Legal Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

To provide the legal input, during the planning and implementation of the Organization's activities, so as to facilitate effective co-operation between those taking part - Member States, international bodies, international officials, collaborating institutions and individuals and commercial entities; to ensure that the activities are carried out on a firm legal basis; to protect the Organization's legal interests and defend it from legal action.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Commercial legal issues, in particular contracts, intellectual property and legal matters relating to WHO's prequalification processes and procedures, and international legal issues relating to the Organization's programmatic and operational activities.

This includes advice to technical units, on legally sound courses of action that comply with WHO policy, and where applicable, private and international law, and that will avoid costly contractual errors, including institutions where there may be no precedents and where new policy may need to be developed.

This work involves in particular working on legal and policy issues relating to relations with the private sector, including\:

(i) issues relating to patents, copyright, confidentiality of information, licensing, publication agreements and software development contracts,

(ii) collaboration and donation agreements with commercial enterprises and fundraising arrangements with the private sector, and

(iii) procurement of supplies, Technical Service Agreements, Agreements for Performance of Work and similar contractual relationships.

In addition, the work involves funding and co-operation agreements with governments (including national regulatory agencies), funding agencies and NGOs, including related project documents.

2. Negotiation, review and drafting of a wide range of contracts, including licensing, publication, donation, fundraising, and product research and development contracts, as well as dispute settlement agreements.

This work involves working in close liaison with technical programme staff, in order to understand the technical objectives and needs of the programme, determining the legal needs and objectives of the Organization as a whole, researching and analyzing the applicable national and international law, developing a negotiation strategy, and frequent face-to-face and telephone negotiations with technical units and lawyers of commercial enterprises and other organizations interested in collaborating with the Organization.

3. General protection of the Organization's legal interests in specific areas such as use of the WHO name and emblem, co-sponsorship of meetings for which commercial involvement is an issue, conditioning of acceptance of donations, and general legal questions confronting international organizations.

4. Other functions of a legal nature as may be required by the exigencies of the work of the office.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Postgraduate - or equivalent - degree in law, with a specialization in commercial law.
Desirable\: Legal studies of more than one legal system.

Experience

Essential\: Seven years' experience, some of which gained in an international context, practicing commercial law, within the legal department of a government, an international organization or a company, or within a law firm.
Desirable\: At least 3 years of experience in different jurisdictions as a lawyer in the private sector, with experience in a variety of legal areas. Experience practicing commercial law in an international context.

Skills

Sound knowledge of private law, in particular commercial law (especially contracts, tort and intellectual property law) as well as a knowledge of international law. Skill in analyzing and organizing facts and in presenting clear, logical and legally sound opinions. Ability to negotiate and draft agreements in a wide range of areas. Excellent interpersonal skills and a good team worker.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of French.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of Spanish.

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 4056 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.