Legal Officer, P.4 (Fixed-term - 1 year)

UN News; Genf; On-site; CHF 124,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

UN News seeks a Legal Officer to support IPCC and WMO legal affairs, providing expert advice on international law, procedures, and observer accreditation. You will draft legal instruments, review contracts, and coordinate with UN partners globally.

The role requires seven+ years in public international law, strong integrity, and ability to work across multicultural teams. English proficiency mandatory; French desirable.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in international law or related field.
• At least seven years of international/national legal experience, including time in the UN system preferred.
• Experience drafting, negotiating and reviewing memoranda of understanding and other legal instruments.

Responsibilities

• Handle complex legal and procedural matters related to IPCC and activities.
• Provide legal advice on interpretation and application of Rules and Procedures and related instruments.
• Conduct legal research, prepare briefs, reports, and correspondence for IPCC work.
• Review and manage observer accreditation and IPCC partnerships.
• Draft MoUs and contracts and review documentation related to IPCC activities.
• Contribute to outreach activities and coordinate with WMO Legal Counsel.

Skills

Legal analysis

Public international law

Contract drafting

Policy advisory

Intergovernmental coordination

Risk assessment

Decision making

Education

Master's degree in international law

Additional related certification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Secretary, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and in cooperation with the WMO Legal Counsel, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

(a) Handle complex legal and procedural matters related to the IPCC and its activities;

(b) Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, including the interpretation and application of IPCC Rules and Procedures, and other constitutive and legislative instruments governing IPCC activities and operations;

(c) Conduct legal research and analysis and prepare comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence in support of IPCC work and the application of procedures; undertake review of legal documents, instruments, or other material, and identify important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies; provide advice to follow-up actions;

(d) Clear permission/copyright requests to reproduce IPCC material;

(e) Perform functions related to the implementation of the IPCC Conflict of Interest Policy;

(f) Assist in reviewing and managing the IPCC policy and process for admitting observer organizations, including the application requests by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for observer status, and maintain the list of accredited observers to the IPCC updated;

(g) Develop, maintain, and support partnerships with governments, United Nations bodies and initiatives, and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; and set up and maintain a network of continuous working contacts and facilitate regular exchange of information with IPCC partners;

(h) Provide legal advice, support, and review regarding the drafting of Memoranda of Understanding and other legal contracts between the IPCC and governments, non-governmental organizations and other public and private partners;

(i) Contribute to the preparation of relevant outreach activities such as United Nations conferences, seminars and lectures;

(j) Coordinate with the WMO Legal Counsel on legal positions of an institutional, precedential or cross-cutting nature, and on any matter engaging the legal responsibility, liability, privileges and immunities or reputation of WMO, so as to ensure the consistency of legal advice across WMO and the IPCC; and

(k) Carry out other relevant duties as required.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's degree or equivalent in international law or related field.

Experience:

• At least seven years of combined national and international progressively responsible experience in legal work, of which three to four years at the international level and preferably acquired in the United Nations system.
• Demonstrated expertise in public international law, the law of international organizations and administrative law, including the interpretation and application of constitutive instruments, rules of procedure and staff, financial and procurement regulations and rules of an intergovernmental body.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting, negotiating and reviewing memoranda of understanding, contracts and other legal instruments, and on intellectual property and copyright, conflict of interest and observer accreditation matters.

Other Requirements:

• High sense of integrity, responsibility, and maturity of judgment;
• Sound legal judgement, the ability to identify legal risk and to provide clear, practical and well-reasoned advice to senior officials and intergovernmental bodies;
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters with discretion;
• Ability to work autonomously;
• Good level of initiative and creativity;
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and manage multiple workloads;
• Ability to draft reports, correspondence and legal documents clearly and succinctly in English;
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications;
• Familiarity with the work of WMO and the IPCC structure and activities.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to foster diversity and team spirit.

Languages:

Excellent knowledge of English (both oral and written). Knowledge of French is desirable.

Knowledge of other official languages of the Organization would be an advantage.

(Note: The official languages of the Organization are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.)

Competencies:

The Legal Officer must demonstrate individual-level proficiency in the following competencies:

• Communication & Influence
• Collaboration & Team Dynamics
• Inclusive Mindset & Cultural Awareness
• Decision Making & Problem Solving
• Integrity & Accountability
• Innovation & Digital Agility
• Stakeholder Understanding & Engagement
  

Salary and Allowances:

The position is funded from the IPCC Trust Fund.
Annual net base salary on initial appointment is: US$ 86,027.
Annual post adjustment on initial salary is: US$ 72,005 (in addition to the net base salary)

Additional Information:

WMO is committed to achieving diversity and a balanced workforce. Applications are welcome from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. The statutory retirement age is 65. Pursuant to WMO Standing Instructions, the minimum age to be eligible for consideration for vacant positions is 18, and the maximum age must enable the candidate to serve for at least the term of the contract before reaching mandatory age of separation.

Probation

Possibility of renewal subject to the availability of funds and pending satisfactory performance after an initial probationary period of one year which can be extended up to a maximum of two years.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

WMO does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.