About Office of Legal Affairs

Office of Legal Affairsis part of the United Nations system, working to promote international cooperation and address global challenges. As a UN entity, it contributes to the organization’s mission of maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, and promoting international cooperation in solving international problems and encouraging respect for human rights.

Job Summary

This Principal Legal Officer, D1 position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact within Office of Legal Affairs’s work in international cooperation and sustainable development. Based in United States, you will contribute your expertise to advance the organization’s mission and support international cooperation on critical global challenges. This role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic, multicultural environment while contributing to meaningful outcomes that benefit communities worldwide.

Key Details

• Job Title:Principal Legal Officer, D1
• Grade:D-1
• Location:New York, United States
• Department:Office of Legal Affairs
• Contract Type:Professional Staff
• Salary Range:$116,095.0 – $143,022.0 USD annually

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in law is required. A first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Admittance to the bar of, or otherwise qualified to practice law in, a Member State of the United Nations is required.
• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For th is job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details). Required Languages Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking English UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II Desirable Languages Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking French UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public and private international law, including the law of international organizations and international commercial law and related areas is required. A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in commercial law (including international commercial law), including legal analys is, research and writing, acquired at a law firm or at the legal department of a global investment institution, government or multilateral development bank, or in the legal office of an international intergovernmental organization is required. Experience in providing comprehensive general legal services to an international organization is required. Experience supervising the staff of an office, unit or team is required. Professional legal experience dealing with issues of international commercial law, privileges and immunities of international organisations, settlement of commercial disputes and litigation is required. Experience overseeing programmatic/administrative tasks necessary to the functioning of a work unit, including the preparation of budgetary inputs, reports on budget/programme performance, evaluations of staff performance and input for results-based budgeting is desirable. Progressively responsible experience providing legal advice on investment matters is desirable. Experience as a legal officer in the legal office of a United Nations, or similar international organization, is desirable.

Skills

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the Charter of the United Nations and the law and practice of the Organization; of international law, including international commercial law, international arbitration, international contracts and procurement, banking law, insurance law and other areas of commercial law; of the law and legal regimes in relation to the activities and operations of the Organization and its subsidiary organs, including its separately administered funds and programmes, and peacekeeping and similar operations; and of the internal administrative law of the Organization. Comprehensive knowledge of UN policies, procedures and operations. Ability to conduct comprehensive, independent legal research. Demonstrates professional competence; 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; and remains calm in stressful situations. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be clients and seeks to see things from clients point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package
• Professional development opportunities
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• Inclusive and collaborative work environment

How to Apply