SENIOR JUDICIAL AFFAIRS OFFICER [Temporary]

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is in the Justine Support Section of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in Kinshasa. The Senior Judicial Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of the Justice Support Section.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Judicial Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Participates in the development and implementation of the Mission's strategies related to the rule of law, the development/reform of the justice and legal systems to include advising national counterparts, providing training and monitoring of the courts and legal system, etc., in particular in relationship to the management of the UN Joint Justice Reform Support Programme and taking into account the Mission transition setting;.
• Serves as a senior officer and recognized rule of law and judicial expert; provides policy and operational advice to senior management on an ongoing basis and assists in programming-related activities at the national level; independently handles a wide range of multi-discipline, highly complex, and often sensitive and/or conflicting matters involving issues relating to the development or reform of legal or judicial systems/institutions.
• Coordinates and directs work teams; guides, supervises, and evaluates the work of junior officers; may assist in the general management and administration of the work unit, organizing and prioritizing the workload and providing general coordination and supervision of assignments.
• Makes various types of recommendations to senior officials concerning actions to take; recommendations are usually accepted as proposed.
• Plans, coordinates and supervises all activities in assigned area; ensures an integrated and harmonized approach among other components of the Mission (e.g. corrections, human rights, political affairs, police, gender, child protection, etc.) and the UN Country Team.
• Takes the lead in promoting knowledge management and information sharing, including developing a culture of respect for, and inclusion of, local actors in all judicial and legal system initiatives.
• Organizes and supervises research studies and the preparation of written outputs, as well as perform extensive legal research and analysis on highly complex or novel legal issues/questions and prepares reports, studies, briefs, reports, and other written material; participates in legislative reviews and prepares commentaries.
• Provides innovative technical advice and assistance to regional and local commissions, standing committees, other offices, etc.
• Serves as spokesperson for the Mission as required; develops and maintains relations with high-level government officials, magistrates, local leaders, and other key players; and actively promotes coordination and communication between international and national partners to pursue objectives and ensure participation in and effective integration of ideas in the planning and implementation of the judicial affairs programme;
• Coordinates/performs programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the work unit, including contributing to the preparation of budgets, reporting on performance and results, managing and evaluating staff performance, job interviewing, and evaluation of candidates.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrated in-depth understanding of legal and judicial system issues and knowledge of relevant international human rights standards; capacity to adopt a strategic approach to the development of a justice system; Shows pride in work and 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work..

Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. 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. Uses time efficiently.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours 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.

Judgment/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers the positive and negative impacts of decisions before making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction. Conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, or bar qualification, or equivalent, in addition to a first level degree in law, is required. A first-level university degree in combination with other relevant academic qualifications and/or legal experience in the field of justice and/or rule of law assistance may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years with a master's degree or twelve (12) years with a bachelor's degree of progressively responsible professional experience, including seven (7) years as a practicing lawyer, prosecutor, Judge, legal academic legal consultant, or advisor in the field of justice is required.

A minimum of eighteen (18) months experience providing technical assistance for the development or reform of legal and judicial institutions in a transitional, developmental or post-conflict setting, outside the applicant's country of nationality is required.

Significant management experience is required.

Experience in providing services in the field of Judicial affairs or related areas in the United Nations Common System (UN peacekeeping political missions, or UN agencies, Funds, and Programmes) or a comparable international organization or non-governmental organization in a conflict or post-conflict environment is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English and French is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available until 30/06/2023. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.