Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the Secretary (OS), Secretariat of the International Narcotics Control Board (SINCB), Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in Vienna. The Legal Officer to the International Narcotics Control Board will report to the Chief of the INCB Secretariat. The Secretariat of the INCB is an administrative entity of UNODC reporting directly to the Board on substantive matters.

For more information on INCB and its secretariat, please visit our website: www.incb.org.

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority and the mandates of the Board, the incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties:

• Serve as the Legal Officer to the INCB which is the independent monitoring body for the implementation of the three United Nations international drug control conventions by providing specialized legal guidance/support and technical input on legal issues/aspects to the Board and its Secretariat.
• Provide substantive support in analysing national policy, legislative and regulatory measures related to drug control and provide advice on related legal implications including compliance with the three international drug control conventions.
• Contribute to analyzing the jurisprudence of national courts and provide legal opinions on their implications for the implementation of the three international drug control conventions.
• Review all relevant outgoing correspondence to governments and Board publications with regard to compliance with the three international drug control conventions.
• Draft documentation and provide legal advice to the Board and its Secretariat on the interpretation and application of the three drug control conventions.
• Draft documentation and provide substantive servicing of the INCB sessions which take place three times a year as well as the servicing of missions of the Board.
• Provide substantive inputs for the implementation of the activities of the Board aimed at enhancing the accession and implementation of the three drug control conventions.
• Within the mandates of the Board, provide a variety of specialized services for Governments in order to assist Governments in treaty accession and/or implementation of the three international drug control conventions, including analysing national drug control guidelines and instructions established by governments.
• Conduct research for the Board on a range of legal issues and prepare draft analyses proposing solutions to problems or actions to be taken.
• Draft/review a variety of written outputs, such as background papers, correspondence with governments, working papers, mission reports, analyses, briefings, presentations, policy proposals and documents, regular and ad hoc reports, studies, summary reports, manuals, guides, toolkits, etc..
• Liaise with governments and counterparts in UN and UNODC, heads of units in other organizations and specialized agencies; follow up on INCB’s decisions and other issues and documentation within INCB secretariat and UNODC, with other organizations and their officials.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• As required, supervise support staff members; mentor and guide interns and Junior Professional Officers in their work.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge and understanding of legal and legislative aspects of international drug control policy. Has knowledge of policies and practices in international drug control and crime prevention, as well as the mandates of the International Narcotics Control Board. Is familiar with the modalities of international cooperation in drug control legal and criminal related matters. Is able to apply legal expertise to analyze a diverse range of complex and unusual legal issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions. Has excellent legal writing and expression skills. Has ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational 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.

• Planning and 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, preferably in international law or related fields, preferably including drug-control issues, is required.

A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in public international law, including in the areas of drug-control or related issues is required.

Work experience in the field of comparative law is required.

Legal drafting experience is required.

Work experience in legal analysis and research including: servicing intergovernmental bodies, legislative assistance, law enforcement, prosecution, legal defence, criminal justice, international relations or related fields, is desirable.

Experience with various legal traditions (common law, civil law or Islamic law) is desirable.

Work experience within the United Nations system or similar international organizations is desirable.

Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other United Nations official languages is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is funded by the regular budget and is geographical. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 December 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. 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.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

Vienna is classified in the H category (family duty station).

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.

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.