ILO Staff Union Legal Adviser

Introduction

This position is located within the ILO Staff Union Committee secretariat.

In accordance with Article 3 of its Rules, the objectives of the ILO Staff Union shall be to:

"defend and promote the professional, economic and social interests of all persons in the employment of the International Labour Organization (here-after "ILO"), particularly by the satisfactory regulation and improvement of conditions of employment, work and welfare in the widest sense; to defend the interests of persons formerly in the employment of the ILO; to cooperate with the Director-General in seeking to reach the objectives of the Organization and ensure the efficient working of the Organization; and to safeguard the status, independence and safety of all categories of staff employed by the ILO.

Moreover, the Union shall participate in defending the rights of the international civil service, in particular defending the independence, terms and conditions of employment and the safety of international civil servants. In order to promote the fundamental trade union rights and to improve international civil servants' terms and conditions of employment, the Union may work with persons from other international organizations and their associations or unions, as well as with any other similar structure."

The incumbent will provide legal advice to the Staff Union Committee and individual staff members, at headquarters and in the field, on the application and interpretation of the Staff Regulations, collective agreements, policies and procedures in force. The position reports to the Chairperson of the Staff Union Committee, working in collaboration with any relevant Committee working groups.

Specific Duties

1. Provide the Committee or Staff Union representatives within the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) with legal advice on any proposals made by the Administration concerning the terms and conditions of employment of staff or legal issues, the terms and conditions of employment at headquarters and in the field, as well as decisions relating to the United Nations common system, emerging inter alia from the General Assembly (Fifth Committee) or the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC); participate in sessions of the JNC when necessary.
2. Regularly make proposals to the Staff Union Committee on the legal strategy to be adopted for a given issue.
3. Draft or participate in the drafting of collective agreements or other arrangements negotiated with the ILO Administration.
4. Individually or collectively advise members of the ILO Staff Union on issues relating to their working conditions, including through office presence during specific hours for face-to-face consultation in the headquarters’ office of the ILO Staff Union. Make proposals on individual or collective legal strategies to be adopted in certain situations.
5. Provide requesting members of the Union with legal assistance when drafting appeals (summaries of facts, pleadings and rulings) that are submitted to the Human Resources Development Department (HRD), the Joint Advisory Appeals Board (JAAB) and, in the last instance, the ILO Administrative Tribunal (TRIB).
6. Carry out research on the jurisprudence of the ILO Administrative Tribunal and other international courts. Prepare notes on jurisprudence that are regularly published in the Union's communications or shared with the Staff Union Committee.
7. Analyse and interpret the applicable law and international conventions (headquarters or host country agreements) that may have an impact on ILO employees' terms and conditions of employment.
8. During meetings organized by the Union, attend and conduct training on legal issues and the law applicable to ILO staff and advise local committees.
9. Develop, plan and implement technical advisory and promotional activities, including seminars, workshops, lectures and discussion groups with the representatives in the regions or of other international organizations. Represent the Union on missions which may be of a sensitive or controversial nature (ICSC, regional meetings, crises involving intervention by the Union or Coordinating Committee for International Staff Unions and Associations of the United Nations System. (CCISUA) Federation) and before judicial bodies (JAAB, TRIB). Represent the Union on internal committees or at inter-agency meetings.
10. Participate in informal meetings with representatives of the Administration and in particular HRD to try to prevent or resolve any individual grievances.
11. Perform other relevant duties as required.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in international law, labour law or public law or first level degree in law with two years relevant experience in addition to the experience required below.

Experience

Minimum of eight years' practical experience in law at the national level or at least six years at the international level. Professional experience in the area of international administrative law and/or the trade union movement would be an advantage. Experience in labour relations in a unionized environment and/or in the prevention and resolution of conflicts in the workplace would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of two official languages (English, French, Spanish) of the Organization (with a preference for English and French). Working knowledge of a third language would be an advantage.

Competencies

This position requires integrity and transparency, sensitivity to diversity, orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, client orientation, communication, orientation to change, takes responsibility for performance, quality orientation, collaboration. In addition, this position requires:

Technical competencies
Excellent capacity for legal analysis, which allows the incumbent to apply complex legal texts and multiple sources of law to existing situations and practices; ability to prepare responses to enquiries and complaints in a clear and concise manner; ability to listen and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to resolve a variety of legal issues and advise staff on the appropriate course of action; good knowledge of the legal principles of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; good knowledge of ILO rules, policies and practices, in both the field and at headquarters, would be an advantage, or knowledge and practical experience in the international organizations of the United Nations system, as applicable. Knowledge and mastery of interest-based negotiation techniques and informal conflict resolution mechanisms in the workplace would be an asset.

Behavioural competencies
Tact and discretion, especially in dealing with confidential matters; ability to work in a team (particularly with the Staff Union Committee and the relevant working groups); sensitivity to personal and social issues;  integrity;  commitment to the values of the international civil service and the ILO; sensitivity to, and familiarity with, the trade union movement; ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.