UNDP Jobs - 58682- Legal Specialist

Legal Specialist

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Organizational Context

The United Nations Development Programme is the global development network of the United Nations system that is on the ground in 177 countries and territories, with its Headquarters in New York, USA. The Bureau of Management (BoM) is a central Bureau tasked with the development of corporate strategies, policies, tools and systems in key cross-cutting management areas. Drawing on sound analytics and a risk-management approach, BoM supports the achievement of development results through management advice, innovative business solutions, and other corporate services in line with international best practices and evolving needs and expectations of development partners. BoM also ensures policy adherence in operations management within UN Rules & Regulations, safeguarding UNDP’s accountability vis-à-vis Member States and other stakeholders.

In support of UNDP’s current Strategic Plan, the Service Delivery Model adopted by the Bureau of Management (BoM) aims to provide more integrated, effective, and customer focused services. To this end, the Office of Management Services (OMS) delivers improved management services as well as promotes continuous improvements in efficiency and productivity in the areas of Legal Support, Procurement Oversight, Information Management and Technology, Consolidated Transactions, Sourcing and Operations, and Security.

Under the overall supervision of the Director of the Legal Support Office, Bureau of Management (LSO/BOM) and reporting to the Senior Legal Advisor and Head of the Administrative Law Practice Group, the Legal Specialist provides support to UNDP Senior management, Headquarters units and country offices, as well as to other funds and agencies, as appropriate, in the administrative law practice area.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Responsibilities

Under the guidance of, and when representing, the Senior Legal Adviser, LSO, the incumbent performs the following primary functions, customized to best implement the BoM Service Delivery Model.

Provide legal advice, in coordination with UN/OLA and UNDP OHR as appropriate, to UNDP senior management, Headquarters units and Country Offices, and other Funds and Agencies on the application of the organizational, legal and human resources frameworks, and on a broad range of issues involving substantive and procedural questions of administrative law, in particular:

On the application of the Staff Regulations, Rules and procedures;
The internal justice system;
Relevant aspects of human resources management, including: disciplinary matters, privileges and immunities, rights and obligations of staff, legal status of staff and their dependents, financial recovery, taxation and insurance issues.

Draft briefs for submission on behalf of UNDP and other Funds and Agencies in response to applications and other submissions filed before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT). Represent the Administration before the UNDT; Support UN/OLA in its representation of UNDP before the UN Appeals Tribunal.

This requires the following:

Extensive analysis and review of material;
Developing legal arguments in support of the administration;
Research precedents;
Formulation of trial strategy.

Provide advice to senior officials regarding requests for management evaluation. Upon request, draft responses to the requests for management evaluation assist in the informal resolution of cases:

Review the basis of appeals;
Research policy and precedent;
Liaise officers and management regarding administrative decisions.

Assist in the drafting and interpretation of policies and procedures involving administrative law issues:

Research of legal precedents;
Research of relevant practices in other UN agencies;
Review of formulation of the procedure in content of the policy.

Provide legal opinions and perform extensive legal research and analysis on a diversity of legal issues:

Respond to specific requests from individual offices;
Research applicable and relevant precedents within UN and other judicial bodies;
Formulate legal analysis.

Perform other related functions as requested by the Senior Legal Advisor, or the Director of LSO/BOM.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Innovation:

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership:

Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management:

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery:

Ability to get things done.

Functional and Technical Competencies:

Legal General:

Ability to advise on legal matters including UNDP's legal status, policy development, corporate and operational matters, status and conduct.

Legal Advisory:

Knowledge of legal issues facing the UNDP and ability to apply them to strategic and/or practical situations.

Legal Representation:

Ability to legally represent the organization in corporate/institutional contracts and agreements as well as in administrative legal matters.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

An advanced degree in law with specialization in International Law and/or Administrative Law.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the practice of public international law with a law firm, a government and/or an international organization’s legal office;
Admittance to the bar of a Member State or equivalent qualification to practice law in a Member State is desirable;
Significant experience with the United Nations legal framework, experience working with personnel/administrative law issues of United Nations organizations;
Practical experience in litigation is an asset.

Language:

Excellent command of oral and written English;
Working knowledge of another United Nations official language, particularly French, would be an advantage.