Legal Officer, ODED/LEG (Temporary)

Org. Setting and ReportingThe Office of the Executive Director provides strategic leadership for the development and management of the organization. The Legal Office, situated in OED, protects the legal interests of the International Trade Centre and assists the Organization in achieving its goals by ensuring that all its activities and programmes are in accordance with the external and internal aspects of the Organization's legal framework. The office's core function consists in the provision of sound and impartial legal advice and expert legal assistance in order to promote and develop the rule of law in all aspects of the Organization's activities, as well as to defend ITC's rights, positions and interests in contractual or litigation matters. ResponsibilitiesUnder the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Director, the incumbent will: • Serve as a lead officer in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handles a wide range of multi-discipline and complex legal matters involving issues of international, public, private and administrative law, to include interpretation and application of instruments in that area of concentration, or, for Tribunals, criminal law (both substantive and procedural). • Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, which may include those related to administration and management, institutions support, procurement and contracts, peacekeeping and other operational matters, separately administered programmes and funds, criminal investigations and prosecutions, etc. • Perform extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports, indictments and correspondence; provides legal advice to the unit/division. • Prepare legal submissions/motions as necessary in the course of investigations and prosecutions. • Service 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, etc. • Review, advise on and drafts complex contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, or legal motions/submissions and other legal documents; develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances. • Advise on and participates in negotiations and settlement of claims and disputes, or pleas of guilty, to include establishing strategy and approach, deciding on the legal text for terms and conditions of contracts, on the recommendations on the merit of claims, etc. • Provide legal advice on the interpretation and application of staff regulations and rules, including the review of administrative decisions; prepare draft amendments to the staff regulations and rules; prepare draft administrative issuances or amendments thereto and verify their consistency with the existing staff regulation and rules; prepare analyses and evaluations of human resources policies and practices. • Represent the organization on more complex cases before arbitral and other tribunal or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases and staff appeals; in Tribunals, acting on behalf of the Prosecutor as co-counsel in proceedings before Trial or Appeal Chambers. • Serve on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required; promote the work of the United Nations and represents the organization at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.. • Coordinate and direct teams of other legal officers dealing with significant problems as required, and/or mentor and supervise the work of junior officers on specific projects. • Contribute to review and design of new, or new applications of, legal instruments, policy, guidelines, etc. • Perform other duties as assigned Competencies• Professionalism: Knowledge of international law, in particular the application of legal principles, concepts and policies to the review, examination and processing of a range of legal issues and documents. Knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments, including criminal law, both substantive and procedural. 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; proficiency in legal writing and expression and ability to prepare legal briefs, opinions, indictments or legal submissions/motions, and a variety of legal instruments and related documents. Ability to lead and cross-examine witnesses and make substantial legal arguments before Chambers of judges, or if required to take responsibility for the prosecution of criminal trials. Discretion and sound judgement in applying legal expertise to sensitive, complex legal issues. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work to 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. • 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. • Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement, does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. • Empowering others: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work. Encourages others to set challenging goals. Holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility. Genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise. Shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort. Involves others when making decisions that affect them. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international law. A first level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years (nine with a first level degree) of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required. Experience in working with United Nations/Member State/ EU funding agreements and Memoranda of Understanding is desirable. Experience in leading/performance management of a multi-national team in an international organizational environment is desirable. Experience in analyzing (legal) business processes and making recommendations for streamlining and change is desirable LanguagesFluency in English. Knowledge of French or Spanish is desirable. AssessmentAssessment will be undertaken through a comparative analysis of the applications. The assessment may also include a competency-based interview and/or other appropriate evaluation mechanisms. Special NoticeThe conditions of service are governed by the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations. This is a temporary appointment for an initial 4 months and may be subject to extension. Applications from women and nationalities from developing and least developing countries are particularly encouraged. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind. ITC also offers attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work/life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to hrs-jobs@intracen.org. Given the nature of the temporary opportunity, priority consideration may be given to candidates already located at the duty station. Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. ITC Internal staff on fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, if selected, may be entitled to Special Post Allowance as per Staff Rule 3.10. For information on salary and entitlements, please consult the International Civil Service Commission website: http://icsc.un.org United Nations ConsiderationsIn accordance with the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules, 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 ITC 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. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Applicants are urged to carefully follow 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 based on the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable 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 in Inspira will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No FeeITC does NOT charge any fees or request money from candidates at any stage of the recruitment process, nor does it concern itself with bank account details of applicants. Requests of this nature allegedly made on behalf of ITC are fraudulent and should be disregarded.