Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial

The Legal Group

The Legal Group (LG) advises UNOPS management, project offices, regional offices and other specialized units within UNOPS on institutional, commercial, and administrative law matters.  Legal Advisors at UNOPS provide legal advice in the areas of public international law, dispute resolution, commercial law and administrative law.  This legal advice covers a wide range of topics, including host-country agreements and privileges and immunities, disputes with external parties, administrative/HR law matters, engagements, partnership agreements, grants, procurement contracts and set-up of hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds, and collaboration with outside counsel, pro bono law firms and the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), where required.

About the Role

The Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial has the primary responsibility of supervising the commercial law team in providing guidance and authoritative interpretations as required on project agreements, legal policies and procedures.

Reporting into the General Counsel (GC), the Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial exercises their accountabilities with designated authority provided by the GC and in accordance with the instructions established by the GC.

The Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial demonstrates a good understanding of the operational context in which UNOPS operates and leads the provision of review and advice on commercial law matters, assuming direct responsibility for especially complex and sensitive matters, as necessary.  

The Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial supervises and oversees legal aspects of UNOPS’ commercial operations (including activities concerning engagements, procurement contracts, grant agreements, partnership agreements, and setting-up of hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds).

The Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial works with a high degree of independence, and is expected to travel from time to time.

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in law is required.

• A first-level university degree in law (Bachelor’s or equivalent) from an accredited university in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• Qualification to practice law  in a national jurisdiction of a UN Member State, or admission to practice law by a recognised national or state bar or law society of a UN Member State is required.

• A minimum of ten (10) years of professional legal experience is required.

• Within the ten (10) years of professional experience, at least five (5) years of commercial law experience is required, preferably as legal counsel in a law firm, company, governmental service or international organization; and at least five (5) years supervising and leading a team is required.

• Strong understanding and knowledge of the United Nations system, including the privileges and immunities of international organizations, is an asset.

• Experience in providing legal advice in support of a government agency or international organization is an asset.

• Demonstrated experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences and managing complex stakeholder interactions and negotiations is required.

Contract type: Staff
Contract level: P5
Contract duration: Fixed-term staff contracts - 'One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability'

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.