occupied Palestinian territory: Senior Legal Officer (General Law)

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY

FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:

Senior Legal Officer (General Law)

Vacancy Announcement Number

16-HQ-JR-43

Grade

P-4

Deadline for Applications

12 September 2016

(29 August for internal applicants)

Duty Station

Jerusalem

UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women and welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Legal Affairs (D-2/D-1) and Principal Legal Officer, General Law (P-5), the Senior Officer (General Law) will focus on the provision of legal advice, training and assistance on matters and policies relating to contractual and procurement matters, resolution of commercial and contractual disputes, the Agency’s regulatory framework, administrative law issues, and management of appeals before the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal and the UN Appeals Tribunal. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

· Draft, review drafts and assist in the negotiation of all types of Agency contractual modalities, including complex contracts for procurement of goods and/or services, memoranda of understanding with partners and funding agreements;

· Provide advice and training on the interpretation and application of the Agency’s regulatory framework, including General Assembly resolutions, Staff and Financial Regulations, Rules, and associated administrative issuances, organizational directives, and in particular regarding Agency governance and management of administrative, contractual, and procurement law issues; advise other departments (Headquarters and Fields) on the interpretation of the Agency’s regulatory framework; provide technical expertise and advice on amendments to the Agency’s regulatory framework, including drafting of Agency regulations and rules and drafting or reviewing legal opinions on complex or sensitive financial issues including interpretation of the Agency Financial Regulations and technical instructions;

· Provide legal advice and assistance on matters relating to administrative and employment law, in particular advises on investigations and disciplinary matters; draft Agency submissions to the Agency’s Dispute Tribunal and the UN Appeals Tribunal;

· Provide legal input into development and implementation of Agency strategy and policy, and provide legal training on issues of priority for the Agency;

· Serve as Secretary to the Advisory Committee on Procurement (ACP), member of the Vendor Sanctions Committee, and provide legal advice on procurement to local committees on procurement and procurement and logistics staff;

· Advise on resolution of contractual and tortious claims against the Agency, including overseeing, supporting and conducting negotiations, settlement and arbitration;

· Advise on the status, mandate, privileges and immunities and related responsibilities of the Agency and its personnel, in particular as related to contract drafting and dispute resolution.

Professional Knowledge and Experience

· Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in law, preferably with some specialization in contract, commercial, administrative law or public international law, and admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction;

· At least eight years of experience as a lawyer in the United Nations, other international organization, government service, the commercial/private sector or NGO, including a period of experience in contract, commercial, administrative, or public international law;

· Excellent command of spoken and written English.

Competencies

· Ability to negotiate effectively;

· Ability to effectively compile and synthesize information;

· Proven ability in the analysis of facts/information, the development of rigorous arguments and replies and the provision of sound advice;

· Good English drafting skills;

· Ability to progress with work independently and to participate as a member of a small team;

· Ability to communicate effectively with a range of internal and external contacts;

· Ability to develop and implement strategies and policies.

Desirable Qualifications

· Familiarity with the UN system and practices;

· Working knowledge of Arabic.

Additional Information

The incumbent should be able to travel in the Agency's areas of operation in the Middle East.

Equivalency

When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Human Resources Department may substitute part of the unmet requirements under UNRWA’s equivalency determination guidelines with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and/or progressive relevant work experience. Note: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered sufficient for an equivalency determination.

Conditions of Service

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $74,130 net tax free with dependents or $69,032 single, plus post adjustment of 52.9%** (subject to change without notice). Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks of annual leave. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Initial contract is for two years, with the possibility of further extensions subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance and the continuing need for the post.

How to Apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWAPersonal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received throughhttp://jobs.unrwa.orgwill be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General Information

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

On appointment, all individuals will be asked to sign a self-attestation, confirming that they have not committed, been convicted of, or prosecuted for, any criminal offence and that they have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

Date of issue: 16 August 2016/ LAN

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWAPersonal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received throughhttp://jobs.unrwa.orgwill be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.