Job Opportunity at United Nations - Legal Officer

Posting Title: LEGAL OFFICER, P4
Job Code Title: LEGAL OFFICER
Department/Office: International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
Duty Station: ARUSHA
Posting Period: 14 February 2020 – 14 March 2020
Job Opening Number: 20-Legal Affairs-RMT-131292-R-Arusha (R)
Staffing Exercise N/A

Org. Setting and Reporting


This position is located in the Immediate Office of the Registrar, Registry of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), Arusha Branch.

Responsibilities

• The incumbent will provide a range of legal and policy support to the Registrar and the Chief, Registry, Arusha branch.
• Serve as the lead Legal Officer in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handle a wide range of multi-discipline and complex legal matters involving issues of international, public, private, administrative, international humanitarian and criminal (both substantive and procedural) law.
• Perform extensive legal research and analysis and prepare legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports and correspondence.
• Contribute to review and design of new, or new applications of, legal instruments, policy, guidelines, etc, including in regard to judicial support functions.
• Review, advise on and draft complex contracts, agreements, and other legal documents.
• Provide legal advice on the interpretation and application of staff regulations and rules, including the review of administrative decisions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments, including administrative and criminal law, both substantive and procedural. 
• Thorough understanding of judicial structures and procedures.
•  Ability to apply legal expertise to analyzing a diverse range of complex and unusual legal issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions in prosecuting complex criminal cases.
•  Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct comprehensive legal research on a range of issues, including those of a unique and/or complex nature. 
• Strong drafting and oral communication skills; ability to prepare legal briefs, opinions, indictments or legal submissions/motions, and a variety of legal instruments and related documents. 
• Discretion and sound judgment in applying legal expertise to sensitive, complex legal issues. Ability to work against tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/cases. 
• Knowledge of contemporary international relations and of UN system, organization and interrelationships. 
• 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.

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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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 organisational 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.

MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES

• Managing Performance – Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.
• Judgement/Decision-making – Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organisation. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree in law required, with specialization in international, criminal or humanitarian law desirable. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree

Work Experience

Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional legal experience required, preferably with an emphasis in criminal law, international law or humanitarian law.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the Mechanism. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of French is highly desirable.

Assessment

There may be a technical test followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

The appointment is limited to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. Appointment of the successful candidate on this position will be limited to the initial funding of the post. Extension of the appointment is subject to the extension of the mandate and/or the availability of funds. As the international tribunals are not integrated in the Secretariat, UN Staff Members serve on assignment or secondment from their parent department/office if selected. Appointments of staff members in the United Nations are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General. Staff Members are expected to move periodically to new functions in accordance with established rules and procedures, and may in this context be reassigned by the Secretary-General throughout the Organization based on the changing needs and mandates.

NOTE FOR PREVIOUSLY ROSTERED CANDIDATES
Roster candidates must express their interest and availability for published job openings by submitting an updated PHP and cover letter.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

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.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee


THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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