Senior Legal Officer (Regulatory Affairs)

The Senior Legal Officer (Regulatory Affairs) leads the development of the Mining Code and associated standards, providing expert legal advice on complex regulatory matters related to the International Seabed Authority's mandate. The role involves legal research, management of legal work programmes, negotiation, coordination with stakeholders, and representation at meetings and conferences.

Responsibilities

• Leads and coordinates the development of the Mining Code and associated standards and guidelines, providing expert legal analysis and advice on complex, multidisciplinary and sensitive regulatory matters.
• Coordinates and directs the work of legal officers and other assigned personnel engaged in regulatory development; establishes priorities, reviews legal work, provides guidance and supervision, and ensures the consistency, quality and timely delivery of assigned outputs.
• Advises on the legal coherence of proposed regulatory provisions and their relationship to UNCLOS, the 1994 Agreement, applicable decisions of the Authority and other relevant rules and procedures, identifying legal gaps, ambiguities and implementation issues and proposing appropriate solutions.
• Provides authoritative legal advice to the Secretary-General, the Director of the Office of Legal Affairs/Legal Counsel, the Council and the Legal and Technical Commission on complex substantive and procedural questions relating to the regulatory framework for activities in the Area.
• Conducts and supervises extensive legal research and analysis on complex, novel or sensitive questions of international law, the law of the sea and the law of international organizations relevant to the Authority's regulatory mandate.
• Advises senior officials and relevant units of the Secretariat on legal and regulatory matters within the incumbent's area of responsibility.
• Assists the Director of the Office of Legal Affairs/Legal Counsel in the management and administration of the relevant legal work programme, including planning, prioritization, allocation, coordination and review of assignments.
• Advises on and supervises the review, negotiation and drafting of complex contracts and other legal instruments related to the regulatory work programme.
• Coordinates with relevant offices and units of the Secretariat, Member States, experts and other stakeholders to facilitate the effective preparation, review and implementation of regulatory proposals.
• Services meetings of the Council, the Legal and Technical Commission and relevant intersessional working groups, expert groups, task forces and other subsidiary or ad hoc bodies; prepares and reviews legal and background materials and documentation.
• Provides legal and procedural guidance during relevant meetings and negotiations and advises on drafting options and approaches to resolving differences.
• Represents the Office of Legal Affairs and the Authority at meetings, conferences, seminars and other relevant fora; prepares substantive written and oral briefings for senior officials.
• Prepares and reviews reports, recommendations and other submissions for senior management and the relevant organs of the Authority on progress, emerging legal issues, risks and priorities relating to the development of the Mining Code and associated standards and guidelines.
• Performs other duties within the scope of the post, as requested by the Director of the Office of Legal Affairs/Legal Counsel or the Secretary-General.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law is required.
• A specialization in international law, the law of the sea or the law of international organizations is desirable.
• A first-level university degree in law, in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Admission to the bar of a Member State of the International Seabed Authority, or other qualification to practise law, is desirable.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the practice of law is required.
• Experience in the provision of legal advice within the legal office of an international organization or a government is desirable.
• Experience in the development, review or drafting of regulatory instruments, including international regulatory instruments, is desirable.
• Experience in international law, particularly the law of the sea, the law of international organizations or international administrative law, is desirable.
• Experience in preparing and delivering substantive written and oral legal advice, briefings or presentations to senior officials, intergovernmental bodies or other relevant audiences is desirable.
• Experience in liaising and working with Member States, governmental authorities, corporate entities, United Nations entities or other international organizations on legal, regulatory or institutional matters is desirable.
• Experience in leading or coordinating multidisciplinary teams or complex legal work programmes is desirable.

Skills

• International Law
• Law of the Sea
• Law of International Organizations
• Legal Advice
• Regulatory Instruments Drafting
• Legal Research
• Legal Work Programme Management
• Legal Negotiation
• Legal Representation
• Legal Briefings
• Oral Legal Presentations
• Liaison with Member States
• Coordination with stakeholders
• Multi-disciplinary Team Leadership
• Admission to the Bar
• International Commercial Law

Languages

English