Legal Affairs Specialist, P-4, OED, NYHQ #86283

Reporting to the Legal Adviser (the Principal Adviser to the Executive Director), and as part of a dedicated team, your role as the Legal Affairs Specialist will be to provide guidance and advice on institutional and commercial procurement, donor agreements and contracts related to programme support and project implementation to ensure adherence to organizational financial, procurement, contracting and legal policies, rules and procedures.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, hope

The Office of the UNICEF Legal Adviser, within the Office of the Executive Director in UNICEF’s global headquarters in New York, is responsible for providing legal advice and guidance to all offices and business units of UNICEF world-wide.  The work of the Office covers a broad range of legal issues from public international law matters; international commercial contracting; dispute resolution; engagement (as needed) with Member State law enforcement authorities; design and establishing partnerships with the public and private sectors; and other matters.  In addition, the Office assists in the development of Organisational policies and procedures. 

How can you make a difference?
Reporting to the Legal Adviser (the Principal Adviser to the Executive Director), and as part of a dedicated team, your role as the Legal Affairs Specialist will be to provide guidance and advice on institutional and commercial procurement, donor agreements and contracts related to programme support and project implementation to ensure adherence to organizational financial, procurement, contracting and legal policies, rules and procedures.

This will involve:

• Advising on, and as needed, representing UNICEF in the negotiation of contracts and other legal instruments, agreements, and arrangements (including, but not limited to, contribution and framework agreements with donors and other international organisations).
• Advising on the legal dimensions of establishment, structure and implementation of UNICEF collaboration with external partners including, but not limited, to other UN organisations (including international financial institutions), civil society, and the private sector.
• Advising on the resolution of disputes, particularly those disputes involving possible liability for the Organisation.
• Advising on the legal interpretation of decisions, regulations, rules, procedures, and pertinent administrative instructions.
• Providing advice in connection with violations or suspected violations of, among others, UN and UNICEF regulations, rules, administrative instructions and procedures; assisting in Organisational response to incidents of fraud, misappropriation, waste of resources, mismanagement, and abuse of authority.
• Other duties as directed.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A post-graduate university law degree (for example. Ll. B post-graduate; Ll.M.; J.D.) in a relevant field of law such as international commercial law, and excellent research, legal writing and drafting skills.
• A minimum of eight years experience practicing law in a relevant substantive field such as international commercial law.
• Experience in private practice or in-house at an international inter-governmental organisation as a highly desirable asset.
• Fluency in English. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.

UNICEF is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender identity, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

To view our competency framework, please click here.