Position Name: IRQ-E26-04 Legal Expert
Required staff: one Person
Duration: April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027
Starting from: April 2026 /upon signing the contract with donor
Duty Station: Erbil or Baghdad
Closing date of the vacancy: March 29,2026
Type of contract Employment Contract- Full Time
Background
Un Ponte Per (UPP) is an Italian non-governmental organization established in 1991. The organization has been working in Iraq since the early 1990s to promote peacebuilding, human rights, social justice, and civic participation.
UPP works in partnership with Iraqi civil society organizations, community actors, and national institutions to support access to justice, protection of civic space, gender equality, and inclusive governance.
As part of its programmatic engagement in Iraq, UPP is implementing the project “Building Peace and Stability in Iraq”, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) aimed at strengthening access to justice, civil society participation, and the protection of human rights, while supporting dialogue between civil society and institutional stakeholders.
The Project
Building Peace and Stability in Iraq is a programme funded by FCDO (The UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office) implemented in Kirkuk, Salahaddin, Nineveh and Anbar. BPSI aims to support the reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees from Northeast Syria in areas of return. The programme is currently implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and six local NGOs (Peace and Freedom Organization, Tahreer Association for Development, House of Co-existence, Justice Center, Legal Clinic Network, and Investigator Organization for the Rule of Law) managed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The programme component delivered by IRC has been running since 2023. Due to IRC’s planned departure from Iraq in 2026, Un Ponte Per-ETS (UPP) is taking over the leadership of this component during 2026-2027 Fiscal Year in partnership with Agency for Peacebuilding who will be acting as technical and advisory support.
Project Purpose: To ensure safe return and sustainable reintegration of conflict-affected Iraqis, fostering stability and resilience in communities
Outcome I: Community groups engage to identify specific drivers of conflict, promote social cohesion, and reduce discrimination.
Outcome II: People impacted by displacement can access justice and exercise their rights to achieve durable solutions
Outcome III: Government actors, civil society, and community leaders are equipped with knowledge and skills to promote achievement of durable solutions and social cohesion
Job Description
UPP is seeking a legal expert in Baghdad who can supervise the implementation of advocacy and legal components in the project
The legal expert will be responsible of making sure UPP and its partners are implementing the legal activities effectively and in line with GOI rules and regulations.
On the other hand, inform and support advocacy team to implement the rule of law strategy, legal aid law and Yizidi survivor's law
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Legal Expert
· Supervise the implementation of legal activities (representation, counselling, and legal awareness sessions) managed by partners
· Provide refreshing sessions to legal assistants of the implementing partners and ensure alignment of the SOPs used by local partners with updates law and regulations of GOI
· Conduct regular field visits to LCN, JC and HOC offices to check on keeping records of clients respecting privacy and confidentiality of cases
· Conduct field visits to courts in the targeted areas
· Deliver awareness raising and capacity building workshops on legal activities and procedures that the project is implementing
· Contribute to approaching key stakeholders, such as MoI, MoJ, Supreme Court, and IHCHR in implementing Rule of Law Strategy, Legal Aid Law, Yizidi Survivors Law, and Human Rights Manual
· Regular consultation and advisory support in all legal activities of UPP and BPSI Programme
· Provide Quarterly Progress Report to Senior Management
· Inform management about any changes in laws, rules and regulations related to mentioned laws
· Represent UPP in high-level coordination forums (e.g., the Returns Working Group, Peace and Reconciliation Working Group, ministerial and donor engagements related meetings and regularly review government partnership commitments.
· Lead and provide senior-level internal coordination within the SMT.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT :
Qualifications & Experience:
· Bachelor's Degree or higher in Law
· At least 10 years’ experience in legal assistance with INGOs, UN agencies or local NGOs
· Experience in UNHCR, FCDO, or IRC-funded projects on protection and legal assistance is an added value
· Relevant experience in IDPs and returnees’ issues is an added value
· Ability to design and update legal manuals, SOPs, and templates
· Excellent communication skills in Arabic and English Languages
Knowledge:
· Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
· Self-reliant and able to work independently.
· Advanced Microsoft Office Programs.
· Personal integrity and credibility
· Excellent time management and organizational skills
· Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure.
Recruitment at UPP
- UPP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. UPP considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
- UPP : upholds all the minimum standards in terms of Ethical Conduct and strives to increase its standards over the minimum. Zero tolerance is reserved to Sexual Abuse and Exploitation and to Child Abuse, Violence, Harm, Injury and Negligence, as well as to Anti-Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism. By applying, the candidate assures that s/he has never breached any standards of SEA, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism and that s/he won’t in the future. Candidates are alerted that the required background checks might compromise their privacy. Shortlisted candidates shall promptly provide an up-to-date criminal background check.
- All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Un Ponte Per also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment.
More information related to how to apply:
- Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
- Applications will be screened on a rolling basis. UPP reserves the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required qualifications before the mentioned deadline.
- Please name the files attached to your application as follows: Name_Surname_CV, Name_Surname_CL
- CV and Cover letter that are not in PDF version will not be considered.