Associate Legal Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Associate Legal Officer reports to the Head, Field Legal Office.

Responsibilities

- Supports and ensures the consistent interpretation and application of the Agency’s regulatory framework, in particular UNRWA Area and International Staff Regulations, Rules and associated administrative issuances, Financial Regulations and Organizational Directives; and of public international law, including the constitutive, legislative and other instruments governing UNRWA activities and operations, and international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law.
- Assists in the provision of legally sound, timely, easily applied, politically sensitive and consistent advice on matters related to UNRWA’s operations, involving, inter alia, issues relating to privileges and immunities of the Agency and its staff in the Field.
- Supports the negotiation of all types of field-related contractual modalities, including contracts for procurement of goods and/or services, the construction and maintenance of buildings, use of land, lease agreements, memoranda of understanding with partners, legal submissions and other legal documents related to the Field operations.
- Supports the coordination with Field and HR colleagues, as appropriate, to safeguard and facilitate the Field's operations, including following up on the implementation of the Field's requests to the relevant authorities and drawing the attention of the Head, Field Legal Office to potential problems or disputes with the relevant authorities.
- In coordination with the Head Field Legal Office, supports the resolution of contractual and tortious claims against the Agency and its staff members in their official capacity, including, supporting and providing analysis and advice in negotiations, settlements and arbitration.

Competencies

UN Core Values of Professionalism, Integrity and Respect for Diversity and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Default managerial competencies may apply.

-Planning and Organizing
-Learning and Researching
-Adapting and Responding to Change
-Coping with Pressure and Setbacks
-Relating and Networking
-Analyzing

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education

A university degree from an accredited educational institution in law.

Advanced degree from an accredited educational institution in law (desirable).

Work Experience

At least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport or a national identity number as a practicing lawyer or as a legal adviser in a public or business organization or institution and experience in administrative law or related field.
Professional experience in applying knowledge of international administrative law (desirable).
Knowledge of staff rules relevant to UNRWA or other United Nations common system agencies (desirable).

Languages

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Type of Contract and Duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension.

The Associate Legal Officer may be required to travel in the Agency’s area of operations.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA
is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.

For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her.

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.

At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

UNRWA Considerations
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List.
UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.