Chief, Legal Services Section (P-5)

Organizational Setting

This position is located in the Legal and External Relations Division (LEG).

Reporting Lines

Under the supervision of the Director, Legal and External Relations Division to:

Duties and Responsibilties

1. Provide high quality legal expertise and advice to the Executive Secretary, the Preparatory Commission, its subsidiary organs, and State Signatories on the CTBTO’s mandate and activities, inter alia, public international law, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the Resolution Establishing the Preparatory Commission, national implementation, facility agreements, rules of procedure, agenda, credentials, privileges and immunities and entry into force;

2. Formulate opinions and provide legal advice on the drafting of texts, drafting of financial and staff regulations and rules, agreements with the Host Country and other international organizations and for such internal bodies of the Commission’s Provisional Technical Secretariat as the Committee on Contracts, disciplinary and other committees as well as texts for meetings with representatives of other organizations;

3. Keep under review and ensure consistency in the interpretation of the regulations and rules of the Preparatory Commission, Administrative Directives, Agreements with States Signatories, the Host Country and other international organizations, contracts, Memoranda of Understanding, exchange of letters etc.;

4. Negotiate and assist in the negotiations of agreements with States Signatories and international organizations, contracts and other legal instruments;

5. Plan and coordinate the preparation of advice, and liaise with other divisions and sections throughout the Organization and with other external entities, including States Signatories, on legal issues affecting the Preparatory Commission and its relations with States Signatories, including relevant investigations and proceedings;

6. Plan and coordinate the preparation of advice, and liaise with other organizations of the United Nations System and other International organizations on internal organizational and legal issues affecting the Provisional Technical Secretariat in its programme of work, including in the administrative, financial and personnel fields, and to identify, as appropriate, potential synergies;  

7. Under the overall supervision of the Director, Legal and External Relations Division, manage the work of the Section, develop and implement the work programme and priorities, allocate and adjust responsibilities in response to operational demands;

8. To serve on various boards, committees and working groups as required;

9. Perform other duties as assigned.
    

Education

• Advanced university degree in international law or a related field, preferably also with specialization in contract law, commercial law, administrative law or employment law;

Work Experience and Qualifications

• At least ten (10) years progressively responsible experience in the practice of law in public or private sector, and at least four years of which should have been in a senior managerial position in an international environment;

• Excellent theoretical knowledge of international law;

• Excellent verbal communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to provide oral briefings on complex legal issues to legal and non-legal audiences;

• Superior skills in legal writing and expression and ability to independently prepare legal briefs, opinions, or legal submissions, and a variety of legal instruments and related documents for direct submission to senior officials.

• Proven track record of the ability to engage with high ranking officials is required;

• Track record of building creative, productive partnerships internally and externally is essential;

• Demonstrated ability to show initiative, political sensitivity, tact and excellent judgement, including strong analytical and negotiation skills is essential;

• Proven leadership and managerial experience or demonstrated capability in coordinating teams in a complex and dynamic environment that requires multitasking among multiple concurrent projects while also handling interrupts;

• Proven knowledge of operational, administrative and financial procedures, practices and rules in organizations of similar size and complexity would be an asset;
   

Languages

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential.
• Working knowledge of other official CTBTO languages is desirable.

Competencies

• Professionalism - Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and
  achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations;
• Communication - Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from other and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
• Planning and organizing - Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
• Team work - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;
  builds consensus for task purpose and direction with team members; supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team
  accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings;
• Accountability - Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable;
• Creativity - Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on
  new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches; 
• Client orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive relationships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress and setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients;
• Commitment to continuous learning - Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve;
• Technological Awareness - Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks, shows willingness
  to learn new technology.