Legal Officer, P-3

Legal Officer, P-3

UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

Nairobi, Kenya

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP's Corporate Services Division (CSD) is the guardian of UNEP's corporate interest, mitigating its exposure to risk and supporting the organization with management tools, plans and related capacity building. It oversees UNEP's efficient and effective management, in line with UNEP's accountability requirements, rules, regulations and UN core values. This position is located in the UNEP, Corporate Services Division in the Nairobi duty station. Under the direct supervision of the Senior Legal Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

• Support the work of the Corporate Services Division
  • Carries out or assists in carrying out the legal assessment of potential partners under the UNEP Private Sector Engagement Policy and provides legal support to the Private Sector and Corporate Relations Unit in the implementation of the legal component of the Private Sector Engagement Policy.
  • Prepares or assists in the preparation of agreements and contracts with private entities, in accordance with the UNEP Private Sector Engagement Policy.
  • Carries out or assists in carrying out the legal assessment of UNEP Executing Partners and other partners, and prepares or assists in the preparation of agreements and contracts with UNEP partners.
  • Provides legal advice on human resources matters; reviews administrative matters.
  • Prepares or assists in the drafting of responses to reports from the UN oversight bodies and coordinates UNEP compliance with the relevant recommendations.
  • Provides or assists with legal advice and support to the Partnership Committee and in the interpretation and implementation of the UNEP Partnership Policy and Procedures.
  • Provides or assists with the legal advice to the Executive Office in relation to investigations, evaluations inspections.
  • Provides or assists with the legal advice on procurement issues, reviews, comments and makes proposals on the relevant procurement contracts to be signed on behalf of UNEP.
  • Administers programmes of legal technical assistance.
• Corporate legal and institutional support and opinion
  • Handles a range of issues related to constitutional, international, public, private, and administrative law, including the interpretation and application of constitutive, legislative and other instruments governing United Nations activities and operations, including on human resources and financial issues, in consultation with senior Legal Officers.
  • Conducts extensive legal research and analysis and prepare studies, comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence.
  • Undertakes basic or extensive review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important legal issues, inconsistencies, etc. and drafts comments and proposals.
  • Prepares or assists in the preparation of drafts of background papers, studies, reports, legislative texts and commentaries on those texts, teaching materials in the fields of international law, etc.
  • Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public or private law issues, including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly and United Nations Environment Assembly resolutions and decisions, UN Regulations and Rules and administrative issuances, etc. involving, inter alia, issues relating to privileges and immunities, peace and security, criminal prosecutions, institutional questions, treaty law and practice, procedural issues arising during meetings of United Nations organs, constitutional and administrative law of the Organization including human resources.
  • Prepares or assists in the preparation of agreements and contracts with governments, NGOs, academia, and public entities.
  • Services or assists senior colleagues in servicing diplomatic conferences, commissions, committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, meeting reports, draft decisions/resolutions, declarations, etc.
  • Prepares or assists with the preparation of seminars and symposia, and presentations on various legal issues at such events.
  • Provides guidance to more junior staff.
• UN Environment representation, counseling and guidance in conflict resolution
  • Assists in representing the Organization before arbitral and other tribunals or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases.
  • Assists in representing the Organization before the Management Evaluation Unit and the UN.
  • Dispute Tribunal - acts on behalf of the Organization as junior co-counsel in the relevant proceedings.
  • Reviews, advises on and drafts indictments or legal motions/submissions.
  • Assesses evidence for relevance and admissibility.
  • Prepares and assesses briefs of evidence.
  • Assists in the informal settlement of disputes and claims against the Organization, and supports the drafting of relevant settlement agreements.
  • Assists in the negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes and in handling private international law and international trade law matters.
  • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. Knowledge of various legal research sources, including electronic, and ability to conduct research and analyze information on a wide range of legal issues. Knowledge of the civil law and/or common law legal systems and principles. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Ability to draft legal papers and work under pressure. Ability to apply good legal 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. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• 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.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in law or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in law is required. Experience in handling the legal aspects of the UN, or similar international organizations, working with the private sector, is desirable. Experience working on the legal and policy aspects of human resource management, the handling of audits and audit recommendations, legal analysis, research and writing is desirable. 2 years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. NOTE: "fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand), and " Knowledge of" equals a rating of " confident" in two of the four areas.

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