Legal Officer
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Officer, the Legal
Officer will perform the following duties:
• Assists in preparation of or provides legal opinions and advice
on a wide range of legal issues affecting the United Nations Mission’s mandate
and activities, including public international, private and administrative law
matters, and in particular on the identification, interpretation and
application of constitutional and other national laws, legislative instruments,
court procedures and local legal protocols and practices as they affect the
Mission or the mandate.
• Provides or assists in the provision of advice on the
interpretation of the Mission’s mandate, the legal status of the Mission and
its members, including in areas such as privileges and immunities and Status of
Forces/Status of Mission Agreements; on legal aspects of the Mission’s
operational activities, including the Mission’s rules of engagement and
directives on the use of force and related guidelines, matters relating to
international law, including international humanitarian law, international
criminal law and the protection of civilians, as appropriate; on
administrative, personnel and contractual matters, including issues relating to
the accountability of personnel, procurement matters, third party claims, as
well as legal questions involving the interpretation or application of UN
regulations and rules.
• S/he will undertake research and prepare Legal opinions, draft agreements, institutional and operational modalities, contracts, legal submissions and other legal documents and assists and participates in negotiations for the settlement of claims and disputes.
• Will review documentation and assist in preparation of responses
to Management Evaluation Unit applications, United Nations Dispute Tribunal and
United Nations Appeals Tribunal cases as may be assigned.
• Assists in maintaining effective coordination and working
relations with national authorities, including Government representatives,
local tribunals, public entities and agencies, and participates at meetings,
discussions and negotiations with such local entities and individuals as
required.
• Participates at meetings and discussions with other Mission
offices, other UN agencies funds and programmes, and may participate in
administrative Committees, including in relation to the procurement process,
claims and property management, and on ad hoc working groups, task forces and
training activities, as assigned by the Chief of Legal Affairs Unit.
• Conducts legal research and analysis using multiple research
sources, applies the organizations guidance including Staff regulations and
rules and Financial regulations and rules and prepares or assists in the
preparation of legal opinions, studies, briefs, background papers, reports, and
correspondence.
• May from time to time, upon request by the Senior Legal Officer,
be required to work from other offices of the mission, some of which may be
located outside of Kenya, as the requirements of mission mandate operations may
demand.
• May supervise, or provide guidance to more junior Legal Officers
and staff
• Performs other duties, as assigned.
Competencies
Professionalism – Thorough knowledge of and application of
relevant operational, administrative and protocol policies to ensure adherence
to relevant guidelines and procedures and overall quality of outputs; Proven
tact and discretion in dealing with highly confidential and sensitive matters,
as well as excellent interpersonal skills; Demonstrated initiative and ability
to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. Shows pride in work
and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of
subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments,
observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather
than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or
challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for
incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women
and men in all areas of work.
Teamwork – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve
organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and
expertise; Is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal
agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when
such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team
accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Planning & Organizing – Develops clear goals that are
consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and
assignments; Adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate; Amounts of
time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for
contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as
necessary.
Client Orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided
to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view;
establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their
trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate
solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’
environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of
progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or
services to client.
Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens
to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds
appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having
two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience;
demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law
or relevant specialized field of law. A first level university degree in law
combination with relevant qualifying experience in law may be accepted in lieu
of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible
professional experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing
is required.
Experience working in a legal office in peacekeeping missions and
related international organizations in conflict or post-conflict settings is
desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations
Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment
exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
• This position is temporarily available until 30 November 2023.
If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations
Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an
opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for
a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
•Recruitment against this position is on a local basis. THIS POSITION IS OPEN
TO NATIONALS OF KENYA ONLY. National Professional Officer category shall be of
the nationality of the country where this position is located and will be
recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the office.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this
temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have
been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to
staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central
review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations
who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the
duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.
Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening
does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be
considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for
their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by
the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization
cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the
required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect
the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and
represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the
needs of the service.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the
information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria
of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United
Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General
Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and
guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information
pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the
instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening.
No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to
applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration
for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information
provided in the application.
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