National Legal Specialist

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

FAO Azerbaijan Partnership and Liaison Office, in close cooperation with the government and its in-line Ministries/Agencies, contributes to the sustainable agri-food systems, and supports the government with addressing issues food security, agriculture and rural development, natural resource management in the country. FAO’s technical assistance, provided mainly through projects, includes institution building, development of knowledge and competencies, and exchange of experience among FAO member countries.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Azerbaijan, the programmatic guidance and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative, the technical supervision of the Legal Officer, Development Law Branch (LEGN) and the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO).

Technical Focus

The National Legal specialist will work in close coordination with the national counterpart, the Agrarian Service Agency (ASA) under The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Project Coordinator. The specialist will review ASA’s legislative framework across key areas, identify gaps, and recommend revisions based on international law and international good practices.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Conduct the review of the national legislation related to plant variety protection, seed management, phytosanitary protection, animal health and veterinary services and technical control and registration of agricultural machinery against applicable international treaties, standards and good regulatory practices. The relevant legislation may include the Laws of the Republic Azerbaijan on seed farming, selection achievements, protection and efficient use of genetic resources of cultivated plants and their phytosanitary control; veterinary medicine; laws on road traffic (as it relates to factory tests of tractors and self-propelled machinery and issuance of licenses). The specialist is expected to have a comprehensive understanding of all these areas, with a broader scope beyond just phytosanitary control of seeds.
• Support other components of the project with legal content, particularly the work on agricultural mechanization.
• Identify key areas for improvement in the legislative basis that would increase the effectiveness Agency`s activities, accommodate the restructuring/reorganization process and support the organization of the current and planned services of the Agency in the relevant areas by reviewing and analyzing the relevant legislation pertinent to the institutional restructuring process of the Agency and assist in developing a new or amended legal instrument that supports this improvement.
• Coordinate with relevant international consultants and project partners, to discuss the content and the elements to be incorporated into the draft policy documents
• Propose, as necessary, amendments to improve the national laws and regulations referred to above (plant variety protection, seed management, phytosanitary protection, animal health and veterinary services and technical control and registration of agricultural machinery) to ensure compliance with relevant international treaties, standards and good regulatory practices
• Prepare a final report detailing the work produced including all draft amendment bill and/or regulations

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Law
• Minimum five years of relevant experience in agriculture-related legislation
• Working knowledge of English and Azerbaijani languages are required
• National of Azerbaijan or resident in the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners developing effective working relationships
• Experience with UN system is considered an asset.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact\: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website\: http\://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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