CS Treaty Officer (Convention and Programme Law)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

In accordance with the Convention and the Protocol, the Convention Secretariat serves as the secretariat for both instruments.The Convention Secretariat aims at supporting Parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Convention and the Protocol, providing the necessary support to the COP and the MOP and translating into programme activities their decisions.The CS Legal Affairs Team is responsible, under the direction of the Coordinator Legal Affairs and the supervision of the Head of the Convention Secretariat, to provide legal assistance and advice to the Convention and Protocol Parties, their Governing Bodies, and their partners.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Coordinator CS Legal Affairs, the incumbent will perform the following tasks\:

1. Provide legal support and advice to the governing bodies of the Convention and the Protocol on matters related to tobacco control;

2. Review and prepare draft documentation for governing bodies and other Convention and Protocol meetings, as well as for the implementation of the COP and MOP decisions;

3. Provide legal support to Parties, including review of existing or draft tobacco control/illicit trade legislation of Parties at their request, and promoting national legislation and related capacity building;

4. Actively participate in the drafting of expert papers on Convention and Protocol-specific tobacco control legal issues;

5. Upon request, provide assistance and advice to Parties facing litigation related to tobacco control measures at national or international level and prepare the Convention Secretariat positions for such procedures, as required;

6. Contribute to the CS Legal Affairs Team's general function to provide legal support to the Convention Secretariat with regard to internal rules, procedures and policies;

7. Provide and facilitate legal assistance for ratification, accession to and implementation of the Convention and the Protocol;

8. Build, facilitate and develop partnerships in line with overall directions of the Convention Secretariat and in collaboration with other teams of the Convention Secretariat with key international partners for the work of the Convention and the Protocol, engage the relevant legal expertise of partners in the provision of implementation assistance to Parties in coordination with relevant teams of the Convention Secretariat;

9. Participate in line with overall directions of the Convention Secretariat and in collaboration with other teams of the Convention Secretariat in the preparation of grant proposals and other fundraising activities related to the Convention and the Protocol;

10. Contribute to the CS Legal Affairs Team's work on human rights, liability, trade and other matters directly related to the Convention or the Protocol;

11. Performing other duties assigned by the Coordinator CS Legal Affairs and by the Head of the Convention Secretariat.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Post graduate degree in international law.
Desirable\: Specialization in treaty law and/or international health law and/or international criminal law.

Experience

Essential\: A minimum of seven years of experience working on international law matters with at least two years of international experience. Minimum of two years of experience providing legal advice to the Secretariat and the governing bodies of an international entity. Minimum of one year of experience in tobacco control/illicit trade related areas, preferably in an international organization or Government. Firsthand experience of drafting/negotiating national/ international legal instruments related to tobacco control and/or illicit trade.
Desirable\: Experience in legal affairs related to Human Rights. Experience as part of an office of legal affairs either at a Governmental institution and/or permanent mission and/or an international organization. Sound experience working in an intergovernmental and multicultural environment.

Skills

Excellent knowledge of public international law, in particular of the Convention, the Protocol the COP and MOP decisions, and other related treaties. Expertise in and know-how of drafting/negotiating national/ international legal instruments related to tobacco control and/or illicit trade either as country representative or as part of the secretariat. Excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Expert knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge another WHO official language.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 72,637 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 3892 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link\: http\://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit\: http\://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link\: http\://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

• As a WHO staff member assigned solely and exclusively to support this Partnership, selected staff will have no right of reassignment or transfer outside the Partnership either during or at the end of his/her appointment, including pursuant to WHO Staff Rule 1050. (This does not apply to WHO fixed-term staff members reassigned from a non-Partnership position.)