LEGAL SPECIALIST

The Legal Group (LG) LG advises UNOPS management, project offices, regional offices and other specialized units within UNOPS on institutional, commercial, and administrative law matters.
Legal Advisors at UNOPS provide legal advice in the areas of public international law, dispute resolution, commercial law and administrative law.
This legal advice covers a wide range of topics including host-country agreements privileges and immunities, disputes with external parties, administrative/HR law matters to engagements, partnership agreements, grants, procurement contracts and set-up of hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds, and collaboration with outside counsel, pro bono law firms and the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) where required.
The Commercial Law Practice within LG is responsible for providing in-house legal services on commercial matters, in support of UNOPS global portfolio of operations..
This includes transactional legal services to enable UNOPS offices to conclude agreements with donors, implementing partners, and contractors, in support of its work.
It also includes providing legal solutions to UNOPS offices when developing projects, and during project implementation.
About the Role *** Duty Station.
The organizational unit is in Geneva, Switzerland but we will consider accepting applicants willing to be based in one these duty stations.
Geneva-Switzerland, or Vienna-Austria, or Copenhagen-Denmark, or Brussels-Belgium.
The Legal Specialist, provides legal services in a timely, efficient and solution-driven manner, thereby protecting the organization against legal, financial and reputational risks.
His/her focus is on UNOPS hosted initiatives.
The Legal Specialist, reports to a Legal Advisor, Commercial, and exercises their accountabilities with designated authority provided by the Legal Advisor, Commercial, and in accordance with the instructions established by the Legal Advisor, Commercial.
The Legal Specialist demonstrates a good understanding of the operational context in which UNOPS operates and is charged with contributing to an inclusive, high-performing team of commercial lawyers which enables UNOPS to fulfill its mission.
The Legal Specialist is a good communicator, open to challenges, and able to handle complex legal issues in a fast-paced work environment.
They should be able to apply analytical and strategic skills to propose and implement effective strategies for resolving or handling complex issues while offering fit-for-purpose solutions.
The Legal Specialist, builds and maintains effective relationships with the counterparts of country and regional offices as well as HQ stakeholder functions.
They work closely with other legal specialists, policy units and specialized teams within UNOPS to ensure timely, accurate and solution-oriented legal advice in connection with commercial matters.
The Legal Specialist may be requested to undertake additional responsibilities to prepare them for more senior roles, such as supervising other team members, or managing major matters or client relationships.
The Legal Specialist may be required to travel from time to time.
Functional Responsibilities Under the supervision of the Legal Advisor, the Legal Specialist is responsible...
Under the supervision of the Legal Advisor, the Legal Specialist is responsible for the following tasks.
Legal Advice and Representation  Advise on commercial matters under LG’s purview, including review and negotiation of legal agreements, interpretation, alignment and development of the UNOPS legal framework.
Provide legal advice and support in relation to partnership and framework or funding agreements, negotiation of model agreements with partners, procurement contract templates and grant agreements.
Provide legal advice and support in relation to hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds.
Provide timely advice and support actively contributing solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices.
Represent UNOPS in negotiations with external parties on legal topics,  such as negotiations on contracts and agreements.
Coordinate interactions between business units and local legal retainers, external legal counsel and legal advisors from OLA or other UN agencies.
Business Efficiency, Policy Development, and Implementation Support.
Recommend changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback received from clients.
Ensure transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs.
Work closely with other units within UNOPS to address mission-critical issues and find fit-for-purpose solutions and contribute with technical and practical knowledge to the development of strategies to improve efficiency and strengthen internal controls.
Contribute to cross-functional initiatives to ensure that internal policies, procedures, systems and tools are consistent with the overall legal framework, practical, relevant and add value to organizational operations.
Knowledge Management and Capacity Building.
Support the systematic documentation and updating of legal precedents and templates.
Contribute to research and coordination within the team and across the organization  Provide structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.
Stay informed about internal and external developments and best practices.
Deliver and facilitate trainings on commercial matters to internal colleagues.
Regional Focal Point The Legal Specialist may be requested to assume a Regional Focal Point role, which includes the following responsibilities.
Represent the LG Commercial Practice as the identified Focal Point by assuming the responsibilities for a specific region, liaising with the Regional Office and all regional actors (internal and external) for all legal matters related to the regional portfolio.
Manage the regional workload, completing the above listed functions with a focus on a specific region.
Foster and develop the relationship and collaboration with one specific region allowing for dedicated and tailored legal support, capacity building and solutions to the region.
Coordinate and oversee the legal advice and support provided by other LG members (other than the Legal Specialist’s supervisees) to a specific region to ensure consistency;  Liaise and communicate with the other regional focal points on novel, high-risk and/or problematic issues to ensure consistency in strategy and advice across the LG Commercial Practice.
Education/Experience/Language requirements Education.
An advanced university degree (master's or equivalen...
Education.
An advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in law is required.
A first-level university degree in law (Bachelor’s or equivalent) from an accredited university in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Satisfaction of all requirements to practice law in a national jurisdiction of a UN Member State is required.
Experience.
At least 5 years of relevant experience as a lawyer in commercial law, international law, public international law and/or, commercial dispute resolution, including legal analysis, advice, research and/or drafting of texts.
Commercial law experience, preferably as legal counsel in a law firm or international organization is desirable.
Proficiency in legal drafting and ability to draft accurately, clearly and concisely under pressure is required.
Experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences is required.
Languages.
Fluency in  English is required.
Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable.
Competencies Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and ex...
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization.
Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.
(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same.
Upholds organizational and ethical norms.
Maintains high standards of trustworthiness.
Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit.
Collaborates and supports the development of others.
For people managers only.
Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first.
Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal.
Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas.
Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them.
Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment.
Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements.
Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior.
Performance is consistent, even under pressure.
Always pursues continuous improvements.
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions.
Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks.
Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner.
Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others.
Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge.
Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.
Contract type, level and duration Contract type.
Staff / Fixed Term Appointment (FTA - Staff Contract) Contra...
Contract type.
Staff / Fixed Term Appointment (FTA - Staff Contract) Contract level.
P3 / ICS10 Contract duration.
One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance, funding availability and continuous business needs.
*** Duty Station.
The organizational unit is in Geneva, Switzerland but we will consider accepting applicants willing to be based in one these duty stations.
Geneva-Switzerland, or Vienna-Austria, or Copenhagen-Denmark, or Brussels-Belgium.
For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link.
https://www.
nops.
rg/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/UN-Staff-Contracts.
spx Additional Information Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applic...
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity.
Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply.
These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.
If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions  For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks.
In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel.
Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.