Legal Officer

The Legal Officer provides legal advice on UNEP corporate and institutional matters, represents the organization in the UN Internal Justice System, and advises on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Sexual Harassment, and UN Office of Internal Oversight Services investigative matters. The role involves drafting and negotiating legal instruments, conducting legal research, and supporting UNEP's compliance and legal frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to UNEP entities, including secretariats of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, on legal instruments and application of UN’s legal and regulatory framework.
• Draft and negotiate legal instruments (MoUs, agreements and contracts) with Member States, NGOs, other UN entities, private entities and academia in accordance with UN legal framework.
• Advise on legal issues arising from vetting of UNEP partners and prepare relevant legal instruments.
• Provide legal advice and support to the UNEP Partnership Committee on policy interpretation and implementation.
• Advise on legal issues arising from UNEP procurement and review and draft procurement contracts.
• Advise on intellectual property issues such as copyright and use of the UN name and emblem.
• Conduct extensive legal research and analysis and prepare relevant legal advice and correspondence.
• Provide guidance to more junior staff.
• Represent the Organization in the UN Internal Justice System including personnel matters before the UN Management Advice and Evaluation Section and UN Dispute Tribunal.
• Negotiate and draft settlement agreements to settle UNEP personnel matters.
• Provide legal advice on human resources and internal administrative law matters.
• Advise on legal issues arising from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and OIOS matters concerning UNEP.
• Liaise with UN system-wide entities such as the Office of the Special Coordinator on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and the Victims' Rights Advocate.
• Raise organizational awareness on PSEA matters through communications, training and awareness campaigns.
• Draft the Annual Report on Fraud and Corruption.
• Monitor and report on implementation of the UNEP PSEA Action Plan and related initiatives.
• Conduct preliminary assessment of cases referred to UNEP by OIOS and prepare legal advice to the UNEP Executive Director.
• Advise on legal issues concerning OIOS investigations, external and internal audit matters, UN evaluations and inspections.
• Draft responses to reports from UN oversight bodies and coordinate UNEP compliance with recommendations.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights using data visualization methods.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in law or related field 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.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional legal experience is required.
• Experience in providing legal advice on matters relating to the legal framework of the United Nations or similar international organizations, including engagement with the private sector, is desirable.
• Experience in drafting and negotiating a broad range of legal instruments, including memoranda of understanding, agreements and contracts with Member States, NGOs, United Nations entities, private sector entities and academic institutions, is desirable.
• Experience working on the legal and policy aspects of human resource management is desirable.
• Experience in providing legal advice and support on matters relating to investigations conducted by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is desirable.
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area, is desirable.
• English language proficiency at UN Level III in reading, writing, listening and speaking is required.

Skills

• Legal Advice
• International Law
• Contract Drafting
• Legal Negotiation
• Human Resources Law
• Legal Research
• Data Analytics
• Legal Compliance
• Investigations Support
• UN Legal Framework
• Memoranda of Understanding
• Legal Instruments Drafting
• Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Law
• Sexual Harassment Law
• Internal Oversight Services
• UN Internal Justice Systems
• Business Analytics
• Data Science
• Legal Support

Languages

English