Senior Legal Officer at The United Nations- Tanzania-Arusha

CAREERS/VACANCIES

Job Opening
Posting Title: SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER, P5
Job Code Title: SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER
Department/Office: International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
Duty Station: ARUSHA
Posting Period: 16 June 2017 - 15 July 2017
Job Opening Number: 17-Legal Affairs-RMT-80945-R-Arusha (R)

Staffing Exercise N/A

Special Notice
The appointment is limited to the Mechanism. Appointment of the successful candidate on this position will be limited to the initial funding of the post. Extension of the appointment is subject to the extension of the mandate and/or the availability of funds. As the international tribunals are not integrated in the Secretariat, UN Staff Members serve on assignment or secondment from their parent department/office if selected. Appointments of staff members in the United Nations are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General. Staff Members are expected to move periodically to new functions in accordance with established rules and procedures, and may in this context be reassigned by the Secretary-General throughout the Organization based on the changing needs and mandates.
The United Nations is Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.


Org. Setting and Reporting
The post is located in the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), Arusha branch. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism.

Responsibilities
The Senior Legal Officer will, under the authority of the Prosecutor, be responsible for managing the work and staff of the Arusha branch of the OTP. The incumbent will perform the following duties:

•Coordinates and directs teams of other legal and non-legal staff members, guides and supervises the work of junior staff members; assists the Prosecutor with the general management and administration of the OTP, IRMCT, Arusha branch, organizes and prioritizes the workload of the Office and provides general coordination and supervision of assignments as regards the work of the OTP.
•Carries out or oversees the carrying out of the day-to-day administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the OTP, Arusha branch, including the preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance (PAS) and evaluation of candidates for job openings including interviewing them.
•Advises the Prosecutor on a range of legal, administrative and managerial matters; provides authoritative legal and policy advice to the Prosecutor regarding the case-related activities of the Arusha branch, including the referral of cases to national jurisdictions, the initiation of contempt proceedings, requests for review of judgements by convicted persons and requests for early release filed by convicted persons.
•Appears before the Chambers of the MICT and advocates on behalf of the Prosecutor, prepares and reviews legal filings for submission to the IRMCT, Arusha branch and oversees the work of the OTP team(s) responsible for the conduct of proceedings.
•Represents the Prosecutor at meetings with high-level officials of governmental and non-governmental organizations and with the media; services diplomatic conferences, commissions, committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, meeting reports, etc.
•Coordinates and supervises investigations needed to support the case-related activities of the OTP, Arusha branch, including investigations into instances of contempt of court, the monitoring of cases referred to national jurisdictions for trial and the maintenance of and access to documents and evidentiary material within the OTP, Arusha branch.
•Proposes policies and guidelines for ensuring the efficient assistance to national authorities, including policies concerning the granting of access to the OTP, Arusha branch’s evidence. Coordinates the provision of legal assistance to national prosecuting and judicial authorities;
•Assists and supports the work of the OTP, The Hague branch of the IRMCT as required.

Competencies
•Professionalism: Knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments, including international criminal law, with a particular emphasis on the legal practice of the former ICTR and/or the ICTY. Sound knowledge of the functioning of criminal investigations and prosecutions at the national and international levels. Ability to apply legal expertise to analyzing a diverse range of complex issues and in developing innovative solutions. Strong analytical skills and proficiency in legal writing and expression and ability to prepare legal documents. Strong negotiating skills and ability to persuade others to reach agreement. Extensive experience in the management of staff. Experience and ability to work well in a multicultural environment. Ability to work to tight deadlines and to handle multiple concurrent projects. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments and observing deadlines. 
•Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
•Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; acts in accordance with final group decision, shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
•Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. 
•Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines whether the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law. First-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Postgraduate studies in criminal or international law would be an asset.

Work Experience
At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in criminal prosecution, including substantial experience at the international level. Relevant experience at the ICTY or former ICTR is highly desirable.

Languages
Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of French would be an asset.

Assessment
There will be an interview comprising a competency-based interview. There may be a technical test.


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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. 

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.

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

The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (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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