Attorney – P02

In accordance with paragraph f. of Article 44 of the General Standards, the official languages of the Organization are English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.  No candidate for a position in the General Secretariat subject to the competition requirement shall be contracted until he/she has been administered language proficiency exams by the DHR in at least two of the official languages. Nevertheless:  

(i) Any candidate, including a staff member, whose native language is one of those four languages shall only be required to demonstrate proficiency on an exam in one of the others; and

(ii) Persons applying for G-1 and G-2 positions at Headquarters and G-3 driver/clerk positions in those Offices of the General Secretariat in the Member States where the language requirement unduly restricts the recruitment of otherwise qualified staff shall be exempt from this language proficiency requirement for as long as they occupy those positions. Subsequently, in order to be eligible to compete for a higher-level position, any staff member who has benefited from this exemption must demonstrate proficiency in a second official language of the Organization; and

(iii) A person selected as the best candidate may receive a fixed-term contract, which will be considered to have lapsed in case the person does not pass the required language examination in a second official language within the 36 months following the appointment. 
(iv) During all steps of the recruitment and selection process, a candidate for a position in the General Secretariat shall demonstrate proficiency in at least one official language of the Organization.

(v) During all steps of the recruitment and selection process, the application of language requirements shall be guided by the principles of merit, equitable geographic representation, proportionality, and non-discrimination. The lack of proficiency in a second language should not be grounds for elimination during the recruitment and selection process.  

(vi) Persons applying for positions in the Offices of the General Secretariat in the Member States shall demonstrate proficiency in the official language(s) of the Member State.

(vii) When the native language of the candidate is not one of the four official languages of the Organization, the candidate shall be required to sit a proficiency examination administered by the DHR in at least two of the official languages.

The salary for this position corresponds to Grade P02, Step 1, in accordance with Staff Rule 103.3 Initial Salary:

(a) A staff member on initial appointment shall be placed in the first step of the grade of post, without exemption.

(b) This rule does not apply to a staff member who is already employed by the General Secretariat and is selected, promoted, demoted, reassigned, or otherwise transferred to a different post. In such cases, salary shall be determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of these Staff Rules.  

              
        
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
As assigned by the Director directly, or through or by the Principal Attorneys, and under their general supervision:

1.    Conducts and Supports Litigation

(a)    As assigned, represents the Secretary General and the retirement and Pension Committee, and the Director General of the IICA before the OAS Administrative Tribunal in ordinary cases. For complex cases, she generally assists the Director and more senior attorneys but may be asked to take on such a case under strict supervision by more senior staff. In consultation with and under detailed and extensive supervision by more senior staff, performs all work in relation to the case or component of the case assigned, including investigation, legal research, drafting briefs, interviewing preparing, presenting, and cross-examining witnesses; preparing and presenting oral arguments; conducting settlement negotiations; and communicating with the adverse party.
(b)    As assigned and in consultation with and under the supervision of the Director and more senior staff represents the OAS, the General Secretariat of the OAS ("GS/OAS"), and their dependencies in cases before the courts and arbitration proceedings in jurisdictions where she is licensed or otherwise permitted to practice law, and in so doing, performs the following functions: investigation of facts and circumstances, legal research, drafting trial and appellate pleading and briefs; interviewing, preparing, presenting and cross examining witnesses, including expert witnesses; preparing and presenting oral argument and conducting settlement negotiations.

2. Participates in Negotiations

(a) Serves as negotiator or legal advisor in negotiations with commercial entities to reach agreements concerning routine ordinary matters and more simple procurements, construction/renovation contracts, leases; contracts for the disposal of personal property, chattel mortgages, documentation for small loans; and more routine technical cooperation agreements. Assists the Director and more senior attorneys in negotiating more detailed commercial and technical assistance transactions.

(b) Negotiates settlement of cases assigned, with the corresponding supervision depending on the complexity of the case and dollar amount in questions.

(c) Attends negotiating sessions over personnel questions and agreements with Member States and donors to assure that accurate minutes are taken and to assist Director and Principal Attorneys in providing necessary documentation to advance negotiation process.

3. Provides Legal Advisory Services

Assists the director and more senior attorneys in providing advisory services to officials to all ranks throughout the Organization on a wide variety of legal questions of concern to a public international organization. Services are performed by preparing written legal opinions and memoranda; by giving oral opinions by telephone and at meetings to institutional clients under the strict supervision of senior attorneys. Under review and supervision of more senior attorneys, drafts letters and other texts which: (a) may have a complex, technical legal aspect; and/or (c) may be of a politically sensitive, and/or confidential nature.

Advice provided may be in relation to questions of administrative law, labor law, pension fund regulation, contract law, select issues of private and public international law, the laws of the host country or a Member State, generally, or specifically, including laws, relating to the privileges and immunities afforded to public international organizations, family law, civil rights law, tax law, immigration law, general personal injury law, constitutional law, and the internal law of the Organization, including Its rules, practices and procedures Inter-American treatles and conventions, and the internal law of other International organizations.

(a) As assigned, served as a deputy legal advisor to officials at all levels in the Secretariat, as well as to the Committees of the General Assembly, the Permanent Council, and other political and deliberative organs of the Organization. Provides legal advice and information to the offices and departments of the Genera Secretariat on the drafting, interpretation and application of internal rules and regulations of the Organization, with a strong emphasis on personnel matters.

(b) As assigned, serves as a deputy legal advisor to Specialized Committees of the General Secretariat, such as the Contract Awards, Ethics, and Insurance Committees.

(c) As assigned, serves as deputy legal advisor to specialized organs and other entities of the Organization such as the Retirement and Pension Committee, the Pan American Development Foundation, the IICA, the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission ("CITEL"), the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission ("CICAD"), the Inter-American Commission on Women ("CIM"), the Inter-American Children's Institute ("IIN"), the OAS Staff Federal Credit Union, Friends of the Museum of Contemporary Art, and other private agencies organized on the initiative of the General Secretariat to support its programs and projects. Famishes information of a technical nature on legal matters in reply to OAS Member State government’s Inquiries involving laws of the Member States, Inter-American Treaties, and legal aspects of the Inter-American System.

4. Provides Legal Drafting Services 
When assigned, provides legal drafting services as follows:

(a)    By preparing for the review of the Director or more senior attorneys' comments on draft Executive Orders draft amendments to basic legal instruments of the Organization, such as, the General Standards, the Staff Rules, the Procurement Rules and other administrative dispositions, diplomatic notes, correspondence and other communications of the Secretary General having legal content rules and regulations for other organs and entities of the OAS and affiliated non-governmental organizations.

(b)    By preparing or commenting upon, for the Director or more senior attorneys, draft international agreements such as agreements on privileges and Immunities of the Organization with Individual Member States technical cooperation agreements with lending institutions, non-governmental organization and other international and Member States, their government departments and agencies. Drafts or comments on the commercial activities of the Organization such as major and regular contracts, including procurement contracts, building and infrastructure contracts and specifications, employment contracts, bylaws and resolutions, tax exemption requests, financial instruments, leases and other documentation

(c)    By redrafting or commenting upon, for the Director or more senior attorneys, proposed agreements memoranda of understanding, contracts and contract specifications, publications, regulations, standards resolutions, or other documents referred to the Department for legal review by the General Assembly, the Permanent Council and other councils and their respective committees, the various Departments, Offices and Executive Secretariat of the OAS General Secretariat, the organs of the Organization, and its specialized organs and entities.

5. Other Related Duties

As assigned develops project proposals for technical assistance programs of the Secretariat and other areas. May be assigned to manage legal development related projects. Performs all other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:  
Essential: Juris Doctor or First University Degree (Bachelor) in Law issued by a duly accredited institution and 4 years of relevant experience at the national or international level OR Master of Laws (LLM) issued by a duly accredited institution and 2 years of relevant experience. Membership in good standing in at least one Member State’s bar.

Desirable: Experience or knowledge of the OAS mandate and priorities as related to the area of work and/or the dynamics of the Inter-American agenda and system.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Ability to effectively work using Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other applications such as Oracle, Visio, Access, Share Point) and software applicable to the area of work.

LANGUAGES:
Essential Proficient in at least two of the following languages: English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish (read, write and communicate). The selected candidate must satisfy the applicable language-proficiency examination requirements under Article 44(f) of the General Standards, including passing the required DHR-administered examination in a second official language within the applicable timeframe. The lack of proficiency in a second language should not be grounds for elimination during the recruitment and selection process.  

Desirable – Working knowledge of other two OAS official languages.

PERSONAL COMPETENCIES: Client Orientation, Knowledge Sharing, Teamwork, Interpersonal Skills. Ability to clearly communicate in the languages required for the post.

The GS/OAS embraces equality, diversity and inclusion. Accordingly, in accordance with its rules and regulations, the GS/OAS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and achieving a diverse staff. In selecting candidates, it will take into account equitable geographic representation, as well as gender equity and equality. 

Please note that the mandatory retirement age for staff members at the General Secretariat of the OAS is 65 years.

Benefits:

- Compensation: 
Professional Category: Remuneration = Basic Salary + Post Adjustment 
Net of taxes for non-US citizens  

- US citizens tax reimbursement: US Citizens are reimbursed for most taxes paid on OAS remuneration.  

- Paid Annual Leave: 21 days from 1st year.  Increase to 30 days within 5 years.  

- Sick Leave and Parental Leave.

- Health Insurance: OAS pays 2/3 of premium.

- Pension and Savings Plans: In addition to salary, OAS contributes 14% of pensionable remuneration to a Retirement and Pension Plan. Staff contribute 7%.

- Additional benefits (dependent on contract type): Mobilization allowance, repatriation grant, home leave travel, dependency allowance, life insurance.