Legal Specialist

The UNOPS Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) unit is part of the Shared Services Centre (SSC) which provides policy advice, operational support and transactional services to UNOPS offices worldwide.  SSC is also responsible for the administrative support to HQ and Copenhagen-based personnel.

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, IPAS was established for the purpose of serving the operations of entities under its coverage, primarily with advice and solutions to everyday implementation challenges. IPAS consists of a diverse team with over sixty colleagues who are subject experts in the six practice areas of HR, Administration, Legal, Finance, Project Management and Infrastructure, and Procurement.

IPAS has three main roles:

Support to operations in the field offices: IPAS provides timely advice and supports actively finding of solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices. It also provides operational support in specific areas.

Business efficiency: IPAS recommends changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the field offices. IPAS also ensures transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs. 

Body of knowledge: IPAS contributes to research and coordination within the policy groups and project practitioners. It provides structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.

You can meet our team and get a sneak peek of our working environment in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8CyuSqczvI&feature=youtu.be

The IPAS Legal Specialist reports to the IPAS Legal Team Lead and is responsible for delivering on the three areas of supporting operations, business efficiency and knowledge management. For IPAS Legal this translates into daily interactions with country offices and regional offices to provide sound and accurate legal advice on contractual matters. IPAS Legal team works closely with other IPAS units, in particular Finance and Project Management/Infrastructure, to review new engagements with funding sources, with a focus on identifying potential risks and opportunities and to ensure they are in line with corporate policy and compliance framework.

Under the supervision and guidance of the IPAS Legal Team Lead, the Legal Specialist is responsible for ensuring that timely legal advice is provided, which focuses on providing solutions to IPAS Legal’s clients. This requires close interactions not only with country offices, but also with other IPAS practice teams, policy groups and regional offices. It also requires a good understanding of the diverse environment in which UNOPS operates.  

In order to exercise his/her legal responsibilities, the incumbent acts with designated authority provided by the General Counsel. The incumbent will work in accordance with the instructions established by the General Counsel. 

The incumbent will be expected to identify and escalate complex and high risk matters to the IPAS Legal Team Lead. The incumbent will be expected to travel from time to time.

Specific Job Functions:

Under the overall guidance of the IPAS Legal Team Lead the incumbent shall:

Support UNOPS operations through advice on institutional and commercial legal matters such as:

• Reviewing legal agreements and amendments, with a focus on identifying legal risks and opportunities in close collaboration with other IPAS reviewers and the IPAS Legal Team Lead; 

• Conducting legal review and support negotiation of legal agreements with UNOPS funding sources;

• Drafting, reviewing and support negotiating contracts and grant agreements;

• Advising on risk mitigation strategies for the Organisation;

• Providing holistic legal advice in coordination with the IPAS Legal Team and other IPAS legal advisors and assist with the application, interpretation and adoption of corporate policy, guidance and best practices to the field offices;

Contribute to business efficiency:

• Work closely with other IPAS teams and policy units to address country and project challenges aiming at finding suitable and timely solutions;

• Work closely with other IPAS units on system enhancements, outlining legal requirements;

• Support the development and improvement of the UNOPS regulatory framework;

• Support corporate and cross-functional initiatives and contribute to ensure that internal policies, processes and systems are aligned with the overall regulatory framework, and are practical, relevant and add value to organisational operations. 

Build and maintain an active body of legal knowledge:

• Contribute to legal knowledge and information management within the team and across the Organisation;

• Keep abreast of external legal developments and best practices;

• Provide regular feedback to internal clients on legal issues, risks and possible areas of improvement.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in law, or a closely related area is required.  

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

• Admission to practice law in any national jurisdiction is required.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of post-graduate experience analysing legal issues and conducting legal research, preferably with an international organization or legal office is required.

• At least one year of experience in the application of regulations and rules, policies, procedures and decision-making processes of an international organization would be a strong asset.

• Experience analysing legal issues and conducting legal research in support of a legal office/government agency/international organization is required.

• Demonstrated theoretical knowledge of contract law, and the application of legal principles, concepts and policies to the review, examination and processing of a range of legal issues and documents; 

• Proficiency in legal drafting and ability to draft accurately, clearly and concisely under time pressure.

• Demonstrated experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences. 

• Demonstrated field experience in a development context is an advantage.

  
  

Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and French is required.

• Knowledge of Spanish is desirable.  

Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement (IICA)
Contract level: IICA 2
Contract duration: ongoing

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.