Senior Legal Advisor, Accession

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, that works to build better policies for better lives. Our mission is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.  Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards, and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting. 

The Directorate for Legal Affairs (LEG) is a small and highly integrated team that provides advice and information on the legal, institutional and procedural aspects of the Organisation’s activities. The Directorate serves as coordinator of the discussions with candidate countries for OECD membership, which involves acting as interlocutor for the candidate countries, OECD Members and the different parts of the Secretariat. It also involves supporting the review by OECD committees of the candidate countries’ alignment with some 250 OECD legal instruments as well as their evaluation of the candidate countries’ policies and practices.

Further to the decision of the OECD Council of 25 January 2022 on the opening of accession discussions and subject to the adoption by the OECD Council of Accession Roadmaps and the availability of the associated funding, we are looking to constitute the accession coordination team. In this context, we are looking to recruit Senior Legal Advisors whose work will focus on leading the coordination of accession discussions with Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru and Romania and managing the accession team within the Directorate. The successful candidates, who will work under the supervision of the Director and Deputy Director, will need to be adept at legal analysis and drafting while also possessing excellent organisational skills and attention to detail. S/he will thrive on multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment, have proven management skills and demonstrate good political and diplomatic sensitivity.

Main Responsibilities

Legal Work on Accession

• Ensure the timely provision of sound legal and procedural advice and support to substantive Directorates in conducting the accession reviews of the candidate countries as well as to the candidate countries.
• Supervise research and provision of legal advice on the interpretation of the OECD legal instruments against which candidate countries are evaluated

Accession Coordination

• Ensure the necessary technical coordination of accession discussions, liaising with the Office of the Secretary-General, Member countries, the substantive committees and Directorates engaged in accession reviews as well as the candidate countries.
• Represent the Directorate for Legal Affairs in discussions of OECD committees on accession.
• Facilitate coordination between substantive Directorates on all matters relating to the accession process including through the production of guidance on legal and procedural issues as well as the organisation of regular inter-directorate meetings on accession.
• Produce reports and provide advice to the OECD governing bodies on the status of the accession discussions.
• Produce briefing materials and analysis on the status of the accession process for the Secretary-General and other senior officials.
• Manage the contribution of the Directorate to the organisation of the Secretariat’s visits to candidate countries and of senior officials of the candidate countries to the OECD.

Management and Supervision

• Coordinate and manage the workload of the staff working on accession and liaise with the Director and Deputy Director, ensuring the timely delivery of high quality legal and procedural advice.
• Supervise and train legal advisers and junior legal advisers working on accession.
• Ensure necessary liaison with the other teams within the Directorate for Legal Affairs.

Other Duties

• Assist as needed in the discharge of the general workload of the Directorate for Legal Affairs in other areas.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background 

• A basic and postgraduate degree in law

Professional Background

• At least eight years’ relevant professional experience. Experience in the legal department of an international organisation, a ministry of foreign affairs or other similar international environment would be a definite advantage.
• Demonstrated knowledge of public international law.
• Experience overseeing the work of junior legal advisers and support staff would be an advantage.

Languages

• An excellent written and oral command of one of the two official languages of the OECD (English and French) and working knowledge of the other. Ability to verify the equivalence of texts in both languages.
• A working knowledge of Bulgarian, Croatian, Portuguese, Romanian, or Spanish would be an advantage.

Core Competencies

• For this role, the following competencies would be particularly important\: Achievement Focus, Analytical/Strategic Thinking, Drafting Skills and attention to detail, Flexible Thinking, Managing Resources, Teamwork and Team Leadership, Diplomatic Sensitivity, Negotiating, Strategic Networking, Organisational Knowledge.
• Please refer to the OECD Core Competencies and the level 3 indicators.

Contract Duration

Subject to availability of funding. 13 months fixed-term, with the possibility of renewal. 

What the OECD offers

• Monthly base salary starting from 9,047 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.
• Click here to learn more about what we offer and why the OECD is a great place to work.
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• Please note that the appointment may be made at a lower grade based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates who are nationals of OECD member countries, irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health or disabilities.

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