The Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR), based in Geneva, is responsible for the effective management, coordination and oversight of UNOPS operations across the region. The ECR region spans the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Türkiye, where UNOPS works with partners to achieve sustainable impact in health, education, environmental management, housing, rule of law, good governance, economic development, and social inclusion. With a wealth of experience in procurement, infrastructure, project and grant management, UNOPS in the region directly implements projects, provides technical advisory services and capacity building to advance the Sustainable Development Goals in support of national governments.

The UNOPS Ukraine and Eastern Europe MCO (UEMCO) operates in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, supporting urgent humanitarian needs while building pathways for recovery and development. In Ukraine, UEMCO delivers large-scale infrastructure, energy, housing, education, and mine action projects in partnership with UN agencies, international financial institutions, the European Union, and bilateral donors. Its agile portfolio responds to fast-evolving needs with strong procurement and implementation capacity. In Moldova, UEMCO supports justice sector reform and is exploring opportunities to expand its role across public sector modernization and infrastructure. In Poland, UEMCO works with government and private sector actors to strengthen ties with UN procurement and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, leveraging Poland’s EU experience to support Ukraine’s future accession and integration.

At the request of the Project Manager, Moldova or Head of Support Services Ukraine, the Local Law Specialist on Local Laws will provide legal advice on issues of Moldovan law that may arise in the context of project implementation, as well as other legal support that does not fall under the purview of UNOPS  Legal Group (see below).

• Provide legal advice under Moldovan law during project implementation, as applicable, and other specific local law issues raised by local authorities; 

• Assist the project office in engaging with local authorities, homeowners and homeowner associations / communal municipal entities, as well as with public buildings leadership (e.g. schools); 

• Provide legal advice on any obstacles and risks under Moldovan law that could affect the implementation of contracts, as well as suggestions for possible remedial measures,such remedial measures being subject to legal clearance by  UNOPS Legal Group, to the extent they affect the implementation of UNOPS contracts.

• Assist the project offices in drafting and reviewing contracts for construction works and its annexes, subject to legal clearance by UNOPS Legal Group, as required.

For each assignment, the incumbent is expected to provide the following deliverables in English:

1. detailed reports on the findings of each legal research and analysis related to a specific project and its contracts for works and applicable contractual, statutory, and regulatory provisions

1. a legal opinion on options for the most effective continuation of the project

1. review legal agreements and if need be, provide templates of agreements with individual homeowners and homeowner associations / communal municipal entities, and public building leadership for the conduct of repair works

The responsibilities and tasks of the Local Law Specialist on Local Laws should be limited to providing necessary local law advice in the context of project implementation and the matters listed above. Any issue that relates to other legal matters shall be referred to the relevant legal advisors in UNOPS Legal Group, as appropriate, through the focal point appointed by UNOPS Legal Group. 

Take note of the below matters which fall under the purview of UNOPS Legal Group, including but not limited to the following:

• Legal clearance and interpretation of engagements and any amendments thereof; 

• Legal clearance of deviations to and interpretation of General Conditions in UNOPS grant agreements and procurement contracts, including works contracts; 

• Legal advice related to disputes between UNOPS and external parties, including representation of UNOPS in legal proceedings; 

• Other legal advice related to UNOPS’ operations that does not require local law advice; 

• Legal advice related to UNOPS privileges and immunities and UNOPS’ status as a UN entity; 

• Administrative law advice and personnel disputes. 

In order to ensure compliance with applicable United Nations requirements and privileges and immunities, the final decision on legal issues relating to matters falling under the purview of UNOPS Legal Group as above described, shall rest with UNOPS Legal Group

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Law or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required

Required

• Relevant experience is practising law in Moldova.

• Solid experience in providing legal and regulatory advisory services related to public works and public works contracts in Moldova.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.

• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.