Administrative Review Officer

Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Office of the Deputy Director‑General at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Office supports the strategic coordination and oversight functions of the Divisions/Offices/Centres under the DDG. It ensures an enabling environment for FAO's delivery, optimising management systems, administrative service delivery and operational support across all locations, and coordinates decentralized offices.

Reporting Lines

The Administrative Review Officer reports to the Deputy Director‑General.

Technical Focus

Public international law, law of the international civil service and international administrative law.

Key Results

The Officer provides support to planners and delivers multidisciplinary legal activities, giving recommendations to the Deputy Director‑General on administrative review requests received by the Organization.

Key Functions

• Receive correspondence, pleas, evidence and other documentation submitted for an administrative review request.
• Verify that the submitted documentation complies with applicable rules.
• Issue notifications as required in relation to a request for administrative review or upon instruction by the Deputy Director‑General.
• Provide advice on substantive and procedural questions.
• Ensure an electronic case file for each request, maintaining confidentiality.
• Identify issues and manage complex HR and legal matters.
• Draft a summary of facts and key arguments of the parties and identify main issues raised.
• Provide the Deputy Director‑General with relevant information and expert advice on applicable regulations, rules, policies and precedents.
• Prepare draft replies to requests for administrative review and submit them for consideration.
• Support work related to improving workplace culture and relationships.
• Review and recommend updates to the FAO Manual as required.
• Perform any other duties as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in law. Alternatively, a first‑level university law degree plus at least two additional years of relevant work experience and completion of a professional qualification to practice law in a national/state jurisdiction.
• Seven years of legal experience relevant to the functions above, including international experience, reviewing and advising on administrative and employment law.
• Proficient (C level) knowledge of English and intermediate (B level) knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical / Functional Skills

• Work experience in multiple locations or areas, particularly field positions.
• Experience in administrative and international civil service law.
• Experience managing and advising on administrative cases in the internal justice system of international organisations.
• Experience drafting legal and policy documents, position papers, briefing notes on sensitive complex matters.
• Experience with information management systems related to legal matters is desirable.
• Experience with the United Nations system in HR and administrative procedures, including legal matters, is a strong asset.
• Advocacy/litigation experience before courts and tribunals on administrative and employment law is desirable.
• Experience implementing change‑management initiatives is desirable.
• Proficient (C level) knowledge of French is highly desirable.

Job Posting

11 Nov 2025

Closure Date

02 Dec 2025, 11:59 PM

Organizational Unit

DDCM

Job Type

Staff position

Type of Requisition

Professional

Grade Level

P‑4

Primary Location

Italy‑Rome

Duration

Fixed‑term: one year with possibility of extension

Post Number

2010343

CCOG Code

1G

Important Notice

Please note that the Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device.

Internal Appointment Note

The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

Equal Opportunity Statement

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non‑and under‑represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
• All FAO employees are required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values.
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero‑tolerance policy for conduct incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
• Applications will be treated with strictest confidentiality.
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director‑General, who may assign them to any activity or office.

FAO Mission

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.