Public Administration Legal Expert

The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

Established in 2004, the UNOPS Amman Multi-Country Office (MCO) provides strategic and operational support to partners across Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and the Gulf countries. The MCO delivers solutions that address development, peace, and humanitarian challenges through infrastructure, procurement, project management, and human resources services. Working in close collaboration with national governments, UN agencies, and donors, the office supports efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Its portfolio includes large-scale operations focused on improving essential services, strengthening national systems, and enhancing resilience in complex and fragile settings.

The Ministry of Environment (MoE) has appointed the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) in January 2026 through decree no. 2497 of 13 February 2026, nominating the President of the Authority and members of the board. This milestone provides a solid basis for strengthening the governance of the solid waste sector by establishing a dedicated entity to oversee the implementation of Lebanon’s SWM Strategy, which was also updated in January 2026 as a basis for a long-term and sustainable SWM system. Moreover, the Parliament ratified the cost recovery law for SWM in December 2025 which allows municipalities to collect service fees to cover the collection costs of SWM and allows the government to collect a fee on goods to cover the costs of SWM treatment and disposal. Through these policy and legal instruments, the MoE is heading towards establishing a sustainable basis for SWM in Lebanon. This will require that the NSWMA which is mandated the implementation of SWM interventions at centralized level is swiftly operational in order to be able to actively engage in the SWM system in Lebanon. The Project for the “Reduction of Unintentional POPs through Waste Management in a Circular Economy”, which is funded by the Global Environmental Facility through the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, aims at Strengthening the Regulatory Framework and Capacities for Sustainable Waste Management in a Circular Economy, under Component 1 of the project. Noting that the Ministry of Environment has contracted UNOPS to implement Component 1 of the Project.

The Public Administration Policy Senior Analyst will provide analytical support in the review of the internal bylaws and any additional regulations required for the operation of the NSWMA. The incumbent will contribute discrete analyses to support in establishing the legal basis for the accounting system of the NSWMA, and provide informational support and research to assist the Authority and its Board in ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

1. Institutional Framework Development

• Analyze the existing legal and regulatory framework related to public administration and solid waste management in Lebanon.
• Analyze existing frameworks to support the drafting of internal bylaws for the NSWMA, ensuring alignment with national laws and international best practices.
• Assess the institutional needs of the NSWMA and propose organizational structures and operational procedures.
• Evaluate the soundness and validity of proposed regulatory instruments and provide recommendations for improvement.

2. Operational Support and Compliance

• Adapt precedents and previous decisions to solve current administrative and operational challenges faced by the NSWMA.
• Contribute substantive comments and modifications to legal and policy documents related to the NSWMA's operations.
• Prepare detailed reports, analyses, and presentations on the progress of the NSWMA's operationalization.
• Consult and exchange information with colleagues and stakeholders on the adoption of best practices in public administration and solid waste management.
  
  

3. Legal and Accounting Framework

• Analyze the legal requirements for establishing the accounting system of the NSWMA.
• Synthesize proposals for the development of a sound and transparent accounting framework for the Authority.
• Assess the compliance of the NSWMA's operations with applicable laws and regulations and provide recommendations for improvement.

Required

• Masters degree or equivalent in Public Administration, Public Policy, Law, or a related field.

Desired

• Ph.D./Doctorate in Public Administration, Public Policy, Law, or a related field.

Required

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in public administration, policy analysis, or legal affairs, with a focus on institutional development and regulatory compliance.

Desired

• Experience working with government agencies or international organizations in the environmental sector.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. 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. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.