Senior Legal Officer/Chief of Section, Paris

• Organization: UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Country: France
• City: Paris
• Office: UNESCO Paris
• Grade: P-5
• Follow @UNjobs

UNESCO Paris

Closing date: Monday, 26 September 2016

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Domain
Law - International Law
Post Number: LA 006
Grade: P-5
Organizational Unit: OFFICE INTL STANDARDS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS
Primary Location: FR-Paris
Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates
Type of Contract: Fixed Term
Salary: 106 806 Euros (Annual Salary)
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

This post assists the Director of the Office of Legal Standards and International Affairs to lead the programme of work and is responsible for providing strategic and technical leadership on general legal matters. The Senior Legal Advisor and Chief of Section shall provide authoritative advice to management and the governing bodies of UNESCO and leadership, direction and supervision to the general legal team as appropriate. For this purpose, the incumbent will be required to:

• Draft and review complex legal advice for the Director-General, other departments within UNESCO, the governing bodies and the treaty bodies relating to institutional matters (UNESCO's mandate and constitution, logo and emblem, membership and privileges and immunities) and corporate and commercial law;
• Draft, negotiate and review UNESCO's contracts for procurement of goods and/or services, memoranda of understanding with partners and funding agreements;
• Draft, review and negotiate the legal aspects (relevant to the functions of the General egal Section) of agreements and official documents, which have been provided to the Office for comments or clearance;
• Coordinate, approve and undertake research and examine legal precedents for issues relating to the functions, structure and activities of UNESCO. Such issues may relate to the general field or specialized aspects of constitutional, international, public and private law;
• Represent the Director of the Office and provide oral advice and assistance in resolving procedural and substantive legal questions in UNESCO's governing bodies, conferences and other bodies (including treaty bodies) meetings under the auspices of UNESCO;
• Prepare and review briefs and represent UNESCO in proceedings before courts of law and other judicial or quasi-judicial bodies; and
• Provide legal input into the development and implementation of the Organization's strategy and policy, including in the areas of privileges and immunities of UNESCO, procurement, management and support services and contracts. Provides training in legal matters for field offices in the areas of the Section.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in Law. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least 10 years of relevant legal experience dealing with general legal matters in a law firm or in the legal department of an intergovernmental organization.
• 5 years of experience in an international environment.
• Confirmed experience in leading, managing and motivating staff and teams.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French, including the drafting/reviewing of legal text and/or the preparation of oral presentations on complex legal issues.
• Ability to manage and meet deadlines and to work under pressure.
• Ability to participate effectively in high-level negotiations and to build and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including government officials.
• Ability to work with a team and maintain effective working relationships in an international and multicultural environment.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge and drafting skills in one of the working languages of the Organization (English or French) and very good knowledge of the second.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Specialized training or diploma in international law, contract law or commercial law.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Experience in contract drafting, negotiating and reviewing and in the preparation of legal opinions on issues related to general law.
• Experience advising intergovernmental bodies on rules of procedure.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations of the UN system.