Date of expiration: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 | Legal Officer | Somalia | Mogadishu

Title of Position: Legal Officer, NOC

Department or Office: Somalia Office of the United Nations Support

23-Legal Affairs-UNSOS-212888-R-Mogadishu (M) is the number for this position.

Integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity are among the tenets of the United Nations

Institutional Goals and Reporting

These posts are located at the Mogadishu, Somalia-based United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). The incumbents will answer directly to the Senior Legal Officer in the Legal Affairs Section of the Office of the Assistant Secretary General. The incumbents will contribute to the timely and efficient provision of legal expertise and advice on a variety of legal matters affecting the Mission’s mandate and activities, such as public, international, private, and administrative law matters, as well as concerns of constitutional and other national law. The incumbents will offer practical ways to legal difficulties and creative fixes for legal concerns that develop in the Mission. They will participate in the creation of the Mission’s policies, procedures, and best practices.

Responsibilities for Legal Officer | Somalia | Mogadishu

The following responsibilities may fall under the purview of the Legal Officers under the direction of the Chief of Section, Legal Affairs and/or more senior Legal Officer(s), if appropriate:

• assist in the preparation of or offer legal opinions and advice on a variety of legal issues affecting the United Nations Mission’s mandate and activities, including public international, private, and administrative law matters, and in particular on the discovery, interpretation, and application of constitutional and other national laws, legislative instruments, court procedures, and local legal protocols and practices as they affect the Mission or the mandate.
• Give advice or assist in the provision of advice on the following topics: the interpretation of the Mission’s mandate; the legal status of the Mission and its members, including in areas such as privileges and immunities and Status of Forces/Status of Mission Agreements; legal aspects of the Mission’s operational activities, including the Mission’s rules of engagement and directives on the use of force and related guidelines; and matters relating to international law, including international human rights
• Draft agreements, institutional and operational modalities, contracts, legal submissions, and other legal documents; prepare them or help with their preparation and review; prepare or assist with their preparation and participation in talks for the resolution of claims and disputes.
• Create and uphold, or aid in creating and upholding, efficient coordination and working relationships with national authorities, including government representatives, local courts, public entities, and agencies; and, as necessary, take part in meetings, discussions, and negotiations with these local entities and people.
• Participate in meetings and discussions with other Mission offices, other UN agencies, funds, and programs. You may also participate in administrative committees, including those dealing with the procurement process, claims, and property management. The Chief of Service or Section, Legal Affairs may also assign you to ad hoc working groups, task forces, and training activities.
• Conduct legal research and analysis utilizing a variety of sources, as needed, and translate and interpret local laws and legal documents. You can also create legal opinions, studies, briefs, background papers, reports, and communications on your own or with help.
• may be in charge of, or give direction to, less experienced legal professionals and officers.
• performs other tasks as required.

Competencies for Legal Officer | Somalia | Mogadishu

Professionalism:

• The ability to apply knowledge of relevant UN laws and regulations, as well as conceptual international law norms, to the work result.
• displays pride in one’s accomplishments and work.
• demonstrates expertise in the field and mastery of it. is diligent and effective at keeping commitments, respecting deadlines, and getting things done.
• is driven more by professional considerations than personal ones.
• displays tenacity when dealing with challenging issues or obstacles and maintains composure under pressure.
• assumes responsibility for incorporating gender ideas and making sure that men and women participate equally in all aspects of the workforce.
• Effective in speaking and writing, communication.
• demonstrates active listening, accurate message interpretation, and appropriate response. Clarification-seeking questions are asked, and a curiosity in two-way communication is shown. language, tone, style, and format are adjusted to the target audience.
• Openness in information sharing and keeping the public informed is displayed.

Planning and organizing:

• Establishes specific objectives that are congruent with chosen tactics.
• Determines what tasks and activities are most important; modifies priorities as necessary.
• Appropriate time and resources are allotted for the completion of the work.
• identifies dangers and incorporates backup plans into preparation.
• observes and modifies strategies and actions as necessary. effectively utilizes time.

Education

Advanced academic training in law or a related, specialized area of law (Master’s degree or equivalent). The required qualifying experience in law along with a first-level university degree in law may be accepted in place of the advanced university degree.

Experience at Work

• A minimum of five (05) years of steadily increasing responsibility in the legal field, including legal analysis, research, and writing, are necessary.
• It would be ideal to have prior experience working in an international or multi-cultural setting or on a peacekeeping operation.

Languages

The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French. English fluency is needed for this employment.

Assessment(Legal Officer | Somalia | Mogadishu)

An assessment exercise and a competency-based interview may both be used to evaluate competent individuals.

Particular Notice

The initial term of any appointment or assignment to these positions is one year. As a result, these roles are initially financed for a year. Any appointment prolongation will require financial permission. Recruitment for these positions takes place locally. ONLY SOMALIANS MAY APPLY FOR THESE POSITIONS. The nationality of the National Professional Officer category must be that of the nation in which these positions are located. The benefits and allowances reserved for overseas recruiting are not available to employees subject to local recruitment. Any costs related to travel spent in order to accept the position are the responsibility of the candidate. All candidates are highly encouraged to submit their online applications as soon as the position has been publicized and well in advance of the application deadline. Make sure ALL fields, ALL professional experience, and contact information are filled out and current while completing the Candidate Profile form. The Hiring Manager will use this information to evaluate your qualifications and appropriateness for the position and to get in touch with you. The United Nations Secretariat is dedicated to establishing regional diversity and a 50/50 gender balance among its workforce. Women who are interested in the post are particularly encouraged to apply. To be eligible to apply for this position, interested candidates who are employed by UN Contractors must meet the requirements of their contracts with the UN Contractors.

Considerations relating to the UN

The requirement to ensure the highest standards of effectiveness, competence, and integrity is the most important factor in hiring workers, according to article 101, paragraph 3, of the United Nations Charter. Candidates who have violated international human rights law, international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they have participated in the commission of any of these acts, will not be given consideration for employment with the United Nations. “Sexual exploitation” refers to any actual or attempted misuse of a position of vulnerability, differential authority, or trust for sexual objectives, including but not limited to making money, advancing one’s political or social agenda, or other forms of gain from the sexual exploitation of another. The phrase “sexual abuse” refers to any actual or threatened bodily encroachment of a sexual nature, whether done so with force or under coercive, unfair, or oppressive circumstances. The term “sexual harassment” refers to any unwanted sexual behavior that could reasonably be anticipated to offend or be perceived as humiliating, when such behavior interferes with work, is made a condition of employment, or creates a threatening, hostile, or offensive work environment, and when the seriousness of the behavior justifies the end of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates with offenses other than insignificant traffic violations may not be given consideration for employment. The significance of hiring people from as many different geographic backgrounds as is practical will be given due consideration. The United Nations does not impose any limitations on the ability of men and women to participate in its main and auxiliary organs in any capacity and on an equal basis. Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the Secretariat of the United Nations. Applicants with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation to assist their participation in the hiring process. The requirement to maintain the highest standards of effectiveness, competence, and integrity shall be the primary factor in the employment, transfer, or promotion of personnel. Employees of the United Nations who accept an offer of employment are subject to the Secretary-General’s authority and assignment to any functions or agencies of the UN in accordance with staff regulation 1.2(c). In this regard, the Secretary-General shall set the terms and conditions under which all internationally recruited staff members shall be obliged to transfer periodically in order to perform new duties within or between duty stations. Candidates are advised to carefully follow all guidelines provided on the online recruitment platform, inspira. Applicants can consult the Manual for the Applicant for additional in-depth instructions by clicking the “Manuals” hyper-link in the upper right corner of the homepage for inspira account holders. According to the job opening’s evaluation criteria and any applicable internal UN laws, such as the UN Charter, General Assembly resolutions, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances, and guidelines, the evaluation of applicants will be done on the basis of the information provided in the application. To be considered for the vacant position, applicants must provide comprehensive and correct information about their personal profiles and qualifications in accordance with the guidelines listed in inspira. Applications that have already been submitted cannot be changed, amended, added to, deleted, revised, or modified. Reference checks will be conducted on candidates who are seriously under consideration for selection in order to confirm the data supplied in the application. On the deadline date, all job postings listed on the Careers Portal will be deleted at 11:59 p.m. (New York time).

No Fee

AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING), THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE. The information on applicants’ bank accounts is unimportant to the United Nations.

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Legal Officer | Somalia | Mogadishu