Legal Analyst – UNV jobs in the USA

• Location: USA
• Vacancy No: N/A 
• Salary: N/A
• Organization: UNV
• Gender: Both
• Deadline:  2024-03-01

Details
Mission and objectives

UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP staff are united by a common purpose: to help countries and communities across the world pursue peaceful, prosperous lives, lived in harmony with the planet.

Context
The Office of Legal Services in the Bureau for Management Services (BMS/OLS) provides strategic legal services of the highest standard to UNDP, UNCDF and UN Volunteers, giving pragmatic and timely legal advice that enables the right people to make good decisions.

BMS/OLS is seeking outstanding, proactive UN Volunteer lawyers with a strong public service background, and the capacity and commitment needed to deliver transformative impact.

The Corporate and Institutional Team (C+I) within BMS/OLS advises on:
• Legal aspects of UNDP’s mandate, legal framework and matters related to its corporate and institutional structure.
• Legal aspects of commercial contracts, including procurement contracts, agreements with non-staff personnel and other vendors/services providers, leases and other real estate matters, and contracts for banking services.
• Legal aspects and issues arising from partnerships, including financing arrangements with donors.
• Legal arrangements for and issues arising from inter-agency collaboration.
Under the overall supervision of the General Counsel and Director of BMS/OLS, and reporting directly to the Senior Legal Advisor and Head of C+I, the UN Volunteer Legal Analyst assists in the provision of support to UNDP senior management, headquarters, Regional Bureaux and Country Offices as well as to the other Funds and Agencies, as appropriate, in the C+I practice area.

Task description
Under the guidance of the Senior Legal Adviser, the Legal Analyst performs the following primary functions:
1. Legal advice, guidance and counsel on commercial matters, including:
• Assists in the review and negotiation of complex contracts, and assisting in the drafting, review and negotiation of contracts for goods and services, civil works, leases and premises agreements, banking and other agreement with vendors, in close consultation with senior lawyers in the team and, when requested, the respective internal client(s).

2. Legal advice, guidance and counsel on contractual claims, including:
• Assists in the review, negotiation, settlement, and where appropriate arbitration, of claims and disputes arising from agreements, contracts and other arrangements, including commercial claims and disputes involving the Organization.
• Conducts research as required/requested.

3. Legal advice, guidance and counsel on partnership arrangements and donor financing agreements between various partners and donors, and UNDP, including:
• Assists in the drafting, review and negotiations of standard, donor financing agreements and partnership instruments;
• Assists in the review and, as required, negotiation and revision of corporate agreements with partners, including donors, which govern their overall relationship with UNDP in close consultation with the senior lawyers in the team and, when requested, respective internal client;
• Conducts research as required/requested.

4. Legal advice, guidance and counsel on corporate and institutional issues, and matters arising from the Organization’s status, mandate and legal structure:
• Assists in preparing legal advice on the interpretation and application of the Organization’s mandate and legal framework including with respect to the financial regulations, and rules, prescriptive content (policies and procedures) and questions and matters involving privileges and immunities of the Organization (the latter in coordination with UN/OLA).
• Assists in preparing legal advice and assistance with respect to the Organization’s interagency arrangements, common issues and provision of services, including related to multi-partner trust funds and other arrangements.
• Conducts research and drafts memoranda as required/requested.

5. Support to the creation and maintenance of a robust institutional and corporate legal system, and knowledge management, and conducts research to support C&I activities:
• Assists in the development and updating of agreements and templates, review of non-standard agreements and supporting the preparation of advice on the creation and interpretation of policies and procedures that BMS/OLS is responsible for.
• Conducts research and drafts memoranda as required/requested, related to any of the work of the C&I team.
• Regularly updates the Senior Legal Adviser on legal issues in the matters assigned, and identifies recurring issues based on experience gained from addressing issues related to any of the above-mentioned functions.
• Identifies and reports to Senior Legal Adviser on areas where systemic or policy changes may be warranted in order to strengthen UNDP’s accountability and/or allow operational units to carry out their functions more effectively and efficiently, including review of standard texts, policies and procedures, in consultation with the concerned substantive units.

Eligibility criteria
Age
27 – 80

Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in the practice of law with a law firm, a government and/or international organization’s legal office is required.
• Understanding of and experience with the United Nations system, including its Legal Framework and the legal institutional arrangements of United Nations organizations including, the privileges and immunities of international organizations, is an asset.
• Experience in relevant legal areas such as contract, commercial, corporate, partnership, and/or institutional law.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English is required. Fluency in French and/or Spanish is an asset.
• Excellent project management skills, the ability to monitor and follow up on many activities concurrently under time constraints and the ability to understand and manage priorities.
• Excellent research, legal writing and drafting skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and client focus.
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards.

Area(s) of expertise
Legal affairs

Driving license
–

Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
French, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Spanish, Level: Fluent, Desirable

Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in Law or an area related

Competencies and values
• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNDP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNDP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Other information
Living conditions and remarks

The selected UN Volunteer will serve remotely from their place of residence.

Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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