Posting Title: Legal Officer, P4

Job Code Title: LEGAL OFFICER

Department/Office: Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus

Duty Station: NICOSIA

Posting Period: 29 March 2021 - 12 April 2021

Job Opening Number: 21-Legal Affairs-SASG-CYPRU-152492-F-Nicosia (M)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organisational Setting and Reporting

Background

On 3 September 2008, the Leaders of the Greek Cypriot community and of the Turkish Cypriot community decided to start their full-fledged negotiations, under the good offices mission of the United Nations Secretary-General. The aim of the full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem, which will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interest of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The agreed solution will be put to separate simultaneous referendum. The role of the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus (OSASG) (also known as the Good Offices Mission) is to support the Secretary-General's Special Adviser (SASG) on Cyprus, whose mandate is to assist the parties in the conduct of negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement.

Organisational Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus (OSASG), based in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Within the limits of delegated authority, under the general supervision of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General and reporting to the Coordinator, the Legal Officer is responsible for providing legal counsel and expertise, including timely and authoritative advice, services and representation on a broad range of complex or novel legal matters involved with the OSASG's Mandate. The Legal Officer is also responsible for; determining viable strategies and approaches to legal issues, and developing innovative solutions to problems/issues which may arise in the Office. S/he contributes to the development of policy, directives and guidelines and to the dissemination of policy and best practices in the office and act as focal point for a range of matters.

Responsibilities

The Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

  • Provides legal advice on the interpretation and application of staff regulation and rules as well as on diverse range of substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, which may include those related to topics under negotiation (in particular with regards to human rights, treaty law and constitutional law) as well as migration, conduct and discipline, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, evaluation, administration and management, procurement and contracts, and other operational matters.
  • Promotes the formation of strong partnership with relevant parties involved in legal matters to facilitate resolution of conflicts and influence parties to accept compromise solutions to achieve the Office's objectives.
  • Provides legal advice and makes recommendations with respect to actions to be taken on legal issues.
  • Services meetings taking place in the negotiations (at the level of the leaders and negotiators as well as sessions of committees, expert groups and other bodies), including by preparing background materials and summaries of issues, taking detailed notes, and reporting on the views and position papers of the sides.
  • Conducts extensive legal research and analysis and delivers legal opinions, recommendations, studies, briefs, reports, and correspondence, including code cables.
  • Participates in negotiations and settlement of claims and disputes, or pleas of guilty, to include establishing strategy and approach and preparing the relevant documentation.
  • If needed, represents the organization on cases of considerable complexity before arbitral and other tribunal or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases and staff appeals.
  • Reviews, advises on and drafts complex contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, or legal motions/submissions and other legal documents; develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances.
  • Reviews administrative decisions, staff regulations and rules, and contributes to the review and design of applications, legal instruments, policy, guidelines, directives etc.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

  • PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments, both substantive and procedural. 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, indictments or legal submissions/motions, 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. 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.
  • TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

BUILDING TRUST: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear or repercussion. Manages in a deliberate and predictable way. Operates with transparency, has no hidden agenda. Places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients. Gives proper credit to others. Follows through on agreed upon actions. Treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international law. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required.

Experience in post-conflict countries and mediation efforts is required.

Experience working with the United Nations or other large international or regional organisation is desirable.

Experience engaging, briefing or interacting with regional organisations or Member States is desirable.

In-depth knowledge of constitutional law, federalism or federal systems is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term "sexual exploitation" means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term "sexual abuse" means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator's working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on "Manuals" hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

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This vacancy is archived.

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