Legal Officer, P4 at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

• Provides legal advice on the mandate and international status of the United Nations Environment Programme (Programme), its Governing Bodies, subsidiary bodies, rules of procedure and applicable United Nations regulations, rules and resolutions. Perform extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, and reports.
• Reviews credentials. Lead officer in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handles a wide range of multidiscipline and complex legal matters involving issues of international public, private and administrative law, to include interpretation and application of instruments in that area of concentration, or, for Tribunals, criminal law (both substantive and procedural).
• Attends meetings and services diplomatic conferences, the meetings of treaty bodies, commissions, committees, taskforces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations and meeting reports. Advises presiding officers.
• Provides advice in conjunction with the UNEP World Environment Situation Room (WESR Unit in the Big Data Branch of the Science Division) on the correct use of terminology in documentation of the United Nations Environment Programme.
• Coordinates and direct teams of junior officer, including United nations Volunteers dealing with significant problems as required, and/or mentors and supervises the work of junior officers on specific projects.
• Review draft decisions of the CPR, UNEA and the Conference of the Parties of treaty bodies or inter-governmental platforms.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments. Ability to apply legal expertise to analyzing a diverse range of complex and unusual legal issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions. Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct comprehensive legal research on a range of issues, including those of a unique and/or complex nature; proficiency in legal writing and expression and ability to prepare legal briefs, opinions, and a variety of legal instruments and related documents. Discretion and sound judgment in applying legal expertise to sensitive, complex legal issues. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/cases. Knowledge of contemporary international relations and of UN system, organization and interrelationships. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in 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.
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international law is required.
• A first level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in law or related field, including legal analysis, research and writing including at least two (2) years of service with the legal office of a government department or ministry or of the secretariat of an international organization, is required.
• Experience in professional legal work relating to procedural and institutional issues is desirable.
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Closing: 21 December 2022