Senior Legal Affairs Specialist, P-5, Office of the Executive Director, New York

Under the supervision of UNICEF`s Legal Adviser, the Senior Legal Affairs Specialist provides guidance and advice on institutional and commercial procurement, donor agreements, establishing of partnerships, and contracts related to programme support and project implementation, to ensure adherence to organizational financial, procurement, contracting and legal policies, rules and procedures.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

UNICEF is seeking to appoint a Senior Legal Affairs Specialist within Office of the Executive Director.  The position is based in New York Headquarters.

For every child, Hope

Under the supervision of UNICEF`s Legal Adviser, the Senior Legal Affairs Specialist provides guidance and advice on institutional and commercial procurement, donor agreements, establishing of partnerships, and contracts related to programme support and project implementation, to ensure adherence to organizational financial, procurement, contracting and legal policies, rules and procedures.

How can you make a difference?

• Advise on and represent UNICEF in senior-level negotiation of complex contracts and other legal instruments, agreements, and arrangements (including but not limited to contribution and framework agreements with donors and other international organisations).
• Assist and lead in advising on the legal dimensions of establishment, structure and implementation of UNICEF’s collaborations with external partners including other UN organisations (including international financial institutions), civil society, and the private sector.
• Assist and lead in the resolution of disputes, particularly those disputes involving possible liability for the Organisation.
• Assist and lead in advising on the legal interpretation of decisions of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, and the UNICEF Executive Board; and on the legal interpretation of UNICEF and UN regulations, rules, procedures, and administrative instructions.
• Provide legal advice in connection with violations or suspected violations of UN and UNICEF regulations, rules, administrative instructions and procedures; and assist in the Organizational response to incidents of fraud, misappropriation, mismanagement, and abuse of authority.
• Supervise and provide guidance to legal affairs specialists and support staff. Develop, monitor and evaluate work assignments.
• Compile and analyze data and prepare reports to Legal Adviser (Principal Adviser), highlighting emerging trends and key issues. Monitor progress on work plans, priorities and budget and advise Legal Adviser (Principal Adviser) accordingly.

 
To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in international law, commercial law or other related social science field.
  * A first University Degree (for example. Ll. B post-graduate; Ll.M.; J.D.) in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of (10) ten years of relevant professional experience as practicing lawyer in a relevant area of law is required.
• Prior experience of working either in the UN System or within other international development organizations, or in private practice or as in-house counsel in private industry is highly desirable).
• Fluency in English (written & verbal) is required. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish)  is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core competencies

Builds and maintains partnerships; Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness; Drive to achieve results for impact; Innovates and embraces change; Manages Ambiguity and Complexity; Thinks and Acts Strategically; Works Collaboratively with Others; Nurtures, Leads and Manages People.

Functional competencies

• Analyzing (3)
• Leading and Supervising (3)
• Relating and Networking (3)
• Persuading and Influencing (3)

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Remarks:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.