Legal Specialist - Administrative Law

Summary of key results:

1. Legal Advice and Representation 

2. Provide Other Support to UNOPS Operations

3. Policy and Institutional Development

4. Contribute to Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Support the Administrative Law Practice in providing legal advice in connection with a wide range of complex and straightforward personnel disputes and misconduct matters and a wide range of legal issues pertaining to personnel matters, including supporting the Legal Advisor in advising on all non-staff personnel matters, with a focus on providing timely, accurate, practice and high-quality legal advice. 

• Represent UNOPS before formal and informal dispute resolution mechanisms (ombudsman proceedings, United Nations Disputes Tribunal proceedings (including hearings), and arbitration proceedings pertaining to personnel disputes.

• Assist with the provision of other legal advice and representation support as needed including but not limited to supporting in the drafting of legal agreements and negotiating with external parties in relation to those agreements. 

• Provide technical guidance and support to Legal Senior Analysts, as directed by the Legal Advisor and as needed. 

• Assist with providing legal advice and assistance in connection with institutional, commercial and dispute law practice matters, as needed. 

• Assist with the review and negotiation of legal agreements, as needed. 

• Support the application, interpretation, adoption and development of corporate policies, guidelines and best practices of UNOPS. 

• Support regular reporting in the Administrative Law Practice’s databases and trackers, including maintaining overviews and databases of disputes handled by the Administrative Law Practice for audit and record keeping purposes and managing dispute deadlines.

• Support ongoing analyses of LG-related data to identify risks, opportunities and trends to inform policy and institutional development within UNOPS.

• Work closely, under limited supervision of the Legal Advisor and with relevant policy units within UNOPS, to advise on UNOPS legal framework including supporting the Legal Advisor in advising on legal and policy frameworks pertaining to individual contractors and other non-staff contract modalities. 

• Support corporate and cross-functional initiatives and contribute to ensure that internal policies, processes and systems are aligned with the overall regulatory framework, and are practical, relevant and add value to organizational operations.

4. Contribute to Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Contribute to legal knowledge and information management within the Administrative Law Practice and across the organization.

• Support in maintaining and actively sharing knowledge and information about administrative law matters and other related legal matters within LG so that it can be easily disseminated to relevant stakeholders throughout the organization.

• Keep abreast of internal and external developments and best practices.

• Develop and provide training on administrative law matters. 

• Support the Legal Advisor in the development of guidance notes for LG and to clients on legal topics. 

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in law is required.

• A first-level university degree in law (Bachelor’s or equivalent) from an accredited university in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Satisfaction of all requirements to practice law in a national jurisdiction of a UN Member State is required.

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional legal experience, defined as experience as a lawyer/counsel in administrative or international law, including legal analysis, legal advice, legal research and drafting of legal texts.

• Experience in administrative, employment or labour law is required.

• Experience in working with the status and the privileges and immunities of international organisations is desirable.

• Experience with Staff Regulations and Rules, policies and operations of the United Nations or other similar international organization is desirable.

• Legal experience at the United Nations is desirable.

• Demonstrated experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences is required.