Organization: UNMISS – United Nations Mission in South Sudan
Location: Juba
Grade: Senior Executive level – D-1, Director – Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
Legal – Broad
Legal – International Law
Democratic Governance
Managerial positions
Closing Date: 2024-09-07
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Section (ROLSIS) in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Juba. Juba is classified in the “E” category and as a non-family duty station. The Chief of Service, Rule of Law, typically reports to the Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary-General – Political, and serve as the head of the justice, security sector, and corrections component of the mission. Additionally, the Chief of Service, Rule of Law serves as the designated focal point for compliance and implementation of the DPO-DPPA-DSS Standard Operation Procedure on The Handling of Detention United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Chief of Service, Rule of Law will be responsible for the following duties: • Leads and manages the development and implementation of the mission’s strategies related to supporting national counterparts in the strengthening and developing of all aspects of the justice, security, and corrections systems, including: implementation of applicable international standards, development and implementation of strategic planning processes, review and development of relevant legislation, rehabilitation of facilities, strengthening the capacity of the justice, security and corrections institutions, and supporting the development of effective linkages with the police. This will be undertaken by advising national counterparts and providing technical assistance, facilitating access to training and assisting to develop a strategic national reform plan. • Establishes and maintains contacts and effective relations with senior national government officials and civil society representatives, including counterparts in the Ministry of Justice and/or other relevant Ministries, the police, courts, prisons, non-governmental organizations, universities and law schools, media, diplomatic missions and donors. • Builds linkages with development partners and donors to ensure a seamless transition to long term development support and the mobilization of resources where necessary. • Advises on and prepares assessment reports, reports addressing complex strategic and operational justice and corrections issues, policy documents and guidelines. • Participates in coordination mechanism at mission level, maintaining close working relationships with relevant components (human rights, UNPOL, civil affairs, political affairs, Force, gender, etc) and other United Nations entities, and represent the mission as required. • Performs programmatic, managerial and administrative tasks necessary for the oversight and functioning of the missions’ justice and corrections component and security sector reform and community violence reduction component, including the articulation of strategies to advance core mission objectives, preparation of budgets, reporting on performance and results, recruiting staff and managing and evaluating staff performance. • Performs other related duties.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrates in-depth knowledge and understanding of the political, social and economic environment and their impact on the implementation of a mission’s mandate; extensive knowledge of judicial, legal and prison system issues, including knowledge of criminal law and informal justice mechanisms; extensive knowledge of security sector reform principles and processes; extensive knowledge of relevant international human rights standards and their relationship and linkages to the broader developmental/post-conflict recovery framework and initiatives; knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to judicial and prison affairs and of the UN system; familiarity with prevailing international standards and procedures relating to temporary detention of persons posing a security risk, capacity of incorporating gender considerations in rule of law reform initiatives. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human suffering). Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. VISION: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; Generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; Conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. EMPOWERING OTHERS: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; Encourages others to set challenging goals; Holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; Genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise; Shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; Involves others when making decisions that affect them.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience and bar qualification or equivalent may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in rule of law or a related area is required. This experience should include a minimum of ten years’ experience in one or more of the following areas: practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, legal academic, legal consultant, or advisor in the field of justice and/or rule of law assistance. Three years’ experience providing technical assistance supporting rule or law, security sector, and justice sector institutions in a transitional, developmental, conflict or post-conflict setting, including experience outside the applicant’s country of nationality, is required. Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams is required, including experience with staffing, budgeting and strategic planning. Experience supporting security sector reforms is desirable. Experience working on the development and implementation of mobile accountability mechanisms, including mobile courts, and the complementarity of formal and informal or traditional justice mechanisms, is desirable. Experience in advising senior leadership and uniformed personnel on development and implementation of policies and procedures relevant to the DPO-DPPA-DSS Standard Operation Procedure on The Handling of Detention United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions is desirable. Experience working in a peacekeeping mission in the region is desirable, including a proven track record of successful collaboration with other sections within a peacekeeping mission, as well as with the UN country team.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in spoken and written English is required.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Qualified women that meet the requirements of this job opening are particularly encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration in accordance with the United Nations efforts to increase women participation in its workforce.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.