This position is located within the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM) in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent will oversee the legal analysis of materials in the IIIM’s possession and prepare legal files that may be shared national, regional or international prosecutors and/or courts/tribunals to facilitate criminal investigations and prosecutions and will be under the overall direction of the Head of the IIIM and the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of the IIIM.
Within delegated authority, the Chief of Analysis, File Preparation and Sharing Section will be responsible for the following duties:
- Coordinate and direct teams of legal officers and analysts in the analysis of information and evidence, both inculpatory and exculpatory, in the IIIM’s possession in a manner that ensures its use is maximized in ongoing and future criminal investigations and prosecutions of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011;
- Provide direction to the Chief of the Evidence Collection and Preservation Section on plans for the collection of information and evidence, and investigation plans;
- Supervise and provide advice on the assessment of collected evidence, including the sufficiency of evidence to plead the material facts of international crimes and responsibility for those crimes pursuant to the applicable standards;
- Supervise the mapping of relevant criminal conduct and responsibility arising from the analysis of materials in the IIIM’s possession;
- Review responses to requests for information and assistance from national, regional or international prosecutors and courts concerning their on-going investigation and proceedings;
- Organize and supervise the preparation of files that are to be shared with national, regional or international prosecutors or courts which have or may have jurisdiction over the relevant crimes, including preparatory documents as required to facilitate the prosecution in the cases concerned, and providing advice to the Head and/or Deputy Head on whether files should be shared with the relevant prosecutors or courts;
- Provide authoritative legal advice on highly complex substantive and procedural questions of law;
- Make recommendations to senior management in his/her area of expertise on strategic issues concerning the implementation of the IIIM’s mandate;
- Develop goals for the Analysis, File Preparation and Sharing Section and indicators of their accomplishment for the Deputy Head’s consideration; and
- Supervise the day-to-day of the IIIM’s Analysis, File Preparation and Sharing Section.
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of national and international criminal law, both substantive and procedural, and the functioning of criminal prosecutions at the national and international levels; proven ability to apply legal expertise to analyse a diverse range of highly complex and novel legal issues and problems and to develop innovative and creative solutions, or in prosecuting complex criminal cases; original and creative thinking, independent and impartial judgment and discretion in handling major legal issues/cases; capacity to absorb and analyse large volumes of material; superior skills in legal writing and expression and ability to prepare indictments, briefs, opinions and related documents; a high degree of commitment to ensuring the professionalism of the IIIM’s work; demonstrated planning, management and organizational skills and ability to coordinate the work of teams and individuals, ensuring the quality and timelines of outputs and good understanding of the dynamics of working in an international environment. 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.
PLANNING AND 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.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), in law and admission to the practice of law in a national system is required. A first level university degree in combination with minimum of two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional legal experience, with at least seven years in international criminal law is required. A minimum of five years of experience in working on large, complex cases and experience in documenting intensive criminal cases in a multi-disciplinary team environment is also required, as is experience prosecuting or adjudicating criminal cases at the international level. Experience drafting or reviewing indictments (or the equivalent) is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which will be followed by competency-based interview.
Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.
Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. 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.
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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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 At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (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.