LEGAL OFFICER, OED/ODED (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 Senior Legal Advisor, and the general guidance of the Deputy Executive Director. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: HUMAN RESOURCE (HR) CASEWORK AND POLICY • Manage all legal aspects of, and provide guidance on, staff disciplinary matters. Liaise with staff members and the administration in order to procure necessary and/or relevant information, and explore options for the resolution of management evaluation requests. • Support or lead United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) casework when required. • Conduct extensive legal research and analysis on the development of HR policies and processes and associated administrative issuances relating to the management and organisation of ITC. • Prepare HR legal casework documentation including for management evaluations and related documents, studies, reports, and briefing materials, based on a range of legal documents including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly resolutions, and the internal rules of ITC, as well as prior Management Evaluation Unit recommendations. CORPORATE LEGAL DUTIES • Undertake detailed reviews, interpretation and development of legal documents and legal instruments such as memoranda of understanding, or other such material. • Review, draft and interpret contracts and other agreements with funders, private sector entities, governments, licensees, etc. to ensure that ITC’s interests are promoted and protected, while noting the applicable legal context, and accounting for acceptable business risk. • Provide legal advice within ITC on a variety of legal matters, to the Joint Advisory Group, and the Consultative Committee of the ITC Trust Fund, in respect of inter alia the conduct of their meetings and draft documentation and endorsements. OTHER DUTIES • Advise senior ITC staff serving on committees, expert groups, and other bodies, including the preparation of background materials, summaries of issues, meeting reports, etc. • Perform other duties as required. CompetenciesPROFESSIONALISM: Sound theoretical 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, including those related to HR casework and disputes. Ability to conduct legal research on a range of complex and intricate issues, and to translate the results into practical, innovative solutions. Ability to take initiative to keep up to date with developments in public international law, and within the UN system, Knowledge of principles of international commercial law; contract law and in particular HR casework-related law as applied by the UN desirable Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. 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. CLIENT ORIENTATON: 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public international or administrative law, or related area. A first-level university degree in public international or administrative law, or a related area, may be considered with an additional two years of relevant professional experience. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five years (seven years with a first level degree) of relevant professional experience in law with a focus on one or more of the following: administrative law, the law of international organizations, contract law, is required. Experience in the application of regulations and rules, policies and procedures, and decision-making processes in the UN system or an international organisation is desirable. Experience of the UN HR legal system is desirable. Experience of the negotiation and informal settlement of claims and disputes is desirable. Experience of negotiating and/or reviewing public/private partnerships and contracts is desirable. Experience of EU contract law and negotiations is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).