Legal Officer P3

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Legal Office is organized into three branches that advise on the various aspects of WFP’s work:

• The Administrative and Employment Law Branch (LEGA) provides advice to management on all aspects of the employment relationship between WFP and its employees;
• The Contractual and Constitutional Law Branch (LEGC) provides advice on all aspects of WFP’s internal governance, private sector contributions, commercial and other contractual activities, including also cash-based transfer programmes, treasury functions, and communications; and
• The Maritime, Transport, and Insurance Law Branch (LEGM) provides advice on all aspects of WFP’s supply chain activities, including Procurement (Food, Goods & Services), maritime, aviation, logistics (inland transportation, storage, and warehousing), United Nations Humanitarian Response Depots and insurance.

WFP is seeking to fill Legal Officer P3 position in LEGA, based in our headquarters in Rome, Italy and involved in:

• Providing legal support and advice on the development, interpretation, and application of WFP’s employment framework;
• Providing legal support and advice on appropriate contractual modalities and conditions of service for the deployment of personnel and technical expertise from private and public sectors;
• Advising on matters concerning conduct and discipline including at the investigation and disciplinary stages;
• Handling contentious matters arising in connection with WFP’s various contracts of employment, including the negotiation and settlement of claims, and the representation of WFP in legal actions brought before adjudicatory or other bodies;
• Advising on the privileges and immunities of WFP personnel.

While LEGA will be the base branch for these Legal Officer P3 position, please note that the Legal Office is adopting a pooled service arrangement for posts at this level aimed at promoting inter-branch engagement and expanding staff knowledge and skills. This includes an expectation to undertake up to 50% of work on matters pertaining to the other branches of the Legal Office. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the general supervision of a more senior Legal Officer in LEGA, each Legal Officer P3, LEGA will be responsible for the following duties and may supervise others carrying out these duties:

• Undertake extensive legal research and analysis, handle a wide range of complex multi-disciplinary legal matters of a substantive and procedural nature, including interpretation and application of applicable legal instruments, to facilitate the provision of quality and timely legal services;
• Review and draft a variety of legal documents, including agreements, memoranda of understanding and contracts, to identify relevant legal issues and risks and to ensure compliance with the applicable legal framework and jurisprudence;
• Prepare legal advice on the interpretation and application of regulations, rules, policies and procedures applicable at WFP, as well as relevant conventions, resolutions and agreements;
• Prepare legal opinions, reports, memoranda and other official correspondence;
• Provide advice to country offices, regional bureaux, global offices, and headquarters’ units on a wide variety of legal issues;
• Identify potential liabilities vis-à-vis employees and other parties, and assist in the management of risks in WFP’s activities, to contribute to well-informed decisions;
• Prepare and assess briefs of evidence and draw recommendations to contribute to legal analysis and solutions;
• Participate or assist the General Counsel and senior Legal Officers in (i) representing the organization at meetings, conferences and other events; and (ii) servicing internal and external boards, committees, task forces, expert working groups and other bodies with legal advice and preparation/review of legal documents to contribute to the formulation of WFP’s position;
• Conduct/engage in dispute resolution, including liaising with external counsel or representing in administrative or tribunal proceedings and arbitration where appropriate;
• Contribute to maintaining productive partnerships within the Legal Office team and with other Legal Offices across the UN system;
• Contribute to the determination of strategy and approach to legal matters;
• Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men;
• Facilitate legal training sessions for other organizational units.
• Perform other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Advanced University degree in Law, or First University degree in Law with additional relevant experience and training in private, commercial or public law.
• Must be qualified to practice or admitted to practice law by a recognized national or state bar or law society, or have equivalent professional legal practice experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• At least 5 years (of which 3 years is in an international context) of relevant progressively responsible experience practicing law within a law firm, an international organization, a governmental service, or company.
• Prior experience in litigation and/or employment law is an asset.

LANGUAGE:

• Fluency (level C) in the English language.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (A WFP’s working language).

MORE ABOUT YOU

You have:

• Knowledge of and ability to apply legal principles, concepts, procedures and terminology for review, examination and processing of a range of legal documents;
• Clear and concise thinking and drafting with attention to detail;
• Strong negotiation skills and problem-solving approach;
• Independent decision-making skill;
• Business acumen and ability to think strategically;
• High standards of ethics and values;
• General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations and procedures;
• A track record of delivering, both orally and in writing sound legal analysis based on detailed legal research and proper conceptualization of legal issues;
• Capacity to develop a persuasive argumentation and legal strategy;
• Skill in preparing timely documents in a clear, concise, and logical manner;
• Ability to work harmoniously within a team and with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Willingness to act as a mentor or point of reference to junior colleagues;
• Strong multi-tasking and time-management skills;
• Proven communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills;
• Adaptability and ability to work autonomously, with minimal guidance and supervision;
• Ability to work with tact and a high degree of discretion and confidentiality