UNOPS Corporate Legal Specialist

Background Information - Job-specific

The Corporate Legal Specialist reports to the UNOPS Africa (AFO) Deputy Regional Director (for AFO regional operational legal matters) and to the UNOPS HQ General Counsel (substantively and more specifically for global UNOPS claims matters). The Corporate Legal Specialist is responsible for providing legal, corporate and specific procurement (but excluding transactional procurement) related advice on institutional and project matters, with liaison (when applicable) with the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) under the guidance of the UNOPS General Counsel.

Functional Responsibilities

The Corporate Legal Specialist will perform the following tasks:

Regional legal advisory services to AFO RO:


Legal and Compliance advice on institutional matters relating to, inter alia, (a) relationships with governments, inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental and private sector entities (e.g. corporate social responsibility); (b) UNOPS status, mandate and operational modalities; (c) the privileges and immunities of UNOPS; (d) interpretation of legal aspect of UNOPS Financial Rules; (e) support to audit investigations; (f) legal aspects of human resources (HR) related cases (including presentations at the Administrative Tribunal related to AFO related cases in liaison with the UNOPS HQ HR Legal Officer).
Drafting, review, negotiation and clearance project agreements with governments, UN organizations, bilateral and multilateral funding sources, etc.
Development and review of complex contracts (including FIDIC construction based contracts).
Clearance departures from standard UNOPS contracts (e.g. works, services and goods) including advising on the policy frameworks for such contracts.
Preparing legal opinions on cases involving institutional legal issues.
Policy development contribution through participation in the different UNOPS practices.
Provide guidance, training and overall capacity building to the AFO RO, AFO RO Cluster, AFO Operations Centers (OC) and AFO Project Centers (OC) staff/personnel on contract management and LCPC procedures.
Implementation of the AFO Local Contracts and Procurement Committee (LCPC) including LCPC set up, overall committee management, training, link with HQCPC and membership as LCPC Chair.

Procurement advisory services to AFO RO:

Implementation of the AFO Local Contracts and Procurement Committee (LCPC) including LCPC set up, overall committee management, training, link with HQCPC and membership as LCPC Chair.
Provide guidance, training and overall capacity building to the AFO RO, AFO RO Cluster, AFO Operations Centers (OC) and AFO Project Centers (OC) staff/personnel on LCPC procedures.


Corporate legal advisory services to HQ:

Under the guidance of the UNOPS General Counsel, liaison with the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) in order to implement the advisory services provided by OLA to UNOPS with regard to corporate, institutional and commercial legal matters referred to OLA (including but not limited to arbitration).
Focal point for insurance related matters with UNOPS insurance brokers.
Review, negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes arising from agreements, contracts and other arrangements, including commercial claims and disputes involving UNOPS.


Knowledge management and quality control oversight

Contribute to organizational capacity building and develop training components related to legal issues.
Ensure that UNOPS policies and practices are disseminated through the AFO region.
Ensure the successful implementation of the AFO LCPC
Facilitate training/capacity building programs for Regional/Cluster and OC/PC level legal support.

Results Expected:

Quality, correctness and timeliness of legal advice and counsel meeting organizational standards and legal commitment and needs.
Reactivity and sense of priority for the operational requirements from the OC and project staffEnsure UNOPS reputation towards clients and partners in the Region

Competencies

Integrity and fairness: Strong sense of dedication to the function, reliability and impartiality
Professionalism: Proven conceptual, analytical, and evaluative skills. The ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options, arrive at conclusions, and make sound recommendations.
Reactivity: Strong sense of delivery in a very tight schedule and priorities.
Planning and Organizing: Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work, plan along with those staff under his/her supervision.
Communications: Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and effective oral communication skills. Positive attitude with the ability to adapt to, and promote organizational change. Able to promote and encourage cooperation and communication
Teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment, with respect for diversity.

Education

Advanced University degree in international or commercial Law. License to practice law in a civil law member state jurisdiction. Familiarity with a common law legal system desirable.

Experience

Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the practice of commercial law (including claims management), contracting or international law in either public or private sector (including substantial experience with the United Nations legal framework through a UN organization).
The above years of professional experience must include a minimum of 5 years experience in procurement, particularly public procurement.
Specific knowledge of, and/or practical experience in dealing with bilateral and multilateral funding sources highly desirable.
Practical experience from UNOPS operations in developing countries highly desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English and French is essential. Knowledge of Portuguese an asset

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Contract level: P5
Contract duration: One year, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and funds availability

For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/english/whoweneed/contract-types/Pages/United-Nations-staff-contracts.aspx

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (UCT/GMT + 1 hour)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post

.
For more information on UNOPS, including its core values and competencies, please visit the UNOPS website at www.unops.org.

Corporate Legal Specialist