Legal Specialist, Programmes + Projects Team

UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.

UNDP personnel are united by a common purpose: to help countries and communities across the world pursue peaceful, prosperous lives, lived in harmony with the planet. The Office of Legal Services in the Bureau for Management Services (BMS/OLS) provides strategic legal services of the highest standard to UNDP, UNCDF and UN Volunteers, giving pragmatic and timely legal advice that enables the right people to make good decisions.

BMS/OLS is seeking outstanding, proactive lawyers with a strong public service background, and the capacity and commitment needed to deliver transformative impact. We are seeking colleagues who challenge, inspire, and deliver sustained results.

The Legal Specialist will support this crucial work in the Programmes + Projects Team within BMS/OLS. The Programmes + Projects Team provides strategic legal services and handles all legal aspects of UNDP’s programmes and projects and provides legal support to the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

In addition, the Legal Specialist will provide advice and assistance to the General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsel, headquarters units, regional centers and country offices, on all aspects of the UNDP mandate and operational issues. The legal services provided by BMS/OLS guide organizational priority-setting and decision-making within UNDP’s mission, as well as the overall framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BMS/OLS promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach that fosters staff engagement.

Strategic legal advice, guidance and counsel on all legal aspects of UNDP’s programmes and projects and UNCDF’s operations, including:

• Prepare and negotiate standard and non-standard legal instruments, contractual arrangements and other agreements to implement UNDP and UNCDF’s operational and programmatic activities with various development partners.
• Prepare and negotiate financing agreements with public and private donors; in particular, with respect to the Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
• Prepare and negotiate partnership agreements with public and private sector entities, other United Nations entities, civil society, Members States and national authorities and institutions.
• Prepare and negotiate legal instruments for risk-sharing activities.
• Negotiate and settle claims arising from UNDP’s and UNCDF’s operations, legal instruments, contractual arrangements and partnerships.    
• Prepare and maintain template legal instruments to implement UNDP’s and UNCDF’s operational and programmatic activities.
• Conduct research on complex and innovative legal issues and liaise with other offices as appropriate on best practices.
• Advise on transactions related to debt instruments, equity and other capital markets transactions, including legal review and advice on structure, definitions, term sheets, and contractual arrangements.
• Advise on partnership agreements with public and private sector entities for financial instrument development.

Provide legal advice and counsel in relation to the design and implementation of evolving programme initiatives, strategies and operational practices, policies and procedures:

• Working closely with other BMS units, provide legal advice to central and regional bureaus on the design and implementation of evolving programme initiatives designed to streamline UNDP’s activities into regional and country office portfolios, including around engagement with the private sector.
• Working closely with other BMS units, relevant business teams, and UNCDF, provide legal advice on the development of new financial instruments and programmatic tools designed to expand UNDP’s ability to be an effective partner of choice for local and global programmes and projects. These instruments and tools may include guarantees, development services (including impact advisory services, pipeline generation for investible impact projects, MSME support and acceleration, etc.), direct grants to enterprises through competitive challenge funds, matching grants, performance-based and cost-sharing mechanisms.
• Provide legal advice on the design and review of policies and procedures, including new modalities for engaging the private sector.

Promote knowledge of legal issues, risks and legal instruments and related policies

• Support UNDP Country Offices seeking legal advice on the arrangements and frameworks for engagement with the private sector.
• Promote knowledge of UNDP’s and UNCDF’s legal framework and provide internal training.

Core:     CoreBehaviouralCompetencies.pdf (undp.org)

Achieve Results

• LEVEL 3:  Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact    

Think Innovatively

• LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems   

Learn Continuously

• LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility

•    LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

 Act with Determination

• LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results    

Engage and Partner

• LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration  

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

• LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Knowledge of applicable legal framework

• Understanding the legal norms applicable to the United Nations in general, and to UNDP in particular. This includes an understanding of the structure, functioning and operations of UNDP within the broader UN system, the application of international treaties (including the UN charter and GA resolutions) and the UN system–wide legal instruments, as well as an understanding of the internal legal framework (financial regulations and rules, policies and procedures) of UNDP.

Knowledge of privileges and immunities  

• Understanding the legal basis for privileges and immunities, specifically the General Convention and the standard basic assistance agreements, and the application of privileges and immunities corporately and to UN officials.       

Legal analysis skills 

• The ability to digest large amounts of information to frame and understand an issue, apply the legal framework, and present a coherent and comprehensive analysis that delivers practical and meaningful advice. This skill includes the ability to make an objective assessment of a matter, provide the organization’s best arguments for proceeding, and offer a recommended course of action. It also includes the capacity to think creatively and flexibly, within the applicable legal framework.           

Legal writing skills  

• The ability to analyze fact patterns and present written arguments. This includes the ability to draft memoranda, legal briefs and other submissions to external parties, in both an advocacy and objective format, and legal opinions. It also includes the ability to convey legal analysis and recommendations to internal parties who may not have a legal background.      

Legal advocacy and presentation skills     

• The ability to articulate and present legal analysis orally, both in a persuasive and objective format, for a variety of audiences (e.g. governments, administrative tribunals, arbitrators, management, donors, and other partners). This skill requires an ability to identify lines of argument, anticipate counter–arguments, and to interact in a dynamic and engaging way about legal issues. It also requires the ability to think strategically and on one’s feet, in a solution–oriented manner, when confronted with new facts or issues. 

Negotiation   

• The ability to work with others to conclude or settle a matter. These are often soft skills and include abilities such as communication, persuasion, planning, strategizing and cooperating. In the UNDP context, this skill includes working closely with the client to understand the parameters of an acceptable solution, assisting business units in resolving commercial disputes, working with staff members or their legal representatives to resolve a grievance, claim or issue. Negotiation often involves working with people who hold differing views to arrive at an acceptable corporate solution. 

Managing client relations   

• The ability to interact with different levels of management and across different agencies and offices to obtain information, develop legal approaches, and resolve issues. This skill includes liaison with counterparts to determine the best sequence for pursuing an issue, where information maybe across different independent UN agencies.           

Managing client relations   

• A degree in Law is required.
• Qualification to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.

• Minimum 7 years of relevant work experience as a lawyer in the areas of practice referenced above. Experience in the development and implementation of legal and financial instruments and tools is required.
• Experience in public or private practice, or an in-house legal team, in a large international organization is required.
• Understanding and experience of the United Nations system, including the privileges and immunities of international organizations, is an asset.
• Excellent project management skills, the ability to monitor and follow up on many activities concurrently under time constraints and the ability to understand and manage priorities.
• Excellent research, legal writing and drafting skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and client focus.
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards.

Language Requirement:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency in French is an asset.
• Knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.