Legal Officer, P-3
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 04 Jan 2009
DATE OF ISSUANCE: 05 Nov 2008
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: United Nations Environment Programme
DUTY STATION: Geneva
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 08-LEG-UNEP-419119-R-GENEVA
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO APPOINT A CANDIDATE AT A LEVEL LOWER THAN THE ADVERTIZED LEVEL OF THE POST.
Remuneration
Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system?s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The position is within the Secretariat of Stockholm Convention; will also be shared with the Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention, located in Geneva Switzerland. The objectives of the Conventions are to promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment from potential harm and to contribute to the environmentally sound use of those hazardous chemicals, by facilitating information exchange about their characteristics, by providing for a national decision-making process on their import and export and by disseminating these decisions to Parties. The incumbent works under the general direction of Coordinator, Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention (SSC) and performs the following duties: 1). Handle a range of issues related to international, public, private and administrative law, to international trade and to the interpretation and application of constitutive, legislative and other instruments governing United Nations activities and operations, in consultation with UNEP Senior Legal Officers; 2). Service or assist colleagues in servicing meetings of the Conference of the Parties and subsidiary bodies, committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, meeting documents and reports; 3). Prepare or assist in the preparation of drafts of background papers, studies, reports and training materials pertaining to the Conventions and issues related to it; 4). Prepare or assist in the preparation of agreements and contracts with governments, NGOs and other public and private entities; 5). Conduct extensive legal research and analysis and prepare studies, comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence; 6). Provide legal advice on human resources matters and review administrative matters; 7). Administer programmes of legal technical assistance; Prepare or assist with the preparation of international law seminars and symposia, lecture on various legal issues at such events; 8). Perform other duties as assigned.
Competencies
Professionalism ? Good theoretical knowledge of, and good experience in, international environmental law including the multilateral environmental agreements and in particular the application of legal principles, concepts, policies, and terminology for the review, examination and processing of a range of legal issues and documents; strong analytical skills and ability to conduct legal research on a range of relatively complex and intricate issues; proficiency in legal drafting skills and ability to draft clearly and well under time pressure; demonstrated ability to apply good legal judgment in the context of assignments given; sound negotiating skills; ability to plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Communication ? Good interpersonal and communication (spoken and written) skills. Teamwork ? Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with respect for diversity. Planning and Organizing: Ability to establish priorities,to ensure an effective work structure, to maximize productivity and achieve goals; coordinate and monitor own work plan and those under his/her supervision.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Advanced University degree in law with emphasis in the area of international law, or a first university degree with a relevant combination of professional and academic qualifications.
Work Experience
Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional legal experience, preferably at the international level with emphasis on legal analysis, research and writing. Experience in international environmental law, in particular the multilateral environmental agreements is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is essential; Working knowledge of a second official language of the UN is highly desirable.
Other Skills
Basic knowledge of relevant policies and guidelines of the Conventions and familiarity with the United Nations activities desirable.
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
How to apply
All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. Because applications submitted by United Nations (UN) staff members are considered first, provided the eligibility requirements set out in ST/AI/2006/3 are met and the application is submitted in a timely fashion, staff members should apply within 15-day or 30-day mark.
Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please go to ?My UN? page and check the status of your application by clicking on ?View Application History?, and resubmit the application, if necessary.
1. To start the application process, applicants are required to register by opening a "My UN" account. Go to Login, and Register as a User. Fill in the form and choose a User Name and Password.
2. After opening the account, applicants may apply for vacancies using the Personal History Profile (PHP) provided. Once the PHP has been completed for a particular vacancy, it can be saved and used for future applications. The PHP may be up-dated, when necessary, for future applications.
3. In completing the PHP, please note that all fields marked with an asterisk must be completed.
4. UN staff members must submit scanned copies of their two latest Performance Appraisal System (PAS) reports at the time of application to the appropriate Human Resources Office (HRO)/Personnel Office (PO) to the email address below, clearly indicating the vacancy announcement number. In case you have no access to the digitizing equipment, please submit hard copies of the two latest PAS reposts to the relevant HRO/PO via fax.
E-mail: Recruitment@unon.org,
Fax: 254-20-762-4212
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions, if you encounter problems when applying.
Closing Date: Sunday, 04 January 2009
Tags: Administrative Law; ERP; Environmental Agreements; Environmental Law; Environmental Policy; Human Resources; Information Exchange; International Law; International Trade; Legal Drafting; Legal Research; Performance Appraisal; Rotterdam Convention; Subsidiary Bodies; Task Forces