Legal Officer

E (most hardship)

Non FamilyNon FamilyDanger Pay

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2023-01-27-08:00

February 16, 2023Legal Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Legal Officer is a member of the protection or legal team either at Headquarters (within the Division of International Protection or in a Regional Bureau), or in a Country or Sub-Office and may, depending of the size and structure of the Office, be Head of the Protection or Legal Unit. He/she may report to the Senior Protection or Senior Legal Officer, Head of Sub-Office or to the Assistant Representative for Protection. In smaller Offices, the post may report directly to the Representative. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for protection or legal staff who may include community services, registration, resettlement and education. He/she provides functional protection oversight to information management and programme staff; and supervises protection standards, the provision of legal and policy advice, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery at local or country level. The incumbent also acts as an advisor to senior management in designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the organization to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection doctrine and policy. The Legal Officer is relied upon by the Office to plan, lead and coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (POC). This includes ensuring that operational and advocacy responses in all sectors are shaped in a protection optic, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. Another important function of the position is to ensure that POC are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties - Monitor the development of law and doctrine. - Advocate for proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development of standards of protection. - Provide legal advice on these issues and drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues. - Provide guidance and support in the formulation of protection strategies. - Liaise with DIP, Division and Bureau work units and external actors to enhance awareness of protection principles. - Engage with external partners and stakeholders, including governments, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, etc, on issues related to legal protection principles and related international law. - Handle individual cases and situations raising special questions of application or interpretation of international law, refugee and human rights law. - Represent Office in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts. - Prepare protection documents and policies in cooperation with supervisor. - Participate in the development of project proposals and project implementation. Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Law; Refugee Law; Human Rights Law; International Humanitarian Law; or other relevant field.; (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses HCR Learning Prog; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Excellent legal research, analytical and drafting skill. Desirable Completion of UNHCR learning programmes on protection would be an asset or any other equivalent external courses. Functional Skills CO-Drafting and Documentation; LE-Legal Research; (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Duties:
- Monitor the development of law and doctrine.
- Advocate for proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development of standards of protection.
- Provide legal advice on these issues and drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues.
- Provide guidance and support in the formulation of protection strategies.
- Engage with external partners and stakeholders, including governments, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, etc, on issues related to legal protection principles and related international law.
- Handle individual cases and situations raising special questions of application or interpretation of international law, refugee and human rights law.
- Drafting and analyzing national refugee legislation and implementing regulations.
- Represent Office in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts.
- Prepare protection documents and policies in cooperation with supervisor.
- Participate in the development of project proposals and project implementation. Perform other related duties as required.

In addition:
- It is critical that the candidate has excellent drafting skills in English.
- Experience with preparing protection reports, policy briefs, data presentation, conducting research and visibility work on protection topics.
- Coordination/ liaison experience in refugee settings.
- It is desirable that the candidate masters Arabic language.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Demonstrated flexibility and proactive approach.

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Arabic

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Legal Officer position, based in Baghdad, has national coverage, and works under the supervision of the Assistant Representative (Protection) to provide support to all Field and Sub Offices in Iraq on issues related to national and regional law, development of legal partner SOPs and updating of Country of Origin Information on Iraq. The Legal Officer position will supervise five national staff, one in Erbil and four in Baghdad, to develop legal analyses for all of Iraq, noting the specificities of legislation and regulations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Given the locations of the positions supervised, experience in providing remote supervision and building teams remotely would be an asset.

The Legal Officer will be responsible for providing updates on information contained in the International Protection Considerations paper on persons fleeing Iraq, and for responding to ad hoc requests for country of origin information on Iraq. This means that the Legal Officer should have experience in conducting legal and human rights research, and keep abreast of the political, humanitarian and human rights situation in the country, and be aware of RSD issues relevant to the provision of country of origin information. The Legal Officer should also have excellent drafting skills in English, and experience in providing legal analysis and identifying strategies to advance UNHCR’ s protection objectives through legislative and policy advocacy.

A draft Refugee Law was presented to the Iraqi Parliament in 2018, but was withdrawn following the dissolution of Parliament in advance of elections for the Council of Representatives. Subsequent political changes have not resulted in the reintroduction of the draft law, but it is hoped that the draft law will be reintroduced in the new parliament. As such, experience in drafting and analyzing national refugee legislation and implementing regulations would be an asset, including working with government authorities on national asylum systems. 

Experience working with legal aid partners, and working with development/stabilization partners on rule of law reform would also be an asset.

Living and Working Conditions:

Iraq faces numerous political and security challenges, which evolve rapidly and unpredictably. As a result, a flexible and adaptable attitude to work is necessary.

In Baghdad, a non-family high risk E duty station, staff live in a common UN compound with freedom of movement outside the compound in armoured vehicles only, and is limited even so. Missions within south/central Iraq are undertaken with similar tight security measures being required. Freedom of movement and security is much more relaxed in the KRI.

SIM card and business cards will be available for staff upon arrival.

There is a fully equipped gym in the integrated compound in Baghdad and a basketball/tennis/badminton court; the gym is open 24/7 as is the basketball/tennis court (but please be mindful of residents living next to the court).

A UN market operates 7 days a week in the integrated compound in Baghdad where groceries and fresh vegetables can be purchased.

A water plant exists in the in the integrated compound in Baghdad.

There is a canteen in the integrated compound in Baghdad that operates 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering a variety of food for reasonable prices. Also Coffee shop located at the entrance to DFAC.

Pizzeria: operates lunch and evening times
 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

BA: Law (Required)

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Policy research & development, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add.2 to Bi-annual Compendium 2022 - Part B

This position doesn't require a functional clearance