SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER, P5 at United
Org. Setting and Reporting
The post is located in the Registry Arusha branch under the authority of the Registrar. The incumbent will provide overall management for the legal operations of the Registry and will be responsible for the provision of authoritative legal advice in respect of the Registry.
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Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
The incumbent will perform the following duties:
• Provide advice to the Registrar on a wide range of legal and policy
issues concerning the Mechanism, in particular with regard to the
judicial support and related services of the Registry. This includes,
but is not limited to enforcement of sentences, assistance to national
jurisdictions, legal matters pertaining to witness management, legal
profiles of archives management, acquitted and released persons, complex
contractual matters, court management support, defence counsel
management.
• Supervise and coordinate the work of the Registry legal teams.
Coordinates and directs teams of other legal staff members, guides and
supervises the work of junior staff members; and prioritizes the
workload of the team and provides general coordination and supervision
of assignments.
• Review incoming and outgoing correspondence, reports, briefs, policies of the Registry.
• Review, draft or provide inputs on legal submissions to Chambers and the President.
• Review, draft or provide inputs on talking points and speeches to be delivered by the Registrar at different fora as required.
• Review, draft or provide inputs in all contractual matters, in liaison with the relevant technical teams.
• Provide legal advice and assistance to the Registrar in the formulation of the Registry’s strategic vision and
policy and coordinate the implementation of the same.
• Assists and supports the work of the Registry as required.
Competencies
Professionalism :
Thorough knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments,
including international criminal law, with a particular emphasis on the
legal practice of the ICTR and/or the ICTY or any other international
Criminal Court or Tribunal. Thorough knowledge of and experience in a
wide spectrum of legal areas, including contract law. 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. 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, 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.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational 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.
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 improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
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 Organisation; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
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Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, with a specialization in international law or criminal law. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in law is required
Previous relevant experience with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the Mechanism. For the position advertised, fluency in either language is required; and knowledge of the other an advantage.
Assessment
There may be an assessment exercise for qualified candidates followed by a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
The appointment is limited to the International Residual Mechanism
for Criminal Tribunals. 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 committed to creating a diverse and inclusive
environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs
staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race,
religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable
accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to
support participation in the recruitment process when requested and
indicated in the application.
NOTE FOR PREVIOUSLY ROSTERED CANDIDATES
Roster candidates must express their interest and availability for
published job openings by submitting an updated PHP and cover letter.
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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.
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Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.
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.
