This position is located in the Disciplinary Team of the Appeals and Accountability Section (AAS), Administrative Law Division (ALD), Office of Human Resources (OHR).
The incumbent reports to the Chief, Disciplinary Team, Appeals and Accountability Section.
Under the supervision of the Chief, Disciplinary Team, Appeals and Accountability Section, the Legal Officer is responsible for the following duties:
• Handles disciplinary matters.
• Provides advice on the handling of disciplinary matters and prepares the related documentation. To this end, the incumbent conducts research and analysis of the UN Charter, General Assembly resolutions and decisions, judgments of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal, the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, the United Nations Appeals Tribunal and judgments of other international administrative tribunals, Staff Regulations and Rules, and administrative issuances.
• Undertakes basic or extensive review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies, etc.
• Represents the Secretary-General in written and oral proceedings before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal relating to disciplinary cases.
• Ensures that submissions before the Dispute Tribunal meet procedural requirements of the Tribunal and are consistent with the principles of administrative law applicable to the Organization.
• Provides legal advice on human resources and administrative matters, with a view to facilitating early resolution of disputes.
• Assists in maintaining the Section's registers and databases (electronic and on-line).
• Performs other duties as required.
•Professionalism: Knowledge of relevant United Nations Regulations and Rules, as well as of applicable jurisprudence; ability to apply legal expertise to analyzing a diverse range of issues and problems and to develop innovative and creative solutions; strong analytical skills; ability to demonstrate discretion and sound judgment in applying legal expertise to sensitive, legal and administrative issues; ability to influence others to reach agreement; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; ability to identify clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
•Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed of progress or setbacks in projects.
•Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently: meets timeline for delivery of products or services as necessary.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international law is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible legal experience is required.
Of these five years, one year must be in litigation at the national or international level, including experience appearing before a court or tribunal or in an arbitration or equivalent administrative boards or bodies.
Experience in handling disciplinary matters in national or international entities is desirable.
Experience with staff regulations and rules, policies, procedures and operations of the United Nations or other similar international organization is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
This post is financed by the Support Account for a finite duration. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations 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. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking 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.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.