Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located at the Legal & Policy Reform and Oversight Team (LROT) of the UNMISS’s Rule of Law and Security Institutions (RoLSIS) Section, which is charged with supporting government efforts to rebuild justice sector institutions, implement the peace agreement, promote accountability for gross violations of human rights, and reform the security sector. This position is based in Juba which is classified in the “E” category and as a non-family duty station.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Judicial Affairs Officer, LROT, and the overall supervision of the Chief of Service, Rule of Law, the Judicial Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Contributes to the development of the rule of law and legal reform strategic plan and policymaking framework in the context of the mission’s mandate and assist in the day-to-day coordination of key activities with other mission components (e.g., corrections, human rights, political affairs, gender, child protection, etc.) and UN entities.
• Implements the legal and judicial programmes of the work unit and advises on the legal framework, institutional reform of the judiciary, prosecution and law enforcement, and legal representation or aid.
• Takes the lead in conducting programme activities in areas of concentration (e.g. gender justice, juvenile justice, oversight, etc.) to include advising national counterparts, facilitating and organizing workshops and consultations, supporting national criminal justice system organization, training of national actors and/or monitoring of the court and legal system, including field offices, if required.
• Advises on and prepares complex legal research and analysis and outputs, such as legal review of national legislations and international instruments, prepare work unit reports and comparative legal research and assessments, policy documents and guidelines, briefings, etc.
• Participates in legislative reviews and drafts commentaries and other relevant documents.
• Represents the mission and serves on various standing boards and committees, as required.
• Supports and participates in national level coordination, planning and/or reform processes and donor coordination, to include supporting implementation of the revitalized peace
agreement and the development of long-term national strategic plans for justice sector, including oversight, institutions.
• Directs and manages teams, as required; develops and trains staff under her/his supervision.
• Ensures effective knowledge management and information sharing, including developing a culture of respect for, and inclusion of, local actors in all judicial and legal system initiatives.
• Takes the lead in identifying, establishing, and maintaining contacts and partnerships with other actors (national and international) in assigned areas of responsibility with a view to
pursuing work programme objectives and ensuring participation in and effective integration of ideas in the planning and implementation of judicial affairs activities.
• Performs programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of work unit, including contributing to the preparation of budgets, reporting on performance and results, managing and evaluating staff performance, job interviewing and evaluation of candidates.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Results Expected:
Effectively leads and manages major activities/projects and work teams, and delivers outputs in a timely manner, in accordance with overall objectives, policies and procedures. Provides sound advice and effective representation on complex legal and judicial reform issues; effectively determines strategy and approach to policy/technical issues and develops innovative, well-reasoned suggestions and solutions to problems that may arise. Conducts independent, accurate and comprehensive research on significant, complex matters and delivers carefully conceived reports, studies, recommendations, and other written material.
Initiates and sustains strong partnerships with key players to help meet overall policy initiatives and coordination of assistance, and to facilitate resolution of conflicts and influence parties to accept compromise solutions to achieve objectives.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

PROFESSIONALISM: 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.

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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

JUDGEMENT / DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before deciding. 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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law is required. A first-level university degree in law or related field, with a bar qualification or equivalent, in combination with two additional years of relevant legal experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in rule of law or security sector reform, including implementation of national policies and plans in rule of law, oversight and security matters is required.

Experience as a practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, legal consultant, or adviser in the field of justice with emphasis on international criminal law; this must include a minimum of one year of experience providing technical assistance for the development or reform of legal and judicial sector institutions in a transitional, developmental or post-conflict setting, outside the applicant’s country of nationality is required.

Management experience is desirable

UN field experience, especially in a peacekeeping operation or special political mission, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English language is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available thru 31/12/2023. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

• Qualified women that meet the requirements of this job opening are particularly encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration in accordance with the United Nations efforts to increase women participation in its workforce.

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.

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.