UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST

UNRWA

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and

is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million

registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan,

Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human

development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass

education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and

improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost

entirely by voluntary contributions. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to

employ a qualified:

Senior Legal Officer

Vacancy Announcement Number 14-HQ-JR-5

Grade P-5

Deadline for Applications 1 March 2014

Duty Station Jerusalem

Reporting directly to the Director of Legal Affairs, the Senior Legal Officer will be

responsible for developing strategies to promote and implement, and for providing

advice and training on contractual and procurement matters, resolution of

commercial and contractual disputes, administrative law issues and management

of appeals before the Agency’s Dispute Tribunal and the UN Appeals Tribunal. The

incumbent will provide technical advice to the Legal Officer (Administrative Law)

and Legal Officer (Contracts) as well as supervision, support and mentoring to other

staff in the department including administrative staff. In accordance with the

established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities • Develop strategies to promote and implement, and provide advice and training on

the Agency’s regulatory framework in particular regarding Agency governance

and management of administrative, contractual and procurement law issues;

advise other departments (Headquarters and Fields) on the interpretation and

application of the Agency’s regulatory framework; provide technical expertise and

advice on amendments to the Agency’s regulatory framework, for example in

drafting of Agency regulations and rules;

• Draft or review drafts of complex or non-standard procurement and construction

contracts, leases, insurance contracts and other commercial contracts; develop

templates for use by the Agency;

• Advise on resolution of contractual and tortious claims against the Agency,

including overseeing, supporting and conducting negotiations, settlement and

arbitration;

• Draft, review and revise Agency submissions to, and appear before the Agency’s

Dispute Tribunal and/or the UN’s Appeals Tribunal;

• Analyse the legal aspects of and provide substantive legal policy inputs in respect of

the relationship between the Agency and its staff and the interpretation of their

conditions of service, including Staff Regulations, Rules and other administrative

issuances;

• Draft or review legal opinions on complex or sensitive financial and administrative

law issues, including interpretation of the Agency Finance Regulations and

Technical Instructions, and advising on investigations, allegations and complaints,

disciplinary matters, retaliation, etc.;

• Contribute to the Department’s planning, administration and client-oriented service

delivery; contribute to identification and addressing of important strategic legal and

policy issues facing the Agency;

• Serve as a member of the Agency’s Advisory Committee on Procurement and

participate in other committees and bodies as required, for example the Provident

Fund and Claims Boards;

• Develop, deliver and facilitate training and outreach for relevant Agency staff on

contractual and administrative law issues;

• Provide advice on relevant public international law issues, in particular privileges

and immunities and responsibilities of the Agency and its staff.

Professional Knowledge and Experience • Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in law,

preferably with some specialization in contract law, commercial law, administrative

law and/or public international law;

• Admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction;

• At least 10 years of direct experience in the application of contract, commercial,

administrative and/or public international law, including three years at a senior

level in government service, the commercial/private sector, UN or other

international organization including experience in an international setting;

• Excellent command of spoken and written English.

Competencies • Ability to effectively compile and synthesize information;

• Proven ability in the analysis of facts/information, the development of rigorous

arguments and replies and the provision of sound advice;

• Ability to progress with work independently and to participate as a member of a

team;

• Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with a range of internal and

external contacts.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of the laws and practices of Middle East countries;

• Familiarity with UN Common System and practices;

• Working knowledge of spoken and written Arabic.

Additional Information The incumbent may be required to travel frequently in the Agency's area of operations

in the Middle East as well as to other locations.

Equivalency When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Director of Human Resources

may exceptionally substitute part of the unmet requirements with a combination of

relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and progressive

relevant work experience. NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no

relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

Conditions of Service UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at

$87,069 net tax free with dependants or $80,887 single, plus post adjustment of 61.7% (subject to change without notice). Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include

education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health

insurance and 6 weeks annual leave. Initial contract is for two years, with the possibility

of further extensions subject to the availability of funds and the continuing need for the

post.

How to Apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at

http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited

educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA

vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General Information

UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced women.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the

highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and

commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds

of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work

and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should

consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment

at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description. On appointment, all individuals will be asked to sign a self attestation, confirming that

they have not committed, been convicted of, or prosecuted for, any criminal offence

and that they have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any

violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

Date of issue: 30 January 2014/LAN