Legal Consultant

WFP; Roma; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome seeks a Legal Consultant in the Contractual and Constitutional Law Branch (LEGC). The role focuses on providing comprehensive legal advice on private-sector partnerships, reviewing documents, and drafting opinions to support decision-making.

You will negotiate and draft agreements with governments, UN agencies, NGOs and banks, identify liabilities, manage risk, and ensure gender perspectives are integrated across all work.

Qualifications

• Three years of relevant professional experience as a lawyer.
• Experience in private-sector or international organizations with finance and commercial law.
• Familiarity with UN system policies, rules, regulations, and procedures is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct extensive legal research and analysis on complex, multi-disciplinary matters, including interpretation and application of legal instruments.
• Review legal documents, identify critical issues, and present findings and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Prepare legal opinions, advice, background papers, studies and reports.
• Negotiate and draft agreements/contracts with governments, UN organizations, NGOs, financial institutions, and commercial partners.
• Identify potential liabilities and manage risks to ensure informed decisions.
• Provide legal advice to committees and working groups and ensure gender perspectives are integrated.

Skills

Legal research

Legal drafting

Contract negotiation

Legal risk management

International law

Commercial law

Problem solving

Communication

Adaptability

Project management

Education

Advanced law degree

Job description

Organizational context: The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building peace through food assistance. WFP operates globally, assisting people affected by conflict, disasters, and climate shocks. The organization values diversity, inclusion, and professional development, offering a dynamic work environment with a commitment to its humanitarian mandate.

Job purpose: The Legal Consultant will be assigned to the Contractual and Constitutional Law Branch (LEGC) within WFP's Legal Office. This role involves providing comprehensive legal advice and support on a diverse range of matters, with a particular focus on private-sector partnerships. Key responsibilities include conducting in-depth legal research and analysis, reviewing complex legal documents, and preparing legal opinions. The consultant will also be involved in negotiating and drafting agreements with various public and private entities, identifying potential liabilities, and assisting in risk management. This position requires strong analytical skills, adaptability, and the ability to contribute to the formulation of WFP's legal positions on a variety of institutional, operational, and corporate issues.

Responsibilities: The Legal Consultant's primary responsibilities involve conducting extensive legal research and analysis on complex, multi-disciplinary legal matters, including the interpretation and application of various legal instruments. This role requires reviewing legal documents, identifying critical issues, and presenting findings and recommendations to support decision-making processes. The consultant will prepare legal opinions, advice, background papers, studies, and reports. A key duty includes negotiating and drafting agreements and contracts with diverse public and private entities, such as governments, UN organizations, NGOs, financial institutions, and commercial partners, while also assisting with contractual interpretation and dispute resolution. The position also entails identifying potential liabilities and managing risks associated with WFP's activities to ensure informed decisions. Furthermore, the consultant will prepare and assess briefs of evidence, provide legal advice to committees and working groups, and ensure gender perspectives are integrated into all work. Adaptability, strong legal drafting skills, thorough research capabilities, and the ability to provide practical, easily understood legal advice are essential competencies for this role.

Education: An advanced university degree in law is required. Alternatively, a first university degree in law combined with relevant experience and additional training is acceptable. A focus on private commercial law, finance law, or public international law is preferred.

Work experience: Requires at least three years of relevant professional experience as a lawyer. This experience should be in a law firm, a private-sector legal department with international exposure, or an international organization, specifically in finance and commercial law. Familiarity with UN system policies, rules, regulations, and procedures is considered a plus.

Skills: Legal research and analysis, Legal drafting, Contract negotiation and preparation, Legal risk management, Advising on international and commercial law, Problem-solving, Communication, Adaptability, Project management

Required languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian

Desired languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian