Senior Legal Officer

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting
FAO is the specialized Agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to high-quality food. As part of the Office of the Director-General, the Legal Office (LEG) provides authoritative legal advice and assistance on a wide range of issues to the Director-General, units in headquarters and in the field, the Governing and Statutory Bodies and Members of the Organization.

The position is located at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, in the General Legal Affairs Service (LEGA). LEGA provides legal advice to all units of the Organization, and its Governing and Statutory Bodies, on constitutional questions, the interpretation of its Basic Texts, international treaties, internal legal rules and policies, as well as on legal aspects of relations with the Host and other Governments, other international organizations, private sector and other entities, and specific legal aspects of personnel matters. It represents FAO in judicial proceedings and in settlements of disputes.

Reporting Lines
Depending upon the specific area of activity/subject-matter, the Senior Legal Officer will report to the Legal Counsel or the Deputy Legal Counsel.

Technical Focus
Public international law, law of international organizations/constitutional law, international administrative law and contract law.

Key Results
The planning, management and delivery of multidisciplinary legal-related activities and related policies, services and advice.

Key Functions
• Leads a wide range of multidisciplinary highly complex, and often sensitive and/or conflicting legal matters involving issues relating to public and private international law to including drafting, interpretation and application of a wide range of legal instruments.
• Supports the Legal Counsel and Deputy Legal Counsel in the day-to-day coordination and supervision of the work of junior legal officers and other LEGA personnel.
• Provides authoritative legal advice on diverse range of highly complex or novel substantive and procedural questions of law, which may include those related to governance, administration and management, and corporate operational matters.
• Provides legal advice on the interpretation and application of the instruments setting out the status and mandate of the Organization.
• Organizes and supervises research studies and the preparation of legal opinions, as well as performs extensive legal research and analysis on highly complex or novel legal issues/questions and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports and correspondence.
• Advises on and supervises the review, negotiation and drafting of major contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, legal submissions and other legal documents.
• Prepares submissions and other documents in tribunal and administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases and staff appeals; negotiates settlement of major claims and prepares legal documentation relating to such settlements.
• Provides legal advice to senior officials on the interpretation of personnel policies, regulations and rules, including the review of administrative implications of the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization (ILOAT) judgments.
• Coordinates the preparation of revisions to the Staff Regulations and to all series of the Staff Rules; coordinates the preparation or amendment of administrative issuances and verifies their consistency with the Staff Regulations and amendments of administrative issuances and verifies their consistency with the staff regulations and rules.
• Represents the Organization in formal meetings, negotiations, and/or mediation/problem resolution meetings to reach agreement on various human resources-related issues and/or to resolve difficult or contentious problems.
• Reviews and monitors the provision of legal services to identify trends and problem areas and recommends corrective action or new approaches or develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances; contributes to the review and design of new applications of legal instruments, policy, guidelines, systems, etc.
• Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions
• While the incumbent may be called upon to address any legal issues identified under Key Functions, this post will have a focus on matters related to the Organization's delivery of its technical mandate and the related priorities established by its Members, including advising all units of the Organization on legal aspects of their technical activities, supporting the Office's work in ensuring that the Organization's internal legal and policy framework is fit for purpose, consistent with the Organization's status as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations and, from a legal perspective, appropriately designed to support engagement with a broad range of stakeholders.
• The incumbent may be requested to provide legal support to Governing and Statutory Bodies of FAO.
• The incumbent will be expected to support the Legal Counsel and Deputy Legal Counsel in addressing day-to-day
administrative tasks in connection with the functioning of LEGA.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in law. A first level university degree in Law combined with an additional two (2) years of relevant work experience and with completion of professional qualification to practice law in a national/state jurisdiction may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Ten years of legal experience relevant to the functions set to above, including experience in an international setting (such as a legal unit of an international organization or governmental institution, or in other forms of legal practice involving international dimensions).
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
• Admission to practice law in a national jurisdiction is desirable.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of French or Spanish is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience providing oral and written legal advice on issues of public and private international law including international treaties, in legal aspects of relations with the Host Countries and other Governments, other international organizations, private sector and other entities, and specific legal aspects of personnel matters, as well as representation in judicial proceedings and in settlements of disputes.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the operation of institutions governed by Public International Law.
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing innovative legal solutions, including in emerging areas of law.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http\://www.whed.net/
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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