LEGAL OFFICER (Temporary Job Opening)

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Arbitration and Claims Cluster, General Legal Division, Office of Legal Affairs. The Legal Officer reports to the Principal Legal Officer and the Director of the General Legal Division. Responsibilities• Serves 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 commercial law, international public, private and administrative law, to include interpretation and application of instruments in that area of concentration. • Provides 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. • Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports and correspondence; provides legal advice to the unit/division. • Prepares, or provides substantive input in, submissions/motions in the course of arbitral proceedings. • Services committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of members, meeting reports, etc. • Reviews, advises on, drafts and negotiates complex contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, or legal motions/submissions and other legal documents; develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances. • In particular, provides advice and support in resolving (i) disputes arising out of contracts with commercial vendors, consultants, individual contractors, and other personnel, and (ii) third party claims of a private law character involving the operations and activities of the Organizations, its organs or its separately administered funds and programmes. • Advises on and participates in negotiations and settlements of claims and disputes, to include establishing strategy and approach, terms and conditions of settlements, and assessments on the merit of claims, and the Organization's risk exposure in arbitration, etc. • Provides legal advice on the interpretation and application of financial and staff regulations and rules, including the review of administrative decisions; prepares analyses and evaluations of human resources and other administrative policies and practices. • Represents the organization in complex cases before arbitral and other tribunals or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases and staff appeals. • Serves on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required; promotes the work of the United Nations and represents the organization at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc. • Coordinates and directs teams of other legal officers dealing with significant problems as required, and/or mentors and supervises the work of junior officers on specific projects. • Contributes to review and design of new, or new applications of, legal instruments, policy, guidelines, etc. • Performs other duties as assigned. Competencies• Professionalism: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. Ability to conduct legal research and analyze information from various resources on a wide range of legal issues. Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct comprehensive legal research and analyze information from various resources on a range of issues. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Ability to draft legal papers and work under pressure. Ability to apply legal judgment in the context of assignments given. Ability to negotiate and influence others to reach agreements. Ability to work and meet tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/cases. 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. • 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. EducationAdvanced university degree in law is required. A first level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Admission to the practice of law, or otherwise qualified to practice law, in a Member State of the United Nations is required. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in law, obtained in the legal office of an international intergovernmental organization, or legal office of a government or a law firm, including experience in legal analysis, research and writing is required. Substantial and progressively responsible experience in claims analysis and in the practice of international commercial arbitration is required. Experience in international commercial arbitration involving international intergovernmental organizations is desirable. Experience in law with an international intergovernmental organization is desirable. Experience in advising on the status and the privileges and immunities of international intergovernmental organizations is desirable. Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language 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).