Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
United Nations Volunteers is a global programme and shared service for the UN system hosted and administered by UNDP. UNV provides volunteer solutions to UN entities across development, humanitarian and peace and security pillars as per system-wide UN development assistance frameworks and/or UN entity-specific global, regional and country programmes, development and humanitarian projects and, where appropriate, global Memoranda of Understanding or other relevant instruments between UNV and respective UN entities. In addition, UNV provides volunteer advisory services to UN Member States and, on their request, carries out relevant intergovernmental mandates. The Administrator of UNDP is also the Administrator of UNV and delegates strategic management of UNV to its Executive Coordinator.
Part of the UNDP Bureau for Management Services (BMS), the UNDP Office of Legal Services (BMS/OLS) is the exclusive source of legal advice to the Administrator and all UNDP business units, and to UNV as an administered fund of UNDP under the authority of the UNDP Administrator. As an essential part of UNDP's institutional integrity, the BMS/OLS ensures that UNDP and UNV perform their mandates on a firm legal basis in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the regulations approved by the Executive Board and the rules and policies promulgated by or under the authority of the Administrator. The BMS/OLS also enables effective delivery programme by helping provide integrated management solutions for UNDP offices, including identifying legal risks and suggesting measures for their mitigation. In addition, the BMS/OLS protects the legal interests of UNDP and UNV by defending them in legal actions. UNDP’s General Counsel is the Director of the BMS/OLS, and its Administrative Law Practice (AL) and Corporate and Institutional Law Practice (C&I) Team Leads (Senior Legal Advisers) provide overall supervision of the work of the P2.
Position Purpose
Reporting to the Legal Specialist (P4) for day-to-day supervision and under the overall supervision of the Senior Legal Advisers, heads of the AL and C&I teams, the Legal Analyst supports BMS/OLS in providing legal services and support to UNV on a broad range of matters related to regulations and policies applicable to UN Volunteers and UNV staff, and corporate and institutional legal issues. The Legal Analyst contributes by conducting legal research and analysis, preparing draft written products and case documentation for review, supporting case management and knowledge management, and assisting with the development and maintenance of legal templates and tools.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Support the provision of legal support to UNV related to administrative law services, contributing to knowledge management
- Conduct legal research on administrative law issues and summarize relevant rules, policies and jurisprudence .
- Prepare initial drafts of internal legal notes, memoranda and preliminary analyses on the application of Staff Regulations, Rules and internal justice procedures.
- Provide input to matters related pertaining to privileges and immunities.
- Contribute to knowledge management through updating the case management system and maintaining precedents, templates and reference materials.
- Contribute to the preparation of learning events and materials (e.g., presentations, FAQs, short guidance notes) on recurring administrative law topics.
2. Provision of legal support for the representation of UNDP/UNV in formal cases involving staff members
- Support the preparation of draft responses to appeals against administrative decisions (e.g., drafting factual summaries, chronologies, and annex lists) filed by staff.
- Assist in the preparation of submissions to the UN Tribunals, including supporting the preparation of draft responses, compiling bundles and exhibits for submission, ensuring completeness, accuracy and adherence to procedural requirements and deadlines.
- Support representation before the UN Tribunals as appropriate, including appearing on behalf of UNV/UNDP.
- Assist in the review and preparation of charges and recommendations on disciplinary cases involving UNV staff.
- Conduct research on jurisprudence and precedents and prepare short briefs for use in pleadings and legal advice.
- Support settlement preparation/mediation efforts by compiling case materials, drafting issue summaries and recording outcomes as directed.
3. Provision of legal advisory support for the review and implementation of UNV policies and procedures
- Assist in reviewing draft policies, SOPs and guidance notes involving administrative /employment law issues for legal consistency.
- Provide preliminary interpretation of policies for consultation with the Legal Specialist.
- Compile comparative information and best practices from within the UN system and summarize findings for internal use.
4. Provide support for the provision of legal advice to UNV on UN Volunteer-related issues
- Assist in reviewing investigation reports, compiling case summaries and providing advice to the Advisory Panel on Disciplinary Measures and Claims (APDMC).
- Provide initial drafts of responses in relation to internal recourse requests as well as Requests for Administrative Review to the UNDP Administrator
- Provide support in handling matters related to arbitrations involving UN Volunteers
- Support the provision of legal advice on the interpretation of the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers including preparing responses to queries concerning the status, benefits and entitlements of UN Volunteers
5. Support the provision of legal advice to UNV related to corporate and institutional law services
- Support in the provision of legal advice to UNV HQ, Regional Offices and Field Units on legal aspects of UNV’s operations and administrative matters.
- Conduct legal research and prepare summaries on corporate and institutional matters (e.g., privileges and immunities, use of name and emblem, institutional arrangements) for review
- Liaise with internal clients to collect required background information
- Support preparation of briefing materials and short guidance notes on recurring corporate/commercial legal issues.
- Contribute to the review, negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes arising from agreements, contracts and other arrangements, including commercial claims and disputes involving UNV.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Achieve Results
- Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively
- Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously
- Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility
- Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination
- Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner
- Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion
- Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Knowledge of applicable legal framework:
- Understanding of the legal norms as applied to the United Nations in general, and to UNDP in particular. This includes an understanding of the structure, functioning and operations of UNDP within the broader UN system and the application of international treaties, including the UN Charter, GA resolutions, the relevant basic country assistance agreement and UN system-wide legal instruments, as well as an understanding of the internal legal framework (financial regulations and rules, policies, and procedures) of UNDP.
Legal Research:
- The ability to identify and retrieve information to support legal positions and corporate decision making from all relevant sources. In the UNV/UNDP context, this skill includes, amongst other things, proactive seeking of information in anticipation of the different angles that any given issue may present.
Legal Writing Skills:
- The ability to analyze fact patterns and present argumentation in written form. This includes the ability to draft memoranda, legal UNDP briefs and other submissions to external parties, in both an advocacy and objective format, and legal opinions. It also includes the ability to convey legal analysis and recommendations to internal parties in written form, with a particular view towards communicating for the particular audience who may not be a lawyer or have legal background.
Communication:
- Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.
Knowledge Generation:
- Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Systems Thinking:
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Law, LL.M. or equivalent is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in above mentioned areas in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
- Specialization in International Law and/or Administrative Law is an asset.
Experience:
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) relevant professional experience in legal research, legal analysis and drafting, preferably within an international organization, public sector, or comparable environment.
- Experience in the application of legal rules and policies to factual scenarios and in preparing clear written summaries and drafting legal documents is required.
- Familiarity with the United Nations system legal framework, privileges and immunities is required.
- Experience in providing effective legal guidance on complex matters, including the interpretation of legal frameworks, policies, or procedures, is an asset.
- Experience in handling cases involving allegations of misconduct and appeals against administrative decisions is desirable.
- Experience with the United Nations system legal framework, experience working with personnel/Administrative Law issues of United Nations Organization desirable.
- Proficiency in MS Office applications is required.
- Admission to the bar of a Member State or equivalent qualification to practice law in a Member State is an asset.
Languages:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Fluency in French and/or Spanish is desirable
Disclaimer:
- Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
- The successful candidate will hold a UNDP letter of appointment.
- This vacancy announcement is open to Tier 0 candidates only.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.