Senior Legal Officer (P-4)

Position Remarks

This fixed-term appointment is for duration of two years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules, as applicable. The OPCW is a non-career organisation with limited staff tenure. The total length of service for Professional staff shall not exceed 7 years. The Director-General retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description. Several vacancies may be filled.

Principal Functions

Based within the Office of the Legal Advisor working with an effective team, providing a full range of legal services, this position will work across the Technical Secretariat, with external partners and Member States and will be expected to deliver results to the highest levels within the Organisation including the Office of the Director- General.

Under the direct supervision of the Principal Legal Officer and in accordance with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity/Gender Equality, the Senior Legal Officer is responsible for the following;

1. Providing legal advice and assistance on administrative law issues and operational activities of the OPCW technical secretariat: This includes:
Research and drafting legal opinions on administrative law issues of a complex and/or sensitive nature;
Review or prepare legal opinions and studies for divisions, branches and offices including the Office of the Director General;
Draft the OPCW submissions to, and appear before, the OPCW Appeals Council and/or the ILO Administrative Tribunal and research, as required, other issues in respect of recourse matters;
Review or draft administrative directives and other internal legislation;
Draft or review drafts of memoranda of understanding and other forms of agreements to be entered into by the Technical Secretariat;
Conduct investigations, or provide support and advice to investigations, into alleged misconduct or other alleged violations of the OPCW’s regulations and rules and administrative instructions;
Upon appointment, or as delegated by the relevant authorities, serve on internal advisory bodies and committees.

2. Providing legal advice on the implementation of the convention: This includes:
Draft legal opinions on issues related to the implementation of the Convention;
Analyse and provide legal advice on the implementation and application of the Convention’s verification regime;
Review and assist in the negotiation of agreements with Member States relating to the implementation of the CWC verification regime and on the privileges and immunities of the OPCW;
Represent the Office of the Legal Adviser in OPCW training courses and deliver lectures to the representatives of the Member States and the public on legal aspects of the CWC;
Render legal advice during, and prepare documents for, consultations between Member States.

3. Providing legal support for general administrative and operational activities of the Office of the Legal Adviser:
Draft or review drafts of miscellaneous reports and correspondence of a legal nature;
Serve as panel member in the recruitment of staff for the Office of the Legal Adviser;
Direct, provide training, supervise and review the work of staff at lower levels and, as required, appraise their performance.

4. Perform other duties as required.

Knowledge and Skills

Education (Qualifications):
Essential:
Advanced university degree in law. A first level university degree in law with at least nine years relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Skills and Abilities (key competencies):
  Excellent communication skills - both written and oral; and good negotiation skills;
  Excellent legal drafting skills;
  Strong analytical skills and proficiency in legal research;
  Leadership skills, maturity and good judgement;
  Strong planning and organisational skills, and ability to work under pressure of time and urgent deadlines;
  Flexibility and problem solving skills;
  Tact, discretion and the ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment.

Experience

Experience:
Essential:
At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in international organisations, government service, and/or private legal practice (or nine years with a first level university degree in law).

Desirable:
Knowledge and/or experience in the following would be an asset: international law, disarmament law, international administrative law, and/or the legal aspects of the United Nations common system or the OPCW.

Languages

Fluency in English and the ability to conduct negotiations in English are essential;
A good working knowledge of and the ability to conduct negotiations in one of the other official languages of the OPCW (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) would be an asset.

Salary Remarks

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and provident fund deductions) in US$ and a post adjustment. The post adjustment (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change without notice in accordance with the rates as set within the UN Common System for salaries and allowances. The figure quoted on the right, is based on the October 2017 rate of 40.1%.