DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This job is located in the Legal Office in the Global Headquarters (HQ) and report to a Senior Legal Officer.

At this level, job holder operates with a high level of operational independence for issuing legal advice and dealing client’s legal issues. The position performs a high degree of specialized legal work and deals with complex and sensitive legal issues. In addition, particularly in larger legal groups, it is common for the P-4 job holder to be a team leader providing guidance, leadership and mentoring for other Legal Officers. At this level, job holder originates new policies or programs in a specific subject area or field of work. Work involves specialist expertise that goes beyond established procedures or models. Job holder works with minimal supervision and is expected to pursue new areas of activities within a broad program framework combining credible capacity with independent responsibility for developing specific program initiatives and creates opportunities for developing new client relationships.

THE ROLE

To provide sound legal advice, services, and representation on complex legal matters in accordance with applicable legal policies, rules, and practices, to protect the interests of the organization and minimize liabilities, while serving as the lead officer in one or more specialized legal areas, ensuring ownership, coordination, and expert guidance in those domains.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

• Serve as a lead officer in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handle a wide range of multi-discipline and highly complex legal matters including interpretation and application of various legal instruments in the relevant area of concentration to ensure the provision of comprehensive legal services.
• Participate in negotiations and settlement of claims and disputes involving WFP and its personnel, including through representation in administrative or tribunal proceedings and arbitration proceedings.
• Develop policies, directives, guidelines, procedures and other internal or corporate documents to provide organization with appropriate regulatory framework.
• Contribute to determination of strategy and approach to legal matters involving WFP and its personnel.
• Undertake extensive legal research and analysis and prepare legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports and complex correspondence to enable the provision of comprehensive legal services.
• Provide efficient legal services on various standing boards, committees, working groups and task forces and represent organization at meetings, conferences and other events including complex cases in tribunals or administrative proceedings to ensure the efficient exchange of technical discussions and that WFP’s interests are protected.
• Facilitate increased awareness of potential liability exposure and proactive minimization of risk to enable well-informed decisions.
• Build productive partnerships with other Legal Offices across UN system to ensure consistency in legal information and to complement WFP provided legal services.
• Supervise, coach and build capacity of other staff.
• Take responsibility for an equitable and inclusive workplace which incorporates all dimensions of the WFP diversity and inclusion framework.
• Other as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Law, or First University degree in Law with additional relevant experience and training in private, administrative or employment Law.
• Must be qualified to practice or admitted to practice by a recognized national or state bar or law society.

Experience:

• Typically eight years or more (three of which international) of relevant progressively responsible experience in law and provision of a wide range of legal services including to the senior managers or important clients.
• Prior litigation experience in administrative or employment law.  

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English language.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).

MORE ABOUT YOU:
You have:

• In depth expertise in legal principles, concepts, procedures and terminology for review, examination and processing of a range of legal documents, evidence gathering

• Knowledge of various legal research sources, techniques and ability to interpret and apply complex legislative instruments and draft legal papers.
• Demonstrated ability to design new concepts, policies and applications.
• Strong initiative-taker and demonstrated ability to take independent decisions.
• Strong business acumen and ability to think strategically.
• Solid communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Strong time management and priorities management skills.
• Practical knowledge of arbitrations and tribunal processes and procedures.
• Strong knowledge of international administrative and employment law including the UN system regulatory framework and tribunal procedures.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• This is an International Professional position and is open to all nationalities.
• Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. This position is however classified as “non-rotational” which means the incumbent shall not be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as rotational.
• The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year.
• This position is open to both internal and external candidates.
• WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel, visa and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. For more information, visithttps://icsc.un.org/.
• The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Rome, Italy to take up this assignment.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org for technical support only.

• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.