Legal Specialist, Commercial (Internal Candidates Only)
Multiple locations
- Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
- Location: Multiple locations
- Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
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Occupational Groups:
- Legal - Broad
- Sustainable trade and development
- Sustainable Business Development
- Closing Date: 2025-03-02
Functional Responsibilities
Summary of key results:
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Legal Advice and Representation
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Policy Development and Implementation Support
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Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
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Regional Focal Point Role (as assigned)
Under the supervision of the Legal Advisor:
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Advise Project Offices on commercial matters under LG’s purview, including review and negotiation of legal agreements, interpretation, alignment and development of the UNOPS legal framework.
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Provide legal advice and support to Project Offices in relation to partnership and framework or funding agreements, negotiation of model agreements with partners, procurement contract templates and grant agreements.
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Provide legal advice and support to Project Offices in relation to hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds.
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Provide timely advice and support actively finding solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices.
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Represent UNOPS in negotiations with external parties on legal topics, such as negotiations on contracts and agreements.
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Coordinate interactions between business units and local legal retainers, external legal counsel and legal advisors from OLA or other UN agencies.
Under the supervision of the Legal Advisor:
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Recommend changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the country offices.
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Ensure transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs.
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Work closely with other units within UNOPS to address mission-critical issues and find fit-for-purpose solutions and contribute with technical and practical knowledge to the development of strategies to improve efficiency and strengthen internal controls.
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Contribute to cross-functional initiatives to ensure that internal policies, procedures, systems and tools are consistent with the overall legal framework, practical, relevant and add value to organizational operations.
Under the supervision of the Legal Adviser and Team Lead:
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Support the systematic documentation and updating of legal precedents and templates.
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Contribute to research and coordination within the team and across the organization
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Provide structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.
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Stay informed about internal and external developments and best practices.
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Deliver and facilitate trainings on commercial matters to internal colleagues.
4. Regional Focal Point
Under the supervision of the Legal Advisor, the Legal Specialist may be requested to assume a Regional Focal Point role, which includes the following responsibilities:
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Represent the LG Commercial Practice as the identified Focal Point by assuming the responsibilities for a specific region, liaising with the Regional Office and all regional actors (internal and external) for all legal matters related to the regional portfolio.
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Manage the regional workload, completing the above listed functions with a focus on a specific region.
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Foster and develop the relationship and collaboration with one specific region allowing for dedicated and tailored legal support, capacity building and solutions to the region.
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Coordinate and oversee the legal advice and support provided by other LG members (other than the Legal Specialist’s supervisees) to a specific region to ensure consistency;
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Liaise and communicate with the other regional focal points on novel, high-risk and/or problematic issues to ensure consistency in strategy and advice across the LG Commercial Practice.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
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Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in law is required.
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A first-level university degree in law (Bachelor’s or equivalent) from an accredited university in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
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Satisfaction of all requirements to practice law in a national jurisdiction of a UN Member State is required.
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At least 5 years of relevant experience as a lawyer in commercial law, international law, public international law and/or, commercial dispute resolution, including legal analysis, advice, research and/or drafting of texts.
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Commercial law experience, preferably as legal counsel in a law firm or international organization is desirable.
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Proficiency in legal drafting and ability to draft accurately, clearly and concisely under pressure is required.
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Experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences is required.
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Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish is required.
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Working knowledge of French is desirable.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.