Head, Field Legal Office

Vacancy Announcement

Head, Field Legal Office, P-4

West Bank

Deadline for Applications

26 September 2017

(19 September 2017 for internal applicants)

Duration

2 years, with the possibility of further extension, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance and continuing need.

Vacancy Announcement Number

17-FO-WB-46

UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women and welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for professionals like you.

The West Bank is home to nearly 800,000 registered refugees, around a quarter of whom live in 19 camps. Protection concerns, restricted economic opportunities and increased poverty have increased the need for, and reliance upon, humanitarian assistance. Against this backdrop, UNRWA’s 4500 staff in the West Bank, the vast majority refugees themselves, deliver education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance to support the refugee community until there is a just and durable solution to their plight.

Do you want to make a lasting difference? 

If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. In this role, reporting to the Deputy Director of UNRWA Operations, you will be responsible for providing legal advice and assistance to the Director of UNRWA Operations and the Deputy Directors of UNRWA Operations, as well as other Agency officials and individual staff members in the West Bank Field Office and coordinating with Headquarters in providing legal advice on matters related to UNRWA’s operation in the West Bank Field.

The main responsibilities include:

•         Leading the programme of work and management of the human and financial resources of the Field Legal Office and providing legal and technical advice and mentoring for the Field Legal Office’s lawyers in coordination, as appropriate, with the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA); Advising on and ensuring the consistent interpretation and application of the Agency’s regulatory framework and international law, in particular UNRWA Area and International Staff Regulations, Rules and associated administrative issuances, Financial Regulations and Organizational Directives;

•         Providing legally sound, timely, easily applied, politically sensitive and consistent advice on matters related to UNRWA’s operation including without limitation the delivery of Agency's services and the protection of the rights, privileges and immunities of the Agency and its staff in the Field;

•         Drafting, reviewing, and as appropriate, supervising and overseeing the negotiation of all types of field-related contractual modalities, including contracts for the procurement of goods and/or services, the construction and maintenance of buildings, use of land, lease agreements, memoranda of understanding, legal submissions and other legal documents related to the Field operation;

•         Providing legal advice and assistance on matters relating to administrative and employment law and other relevant issues including advising on the application of the Agency’s regulatory framework relating to administrative and disciplinary measures and entitlements;

•         Providing legal advice and assistance on the interpretation and application of relevant public international law, including UN law, international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law and practice, particularly as it relates to protection of and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Palestine refugees in the Field; advising on, promoting and addressing the status and mandate of the Agency, privileges and immunities and related responsibilities of the Agency and its personnel, including violations of the privileges and immunities of the Agency and its personnel in the Field and in particular interference with its premises and mistreatment of its personnel, and humanitarian principles;

•         Liaising, in coordination with Field and HR colleagues, as appropriate, with appropriate external actors such as the local governmental authorities to safeguard and facilitate the Field's operations, including following up on the implementation of the Field's requests to the relevant authorities and drawing the attention of senior Agency officials to potential problems or disputes with the relevant authorities;

•         Advising on resolution of contractual and tortious claims against the Agency and its staff members in their official capacity, including overseeing, supporting and conducting negotiations, settlements and arbitration (in coordination with DLA);

•         Seeking access to and information about Agency staff in detention; interviewing staff during or after their release from detention, and if applicable advising upon applications for reinstatement and reemployment;

•         Providing advice and support to, and as requested, participating in investigations into allegations of staff member misconduct and other matters in consultation with the Department of Internal Oversight Services, HQ, as appropriate;

•         Serving on and providing legal advice to various Boards and Committees as requested, including as member of the Local Committee on Procurement.

Conditions of service 

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $70,647 net tax free with post adjustment of 55.9% (subject to change without notice). All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

•  Dependency allowances

•  Rental subsidy

•  Education grant for children

•  Home leave travel

•  6 weeks (30 working days) annual leave

•  Pension fund entitlements under the

    UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

•  International health insurance; optional

    life insurance

•  Disability protection

Additional information

The incumbent will be required to reside in her/his duty station and may travel occasionally to other areas of the Agency's operations in the Middle East.

To qualify for this position, you will need:

Education

Advanced university degree (Master degree or equivalent) in Law preferably with specialization in international, administrative/public, employment or commercial law and preferably admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction; a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree;

Work

experience

At least eight years’ experience as a lawyer in the United Nations, other international organization, government service, the commercial/private sector or NGO, including a period of experience in contract or commercial law, or administrative or employment law;

Language(s)

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Desirable qualifications:

•         Knowledge of the history and contemporary issues of the Middle East;

•         Familiarity with the UN Common system and practices;

•         Working knowledge of spoken and written Arabic;

•         International experience working outside the incumbent’s home country.

You will also need to demonstrate the following competencies:

•         Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in team environment;

•         Ability to negotiate effectively;

•         Ability to effectively compile and synthesize information;

•         Proven ability in the analysis of facts/information, the development of rigorous arguments and replies and the provision of sound advice;

•         Good English drafting skills;

•         Ability to progress with work independently and to participate as a member of a team;

•         Ability to communicate effectively with a range of internal and external contacts.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews:

            https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

How to apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted. The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General information

UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality at all times. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

Date of issue: 6 September 2017/ NH