General Legal Affairs Specialist

Multiple locations

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Multiple locations
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Legal - Broad
- LEGAD
Closing Date: Closed

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on your personal device date

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations

depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

The Legal Office of FAO (LEG) ensures that the activities of the Organization are carried out in accordance with the Constitution of FAO and the other Basic Texts of the Organization, in a manner consistent with its status as an inter-governmental organization of the United Nations system, and that its relationships with governments, organizations and individuals are on a sound legal basis.

The General Legal Affairs Service of the Legal Office (LEGA) provides advice to, and acts on behalf of, the Organization on legal matters. Specifically, it advises the Organization's technical and administrative departments, regional, sub-regional and field offices, and its Governing Bodies, on legal matters, including constitutional questions, the drafting of international treaties, the legal aspects of relations with the host government, with other governments and with international organizations, as well as specific legal aspects of personnel matters, including the interpretation and application of the Organization’s internal rules and international administrative law. It represents FAO in judicial proceedings and in settlements of disputes and, in particular, in handling appeals cases before the competent administrative tribunals. It services the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters (CCLM).

This call for expressions of interest is for the purpose of identifying suitably qualified experts to be included on the roster for consideration for short-term assignments with LEGA, ranging in length from a few days or weeks to a maximum of 11 months (on a when-actually-employed basis). This call is aimed at experts with various levels of experience. The experts would be located at the Organization’s headquarters in Rome (Italy) or home based. The assignments may cover a number of activities, or be dedicated to a specific issue or activity.

Applicants already included on the LEGA roster should not reapply.

Reporting Lines

The Legal Specialist reports to the Legal Counsel, while day-to-day supervision is provided by the Deputy Legal Counsel, the Senior Legal Officer (LEGA), and other Legal Officers, as appropriate.

Technical Focus

Public international law and law of international organizations, including international administrative law.

Tasks and responsibilities

The tasks and responsibilities of each selected Legal Specialist will be defined in the Terms of Reference for the specific assignment. The assignments will normally include the delivery of advice to units within Headquarters and to the FAO Decentralized Offices on legal matters related to their operations in light of FAO’s regulations, rules, policies and procedures, as well as FAO’s status as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations System.

Normally, the assignments will cover the provision of legal advice related to one or more of the following\:

contribution agreements, project agreements and other instruments related to donor funding and project implementation;
contracts, matters related to procurement of services from commercial and non-commercial service providers (including settlements or litigation concerning contractual matters), publications, intellectual property, etc.;
memoranda of Understanding and other legal instruments establishing institutional and operational modalities for cooeration with a wide variety of partners (including Governments, other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector);
host country agreements for FAO decentralised offices addressing the privileges and immunities of the Organization, including supporting negotiation of such agreements and upholding the provisions thereof;
appeals filed by staff members under the internal appeals processes and with the ILO Administrative Tribunal and drafting of the pleadings of the Organization;
The Governing Bodies and the Statutory Bodies of FAO and the interpretation or application of the legal and procedural instruments governing the operation of such Bodies.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Law or equivalent is required. For consultancies, this must be accompanied by an advanced university degree in public international law or related legal discipline, or admission to practice in a national
At least one year of relevant legal work experience is required
Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian (for Consultants). Working knowledge of English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian (for PSAs).

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Work experience in more than one location or area of work.
Extent and relevance of experience in public international law, law of international organizations and/or international administrative law.
Extent and relevance of work experience with UN System or other intergovernmental organizations.
Extent of knowledge of different legal systems.
Ability to carry out legal research and analysis.
Ability to write clear and concise reports and experience in drafting legal texts (legal opinions, pleadings, formal correspondence, documents for meetings of governing and statutory bodies).
Ability to provide effective legal support in more two or more official languages of the Organization will be a consideration.
Working knowledge of more than one FAO language is highly desirable.