Legal Officer (P-2)

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

Under the supervision of the Legal Adviser, Principal Legal Officer, and/or Senior Legal Officer and in accordance with the OPCW core values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity/ gender equality, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties;\r\n\r\n1. Legal aspects of the CWC:\r\n·    Assists in the drafting of legal opinions on the interpretation and implementation of the Convention provisions and related decisions adopted by the policy-making organs;\r\n·    Represents LAO in OPCW training courses or lectures to the public, delivering presentations on legal aspects of the CWC\r\n\r\n2. International agreements concluded by the Organisation: \r\n·    Assists in the drafting, review, interpretation, and negotiation of international agreements, in particular bilateral agreements with States Parties such as voluntary contribution agreements and agreements concerning the Privileges and Immunities of the Organisation entered into pursuant to Article VIII of the CWC, including the Organisation’s Headquarters Agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands;\r\n·    As Registrar of International Agreements, maintains and updates the International Agreements Registry in accordance with the Organisation’s procedures, including the relevant provisions of AD/ADM/08/Rev.1.\r\n\r\n3. Contracts: Commercial and service matters:\r\n·    Review contracts for the purchase of goods and/or services to be concluded between OPCW and its vendors (for example, insurance policies, license agreements, maintenance contracts, lease agreements).\r\n\r\n4. Administrative law of the Organisation:\r\n·    Drafts legal memoranda and legal opinions on personnel issues, including interpretation of the Staff Rules and Regulations and other internal legislation of the OPCW; and assists in preparing legal advice on cases in the internal justice system and before the ILOAT;\r\n·    Provides legal advice in relation to the confidentiality regime of the OPCW;\r\n·    Reviews draft administrative directives (ADM, FIN, or PER), information circulars, and other internal legislative instruments. \r\n\r\n5. General:\r\n·    Conducts research and provides general legal advice as necessary on diverse legal issues;\r\n\r\n·    Assists in updating the Organisation’s country profiles (i.e., backgrounders) with the relevant legal input;\r\n·    Represents the Legal Adviser, and/or serves as a member upon appointment by the Director-General, on various internal advisory bodies, such as the Joint Disciplinary Committee, the Committee on Contracts, and the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims; and provides, as requested, legal advice to such bodies;\r\n\r\nPerforms other duties as required.\r\n

Knowledge and Skills

Education (Qualifications):\r\nAn advanced university degree in Law. A first level university degree in law in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.\r\n\r\nSkills and Abilities (key competencies):\r\nExcellent communication skills - both written and oral; and good negotiation skills;\r\nExcellent legal drafting skills;\r\nStrong analytical skills and proficiency in legal research;\r\nStrong planning and organisational skills and ability to work under pressure of time and urgent deadlines; \r\nFlexibility and problem solving skills;\r\nDiscretion, tact, accuracy, and ability to work as a team with other colleagues;\r\nGood computer skills;\r\nCultural sensitivity and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.\r\n

Experience

Essential:\r\nAt least two years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law in an international organisation, government department, law firm, or similar environment - with a focus on international, disarmament, administrative, and/or commercial legal matters. A first university degree in Law with four years of progressively responsible experience focusing on the above mentioned areas may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree. \r\nDesirable:\r\nExperience in the UN Common System or in the OPCW providing in-house counsel services and availability to travel for short missions, including to conflict zones.\r\n\r\n

Languages

Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

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 2018 rate of 37.8 %.