LEGM. Both positions are based in our headquarters in Rome, Italy. 

Both positions are based in our headquarters in Rome, Italy. 
 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the supervision of more senior Legal Officers, the P2 Legal Officers will be responsible for a variety of the following duties:

•    Undertake legal research and analysis, handle a range of multi-disciplinary legal matters including interpretation and application of various national laws and international legal instruments to facilitate the provision of quality and timely legal services;
•    Review and draft a variety of legal documents, to identify relevant legal issues and risks, propose mitigating measures and to ensure compliance with the applicable legal framework and jurisprudence (including, for the LEGC position, Basic Agreements and other agreements concerning the status of WFP in the countries in which it has operations);
•    Assist in preparing legal advice on the interpretation and application of WFP’s legal framework, both for Headquarters and Field Offices;
•    Review legal documents, identify and analyze issues, presenting findings and recommendations;
•    Provide support towards the negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes involving WFP to meet unique client needs; 
•    Identify potential liabilities, particularly vis-à-vis other parties, and assist in the management of risks in WFP’s activities to contribute to well-informed decisions;
•    Prepare and assess briefs of evidence to contribute to legal analysis and solutions;
•    Contribute to building productive partnerships within the legal team and with other Legal Offices across the UN system;
•    Assist more senior Legal Officers in servicing internal and external committees, task forces, expert working groups and other bodies with legal advice and preparation/review of legal documents to contribute to the formulation of WFP’s position;
•    Provide support towards dispute resolution, including liaising with external counsel or assisting in the representation of WFP in administrative proceedings and arbitration as instructed; (including, for the LEGM position, disputes arising from WFP supply chain and common services operations);
•    Facilitate legal training sessions for other Units and Divisions; and
•    Perform other related duties as required by the Legal Office.

The Legal Officer P2, LEGC position will primarily involve:
  
•    Support in preparing legal advice on governance matters pertaining to the interpretation and application of the constitutional texts of WFP, including the General Regulations, General Rules, Financial Regulations and Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board of WFP, delegations of authority and other norms issued thereunder, and the decisions of the Executive Board; 
•    Support to the negotiation and advice on Basic Agreements and other agreements concerning the status of WFP in the countries in which it has operations;
•    Contribution in preparing legal advice on the privileges and immunities of WFP, where appropriate in coordination with the UN Office of Legal Affairs and the Legal Office of FAO; 
•    Contribution in preparing legal advice on all other matters of public international law, including but not limited to international humanitarian law, international human rights law, the law of treaties and other fields as appropriate; 
•    Assistance in advising and providing legal support on matters involving public-sector resource mobilization and partnerships; 
•    Assistance in advising and providing legal support on matters involving collaboration and partnerships with governments, UN system agencies, other intergovernmental organizations, and nongovernmental organizations; and 
•    Assisting senior lawyers representing WFP in dispute resolution, proceedings involving matters that fall under LEGC’s competence. 
     
The Legal Officer P2, LEGM position will primarily involve:
 
•    Assistance in providing legal support and advice in connection with contracts relating to procurement of food, goods and services, shipping, aviation, logistics, overland transport, service provision, construction, engineering, office and premises lease contracts, real estate property, and insurance; 
•    Assistance in providing legal advice on the interpretation of WFP norms pertaining to supply chain operations and service provision;  
•    Assistance in providing legal and technical support to mitigate legal risks arising from commodity loss, establish liability and pursue third parties to recover financial damages; 
•    Support in providing advice and participating in the preparation, pursuit, negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes with public and private entities; 
•    Assisting senior lawyers representing WFP in dispute resolution proceedings involving matters that fall under LEGM’s competence (WFP supply chain and common services operations); and
•    Facilitating awareness of potential liability exposure and proactive minimization of risk within the organization.

While LEGC and LEGM will be the respective base branches for the Legal Officer P2 positions, 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.

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 law by a recognized national or state bar or law society or have equivalent professional legal practice experience.

Experience: 

• A minimum of three (3) years relevant progressively responsible experience as a lawyer or in the provision of legal services.

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).

MORE ABOUT YOU

You have:
 

• Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts, procedures and terminology for review, examination and processing of a range of legal documents;
• Clear and concise thinking and drafting with attention to detail;
• Strong negotiation skills and problem-solving approach;
• Business acumen;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• High standards of ethics and values;
• Knowledge of various legal research sources, techniques and ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments and draft legal papers;
• Tact, conscientiousness, and a high degree of discretion and confidentiality;
• Willingness to take instruction and openness to feedback;
•  Ability to work harmoniously within a team and with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
•  Ability to work with limited supervision; and
•  Ability to work under pressure within tight deadlines.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behaviour that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process.
Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• These are International Professional positions and are open to all nationalities.
• Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. This position is however classified as “non-rotational” which means the incumbent shall not be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as rotational. The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year. This position is open to both internal and external candidates.​
• WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel, visa and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. For more information, visit https://icsc.un.org/.
• The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Italy, Rome which is a family duty station to take up this assignment.
• Please note that internally, these positions will be referred to as “Legal Officer P2”

REASONABLE ACCOMODATION

WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at [email protected]. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language.
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter.
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time.
• Please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any challenges with submitting your application.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

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All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.