PAHO Consultant - Legal Specialist

Pan American Sanitary Bureau; Warrenton (OR); Remote; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

An established international organization is seeking a highly qualified Legal Specialist International Consultant. This role is pivotal in ensuring that the organization's operations align with legal frameworks and policies. Responsibilities include drafting legal documents, providing advisory support, and conducting legal research. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and communication skills, with a proven track record in national and international law. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful legal work on a global scale, supporting public health initiatives and organizational integrity.

Qualifications

• Five years of combined national and international law experience.
• Ability to conduct legal research and translate results into practical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Prepare legal opinions and memoranda for Country Offices and Technical Departments.
• Draft legal documents including contracts and consultancy agreements.

Skills

Legal Research

Analytical Skills

Negotiation Skills

Communication Skills

Education

Law Degree

Tools

ERP Systems

Legal Research Tools

Job description

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

April 28, 2025

Closing Date:

May 18, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

LEG Office of the Legal Counsel

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

A PAHO Consultant may be engaged on a full-time or part-time basis for the purpose of performing a specific time-limited piece of work for PAHO in a technical advisory capacity or consultative capacity. Examples of the type of work for which a consultant contract should normally be issued are: analysis and advice on public health, medical, scientific or other health and related technical issues in countries, including the analysis of the national health situation, evaluation of national health programs, the establishment of local alliances and networks; direct technical assistance to address a particular health issue in countries (including disease outbreaks, response to emergencies, specialized training, research, development of policies, norms and protocols, etc.

Internationally-hired consultant: An internationally-hired consultant is a person who is not living or residing in the country and who has been hired from outside the country where the work is to be performed. The work performed by internationally-hired consultants is regional or subregional in scope (not country specific). An international consultant will normally be hired for periods not exceeding a continuous duration of up to one (1) year, renewable for a second period of up to one (1) year, for the same tasks as described in the ToRs, within the same work plan and/or project. Upon completion of a series of continuous contracts that equal 24 months in duration.

Pay Band A-Junior level covers junior level consultants at a level equivalent to the P.1 and P.2 levels for tasks that require professional level skills but not necessarily extensive practical experience.

...Hiring managers will be responsible for reviewing the consultant contract and for ensuring that: the services to be rendered match the criteria of the type of services to be provided by the consultant pursuant to the Consultant Policy; and that decisions on contracting and all other matters of substance are taken in accordance with policy provisions...

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

1. Background

We are seeking a highly qualified Legal Specialist International Consultant to support our office in addressing diverse legal matters across multiple jurisdictions. This position plays a critical role in ensuring that the Organization's operations, agreements, and engagements align with applicable national and international legal frameworks and institutional policies.

2. Purpose of the Role

The Legal Specialist International Consultant will provide research and advisory support on a broad range of operational and administrative areas, ensuring that the Organization’s activities are legally sound and aligned with internal policies and international standards. This includes drafting and reviewing legal documents, offering legal opinions, and supporting institutional processes involving contracts, agreements, regulatory compliance and other legal and political issues.

3. Key Responsibilities

• Prepare draft legal opinions in response to inquiries from Country Offices, Subregional and Regional Entities, and Technical Departments, following guidance from the supervisor.
• Provide legal and policy support to administrative areas, including Human Resources Management (HRM), General Services Operations (GSO), and Procurement and Supply Management (PRO), as well as other relevant offices on legal matters.
• Draft legal memoranda and a range of legal documents, including administrative contracts, consultancy agreements, and contracts related to the procurement of goods and services.
• Support the preparation of legal briefs for the Organization’s representation in appeal proceedings, administrative tribunals, or other judicial and quasi-judicial forums.
• Conduct research and preliminary legal review of project proposals, agreements, and correspondence, providing comments and recommendations.
• Assist in drafting Technical Cooperation Agreements and other legal instruments to which the Organization is a party, ensuring consistency with institutional standards.
• Research and analyze international and national legal materials for use in legal opinions, reports, or internal guidance documents.
• Prepare background materials, briefing papers, reports, and other legal documents as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, in alignment with the strategic legal needs of the Organization.

4. Qualifications and Experience

• Theoretical knowledge of civil or common law, in particular the application of legal principles, concepts and policies to the review, examination and processing of a range of legal issues and documents.
• Ability to conduct legal research on a range of complex and intricate issues and to translate the result into practical solutions.
• Excellent analytical, organizational and negotiating skills.
• Proven ability to review and provide comments on laws, regulations and policy documents for technical assistance purposes.
• Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

• Experience: Five years of combined national and international law experience, preferably in contracts, torts, business, international, and /or administrative law.
• Language Proficiency: Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with a working knowledge of the other. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
• IT Skills: Demonstrated ability to effectively use current technology and software, in particular spreadsheets and presentations, as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and management information system sand legal research tools.
• Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams.
• Organizational Skills: Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

5. Deliverables

• At least 10 legal opinions or memoranda prepared in response to queries from Country, Subregional, and Regional entities or Technical Centers, reviewed by supervisor.
• At least 25 due diligence and risk assessment reviews of proposed engagements with non-State actors.
• At least 25 responses to requests for legal advice.
• Legal advisory notes provided to administrative departments (HRM, GSO, PRO) on matters such as employment contracts, procurement issues, or policy interpretation (minimum of 5 during the consultancy period).
• At least 10 contracts or agreements reviewed, in compliance with internal guidelines.
• Drafted 4 Technical Cooperation Agreements or similar legal instruments for the Organization, with complete supporting documentation.
• One legal research report summarizing relevant national and international legal frameworks on a topic identified by the supervisor (e.g., contract law, administrative procedure, data protection, etc.).
• Three sets of background materials or legal briefing papers prepared to support internal meetings or decision-making processes.
• Compliance checklist or legal guidance tool developed for administrative teams to ensure standardization of contract drafting or procurement practices.
• Annotated templates created or updated for frequently used legal documents such as consultancy contracts, NDAs, or service agreements.
• Final summary report detailing all legal outputs delivered during the consultancy, including insights, challenges, and recommendations for future legal support.
• Regular updates on the status of documents in progress.

Pay rate - Band A (P2). USD 215.00 daily.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
• PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
• PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.