Principal Legal Officer (General Law), P5, Jerusalem

Org. Setting and Reporting If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you.

The Principal Legal Officer (General Law) focuses on developing strategies to promote and implement, as well as providing advice and training on, the following topics: contractual and procurement matters, resolution of commercial and contractual disputes, the Agency’s regulatory framework, public international law issues, administrative law issues, and management of appeals before the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal and the UN Appeals Tribunal and reports to the Director of Legal Affairs.

Responsibilities – Directly supports the Director of Legal Affairs in all aspects of work; assists the Director of Legal Affairs in leading the programme of work and management of the human and financial resources of the Department; and provides strategic and technical leadership for the Agency’s lawyers with a view to ensuring legally sound, timely, easily applied, politically sensitive and consistent advice.

Develops strategies to promote and implement the Agency’s legal function; provides advice and training on the interpretation and application of the Agency’s regulatory framework, including General Assembly resolutions, Staff and Financial Regulations, Rules and associated administrative issuances, organizational directives, and in particular regarding Agency governance and management of administrative, contractual and procurement law issues; advises other departments (Headquarters and Fields) on the interpretation and application of the Agency’s regulatory framework; provides technical expertise and advice on amendments to the Agency’s regulatory framework, including drafting of Agency regulations and rules and drafting or reviewing of legal opinions on complex or sensitive financial issues including interpretation of the Agency Finance Regulations and Technical Instructions.

Reviews drafts of all types of Agency contractual modalities, including complex contracts for procurement of goods and/or services, memoranda of understanding with partners and funding agreements; provides training in connection therewith.

Contributes to the Department’s client-oriented service delivery; contributes to identifying and addressing important strategic legal and policy issues facing the Agency; provides and supervises the provision of legal input into the development and implementation of Agency strategy and policy relating to all areas of UNRWA.

Advises on resolution of contractual and tortious claims against the Agency, including overseeing, supporting and conducting negotiations, settlement and arbitration.

Provides and supervises provision of legal advice, training, outreach and assistance on matters relating to administrative and employment law, in particular advises on investigations and disciplinary matters; reviews drafts of Agency submissions to the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal and the UN Appeals Tribunal, and appears before the Tribunals as required.

In collaboration with the Principal Legal Officer (International Law), and as required, ensures the consistent interpretation and application of international law throughout the Agency; provides and supervises provision of advice and training on relevant public international law, including UN law and international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law; provides advice on relevant public international law issues, in particular the status, mandate, privileges and immunities and related responsibilities of the Agency and its personnel.

Establishes and maintains relations with representatives of host and other governments, the UN Office of Legal Affairs, UNHCR, OHCHR, OCHA, UNSCO and other entities with respect to issues of legal concern.

Serves as a member of the Agency’s Headquarters Committee on Procurement and participates in other committees and bodies as required.

Competencies UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Default managerial competencies may apply. – Formulating Strategies and Concepts – Analyzing – Deciding and Initiating Action – Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership – Managing Complexity and Change For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx? viewtype=AY

Education Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in law, with specialization in contract law, commercial law, administrative law and/or public international law, and admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction.

Work Experience At least ten years of progressively responsible and relevant experience as a lawyer in the United Nations, other international organization, government service, the commercial/private sector or NGO, including a period of experience in contract, commercial, administrative and/or public international law Three years of professional work experience at a senior level A minimum of two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a¿passport¿or a national identity number. Knowledge of the history and contemporary problems of the Middle East (Desirable). Familiarity with UN Common System and practices (Desirable). Experience in appeals to the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, United Nations Appeals Tribunal, ILO Administrative Tribunal or other international administrative tribunal (Desirable)

Languages Excellent command of spoken and written English;

Working knowledge of Arabic and/or another official language of the United Nations is an asset (Desirable).

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Equivalency:

A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. NB: work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/