Deputy General Counsel & Director, Legal Group

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Role of the Deputy General Counsel and Director, Legal Group

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel and Director, Legal Group, is responsible for developing, maintaining and continually improving UNOPS legal policies and procedures to ensure they meet the emerging needs of the organization.  

As Deputy General Counsel, the role supports strategic legal advisory services such as identifying the legal implications of the organization's major decisions, strategies and transactions, as directed by the General Counsel.  

The role also supports the General Counsel, in developing, maintaining and advancing relationships with Member States and Organizations of the UN System in conjunction with the New York Liaison Office and the Partnerships Group.

The core responsibilities of the position are to: 

• Manage a team of legal advisors to ensure the technical advice and assistance provided is client-focused, in line with the established legal framework and of consistently high quality.

• Manage any claims and disputes brought by or against the organization.

• Provide guidance and authoritative interpretations as required for the Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) Unit Legal Team, on project agreements, legal policies and procedures.

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant professional managerial experience in a law function within the public, private and/or nonprofit sector at both national and international levels. 

• At least 5 years of leadership experience including demonstrated experience of supervising teams, is required.

• Strong understanding and knowledge of the United Nations system, including the privileges and immunities of international organizations, and international administrative law as practiced in international organizations is an asset. 

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is required.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex stakeholder interactions and negotiations is required. 

• Full working knowledge of English. 
• Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Contract type: Staff