Org. Setting and Reporting

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change.

If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you.

The Principal Legal Officer (International Law) reports to the Director of Legal Affairs

Responsibilities

Directly supports the Director of Legal Affairs in all aspects of work; assists the Director of Legal Affairs in leading the programme of work and management of the human and financial resources of the Department; and provides strategic and technical leadership for the Agency’s lawyers with a view to ensuring legally sound, timely, easily applied, politically sensitive and consistent advice.

Ensures the consistent interpretation and application of international law throughout the Agency; develops strategies to promote and implement relevant public international law, including international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law and UN law, particularly: the status and mandate of the Agency, privileges and immunities and related responsibilities of the Agency and
its personnel, and humanitarian principles.

Provides and supervises the provision of advice, training and outreach on the interpretation and application of relevant public international law, including international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law and UN law, particularly: the status and mandate of the Agency, privileges and immunities and related responsibilities of the Agency and its personnel, and humanitarian
principles.

Contributes to the Department’s client-oriented service delivery; provides and supervises the provision of legal input into the development and implementation of Agency strategy and policy, in particular relating to Agency protection strategy and interventions.

3.5 human rights system, as well as its engagement with other UN Agencies and NGOs on protection issues.

Assists and provides advice on Agency-wide coordination, coherence and consistency in the implementation of humanitarian principles, including neutrality.

Establishes and maintains relations with representatives of host and other governments, the UN Office of Legal Affairs, UNHCR, OHCHR, OCHA, UNSCO and other entities with respect to issues of legal concern.

In collaboration with the Principal Legal Officer (General Law), and as required, develops strategies to promote and implement and provides advice and training on the interpretation and application of the Agency’s regulatory framework, including General Assembly resolutions, Staff and Financial Regulations, Rules and associated administrative issuances, and organizational
directives; and provides advice and training on matters relating to contract law, procurement, administrative and employment law, and tortious claims against the Agency, including overseeing, supporting and conducting negotiations, settlements and arbitration.

Competencies

UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default.

Adapting and Responding to Change
Leading and Supervising
Formulating Strategies and Concepts
Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership
Persuading and Influencing
Analyzing
Resilience and multi-tasking.
Ability to draft clearly and concisely.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in law is required. A first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying International law experience at managerial/ supervisory level may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree is required

Work Experience

At least ten years of progressively responsible and relevant experience as a lawyer in the United
Nations, other international organization, government service, the commercial/private sector or
NGO, with a focus on public international law is required.

Three years of professional experience at managerial/ supervisory level is required.

Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, a candidate for an international post must have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport or a national identity number is required

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in law or a first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying International law experience at managerial/ supervisory level may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree is required

Knowledge of the history of contemporary problems in the Middle East is desirable.

Familiarity with UN Common System practices is desirable.

Working knowledge of Arabic and/or another official language is desirable.

Some specialization in contract law, commercial law, administrative law and/or
employment law is desirable

Languages

Excellent command of spoken and written English

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Type of Contract and duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension.

Applicants have to complete the Personal History Profile (PHP) in Inspira in order to be considered. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience as per the requirements in the Job Opening, in order to be considered.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post.

Join our eco-friendly organization dedicated to environment sustainability and targeting to be plastic free by 2025.

NB: work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.

For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her.

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.

At UNRWA, 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. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

UNRWA Considerations
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA 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. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List.
UNRWA is a non-smoking work 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 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.