JUDICIAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

These positions are located in United Nations peace operations. Judicial Affairs Officers typically report to a senior official responsible for judicial affairs and/or corrections operations in a field location, though this may vary depending on the mission/office structure. The focus of these jobs is the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of legal and judicial programmes, operations and other related activities in the country or region concerned.

Within delegated authority, the Judicial Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Participate in the development and implementation of the mission's strategies related to the rule of law and the development/reform of the justice and legal systems and, depending on the mission's structures, the prison system, to include advising national counterparts, providing training and monitoring the court and legal systems, etc.
• Serve as a recognized expert in one or more justice areas (e.g. access to justice, gender justice, juvenile justice, military justice, traditional justice, transnational organized crime and terrorism); provide policy and operational advice to senior management on an ongoing basis and assists in programming related activities at the national level; independently handle a wide range of multidisciplinary, highly complex, and often sensitive and/or conflicting matters involving issues relating to the development or reform of legal or judicial systems/institutions.
• Guide, supervise and evaluate the work of junior officers; may assist in the general management and administration of the work unit, organizing and prioritizing the workload and providing general coordination and supervision of assignments.
• Plan, coordinate and supervise all activities in assigned area; ensure an integrated and harmonized approach among other components of the mission (e.g. corrections, human rights, political affairs, policy, gender, child protections, etc.) and UN entities.
• Promote knowledge management and information sharing, including developing a culture of respect for, and inclusion of, local actors in all judicial and legal system initiatives.
• Participate in research studies and the preparation of written outputs; perform extensive legal research and analysis on highly complex or novel legal issues/questions and prepare reports, studies, briefs, reports, and other written material; participate in legislative reviews and prepare commentaries.
• Provide innovative technical advice and assistance to regional and local commissions, standing committees, and other offices, etc.
• Coordinate/perform programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of work unit, including contributing to the preparation of budgets, reporting on performance and results, managing and evaluating staff performance, job interviewing and evaluation of candidates.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Professionalism

Demonstrated understanding of a range of issues related to judicial, prosecutorial and legal systems, reform, capacity building, etc. Knowledge of criminal law and relevant international human rights standards. Ability to identify issues and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems. Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on judicial affairs initiatives in assigned country/area. Ability to work under pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human suffering). Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning and Organizing

Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; Adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.

Client orientation

Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law and a first-level university degree in law are required. A first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of five (5) years progressively responsible experience as a practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, legal academic, legal consultant, or legal advisor in the field of rule of law is required.
Work experience in a transitional, conflict or post-conflict setting- outside applicant’s country of nationality- on rule of law reform, international justice, human rights, political affairs, civil affairs, security sector reform or similar field is required.
Work experience in in an intergovernmental organization or international tribunal on rule of law, international justice, human rights, and/or political affairs can be accepted in lieu of the experience working in transitional, conflict, post-conflict settings.
Specialized work experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable: basic justice service delivery (including legal assistance), investigation and prosecution of serious crimes, efficiency and effectiveness of the judiciary, and/or strategic reform of rule of law architecture.
Experience in project design and management is desirable.

English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations. For this vacancy, fluency in English or French is required. Working knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is an advantage. For more information on how to assess your language skills for a UN recruitment process please refer to the description found here: https://careers.un.org/lbw/attachments/ManualfortheApplicant.pdf., Annex E.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

The United Nations Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in UN peacekeeping missions, special political missions and other field operations. The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the roster Judicial Affairs Officer at P3 level. The entire assessment process takes an average of six months. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection. The United Nations is Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.