Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other member organizations of the Fund. UNJSPF administers benefits of more than 80,000 beneficiaries residing in more than 190 countries, paid in 18 currencies, and services more than 150,000 participants who work in the 25 member organizations of UNJSPF. The Fund has offices in New York (United States) and Geneva (Switzerland) and two liaison offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 250 staff from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system. We offer staff competitive benefits, including up to six weeks of annual leave per year, a defined benefit pension plan (not subject to variation of capital markets), parental leave, a comprehensive insurance plan, and flexible working arrangements subject to operational requirements. Our office is located in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance from the Grand Central Station hub, in a state-of-the-art facility (the One Dag Hammarskjold building). Visit www.unjspf.org for more details. This position is located in the Legal Office of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (“UNJPSF” or “the Fund”). The Legal Office provides unified legal services for the Fund’s management and operations in the New York and Geneva offices. The Legal Officer reports to the Chief, Legal Office, and the position is based in New York.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Legal Officer is responsible for the following duties:

• Independently handle a wide range of multidisciplinary, highly complex, and often sensitive legal matters involving issues of international, public, private and administrative law, with a focus on UNJSPF disability benefits
• Provide legal advice on the interpretation and application of UNJSPF Regulations and Rules, with a focus on UNJSPF disability benefits
• Manage the preparation and submission of disability cases to the United Nations Staff Pension Committee (UNSPC), including drafting/review of documentation, submissions, correspondence and records of decisions, and liaison with relevant offices/parties
• Promote and implement tools to continuously improve the UNJSPF disability award and review process, leveraging information technology tools as appropriate
• Review for certification disability benefits awarded/continued by the staff pension committees (SPCs) of the UNJSPF member organizations
• Provide advice and/or information to various clients (including participants, beneficiaries, family members, secretaries of the SPCs, human resources/executive offices) on disability matters, including responding to queries on disability cases, providing training/outreach, and ensuring uniformity in the application of the UNJSPF legal framework on disability matters
• Perform legal research and analysis and prepare legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports, and/or correspondence
• Prepare draft amendments to the UNJSPF Regulations and Rules; prepare draft policies or amendments thereto and verify their consistency with the existing regulations and rules; prepare analyses and evaluations of pension policies and practices
• Represent the Pension Administration in cases involving disability and other matters before arbitral and other tribunal or administrative proceedings
• Serve on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required
• Coordinate and direct work of other legal officers dealing with significant problems as required, and/or mentor and supervise the work of junior officers on specific projects
• Collect and analyse data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting
• Perform other duties as assigned Competencies
• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of organizational legal framework, relevant legal processes, procedures and terminology for review, examination, preparation and processing of legal documents. Ability to conduct research using diverse legal research sources (including electronic sources on the Internet, intranet and other databases). Ability to review and synthesize information and present findings and recommendations in a required format. Ability to analyse and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Knowledge of information management, classification and retrieval systems. Ability to show tact and discretion in dealing with high-ranking officials and with confidential matters and materials. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; 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; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology. Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job – Specific Qualification Not available. Work Experience A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required. At least two years of experience in a legal office of an international, intergovernmental organization is desirable. At least two years of experience:(i) in an employee benefit scheme of an international, intergovernmental organization, and/or (ii) in administering/advising on disability benefit schemes, is desirable. Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this 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 III UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III Desirable Languages Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking French UN Level III UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview. Special Notice
• The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) is an independent inter-agency body established by the United…