Legal Officer (P-2)

About Us

The Office of the Legal Adviser provides legal advice and support to the Director-General, the Divisions and Branches of the Secretariat, and States Parties on a wide range of legal issues. In doing so, the Office ensures that the Organisation’s activities are conducted in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and relevant rules, policies and agreements.

The primary responsibility of the Office is to assist in the interpretation and implementation of the CWC, the decisions and rules of procedure of the policy-making organs, the internal legislation of the Organisation, and various sources of public international law.

The Office advises on commercial matters, the development of new internal administrative policies and procedures, and personnel-related administrative issues. Its legal services include assistance in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating international agreements and interpretation of the Headquarters Agreement between the OPCW and the Host Country.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Fixed-term Professional
• Grade
  P2
• 
  Total Salary (including post adjustment)
  USD 104,076
• Closing Date
  23/04/2020

Responsibilities

Job Summary

Are you an accomplished legal expert with experience in the provision of high quality, all-round legal services in international organisations and/or government services or private legal practice?
The OPCW’s Office of the Legal Adviser is searching for a highly qualified, experienced and motivated colleague to join the in-house team of legal experts as Legal Officer.

Main Responsibilities

As a Legal Officer, your main duties and responsibilities:

1. Legal aspects of the CWC:

• 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;
  Represents LAO in OPCW training courses or lectures to the public, delivering presentations on legal aspects of the CWC

2. International agreements concluded by the Organisation:

• 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;
  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.

3. Contracts: Commercial and service matters:

• Reviews 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).

To view the complete job outline  click here 

Qualifications and Experience

Education

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.

Knowledge and Experience

Knowledge and Experience:

Essential:

• At 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.

Desirable:

• Experience in the UN Common System or in the OPCW providing in-house counsel services.

Skills and Competencies

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;


• Strong planning and organisational skills and ability to work under pressure of time and urgent deadlines;


• Flexibility and problem solving skills;


• Discretion, tact, accuracy, and ability to work as a team with other colleagues;


• Good computer skills;


• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

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.

Additional Information

This fixed-term appointment is for the duration of two years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.

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 to not 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.

Only applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered. Only applicants under serious consideration for a post will be contacted.

Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged.

OPCW General Terms and Conditions

Important notice for applicants who are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system

Although headquartered in the Netherlands, the OPCW is not a regular Dutch employer but a public international organisation with its own special status. Please be advised that if you are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system, you will be excluded from this system as a staff member of the OPCW. You will consequently be insured under the organisation’s system. The above also applies to your dependents unless they are employed by a regular Dutch employer, they are self-employed in the Netherlands, or are receiving Dutch social security payments.

Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment for more information about the possible consequences for you and your dependents, such as exclusion from ‘AWBZ’ and ‘Zorgverzekeringswet’ coverage: ‘Werken bij een internationale organisatie’.