Legal Specialist

The Legal Specialist, Commercial, provides authoritative commercial legal advice within UNOPS, managing a portfolio of legal work and adapting policies to meet emerging needs. The role involves advising on commercial agreements, policy development, knowledge management, and regional focal point responsibilities to support UNOPS projects globally.

Responsibilities

• Advise Project Offices on commercial matters including review and negotiation of legal agreements, interpretation, alignment and development of the UNOPS legal framework.
• Provide legal advice and support related to partnership and funding agreements, procurement contract templates and grant agreements.
• Support hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds with legal advice.
• Provide timely advice to solve implementation challenges based on policy and best practices.
• Represent UNOPS in negotiations on contracts and agreements with external parties.
• Coordinate with business units, local legal retainers, external legal counsel and UN Office of Legal Affairs.
• Recommend changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on feedback from country offices.
• Ensure transparent and efficient project implementation in line with policy and business needs.
• Work with other units to address mission-critical issues and contribute to strategy development for efficiency and internal controls.
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives to ensure consistency and relevance of internal policies and procedures.
• Support documentation and updating of legal precedents and templates.
• Contribute to research and coordination within the team and organization.
• Provide structured knowledge and subject matter expertise across practice areas.
• Stay informed about internal and external developments and best practices.
• Deliver and facilitate trainings on commercial matters to internal colleagues.
• Serve as Regional Focal Point for a specific region, liaising with regional offices and actors for legal matters.
• Manage regional workload and provide tailored legal support and capacity building.
• Coordinate legal advice provided by other Legal Group members to ensure consistency.
• Liaise with other regional focal points on high-risk or problematic issues to ensure consistent strategy and advice.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (J.D. or Master of Laws or equivalent); or a first-level university degree in law (Bachelor of Laws or equivalent) from an accredited university in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
• At least 5 years of relevant experience as a lawyer in commercial law, international law, public international law and/or, commercial dispute resolution, including legal analysis, advice, research and/or drafting of texts.
• Proficiency in legal drafting and ability to draft accurately, clearly and concisely under pressure is required.
• Experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences is required.
• Commercial law experience, preferably as legal counsel in a law firm or international organization.
• Fluent English is required.
• Fluent French is desirable.
• Fluent Spanish is desirable.

Skills

• Commercial Law
• International Law
• Public International Law
• Commercial Dispute Resolution
• Legal Analysis
• Legal Advice
• Legal Research
• Legal Drafting
• Policy Development
• Knowledge Management
• Legal Communication
• Contract Law
• Legal Counsel Experience
• Legal Text Drafting

Languages

English, French, Spanish