GSU Legal Officer

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the worlds largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse committed skilled and high performing teams selected on merit operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment living WFPs values (Integrity Collaboration Commitment Humanity and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

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WHY JOIN WFP

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive diverse and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training accreditation coaching mentorship and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country regional and global offices around the world and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE:
Legal Officer
TYPE OF CONTRACT:
Regular Consultancy
UNIT/DIVISION:
WFP Global Staff Union
DUTY STATION (City Country):
Remote Working
DURATION:
11 months
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: The WFP Global Staff Union (GSU) was established in October 2024 and a Recognition Agreement with WFP management was signed on 21 November 2024. The GSU is a voluntary organization of WFP employees choosing to associate irrespective of their duty station Headquarters or Field to promote and safeguard:
The rights interests and dignity of employeesThe overall general welfare of employeesThe conditions of serviceFairness and justice in the treatment of employees
The Union works to promote and to maintain continuous dialogue with Management on behalf of Staff and to ensure that their concerns are taken into account in management and policy decisions. The Union is governed by an elected Staff Council of twenty members and an Executive Committee of five members who are elected from amongst the Staff Council. ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: The Global Staff Union (GSU) Legal Officer handles matters related to the requirements of the staff. This will entail providing legal advice to members of the GSU including the preparation of Appeals to the Executive Director the FAO Appeals Committee and the addition the incumbent would have a key role in reviewing draft WFP policies and directives and providing advice to the GSU Staff Council to help formulate a position with a view to improve staff conditions of service. Under the general supervision and guidance of the GSU President the GSU Legal Officer will be responsible for the following key duties:
Oversee the comprehensive coordination of all GSU legal activities. This entails notonly managing and guiding the current legal work but also seamlessly integrating the contributions of the newly recruited legal consultant into our leadership in ensuring that the GSU legal operations are not just efficient but also perfectly aligned with the GSUs strategic a collaborative environment facilitating the synthesis of fresh perspectives with established practices thereby enhancing the GSUs legal departments overall effectiveness and adaptability in navigating complex legal extensive legal research and analysis handle a wide range of multi-disciplinary complex legal matters including interpretation and application of various legal instruments to facilitate comprehensive legal legal documents identify important issues similarities and inconsistencies and present findings for internal review to facilitate the decision-making or assist in preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of legal issues
background papers studies memoranda reports and other legal documents to facilitate coherence and quality of legal documents.
Prepare and/or review agreements including participation in negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes to meet unique client potential liabilities particularly vis-à-vis third parties and assist in the management of risks in GSUs activities to facilitate well-informed and assess briefs of evidence and draw recommendations to facilitate legal analysisand in providing legal advice and interpretations and reviewing administrativedecisions including assisting in or representing GSU members in tribunals or and/or assist Staff Council members in servicing committees task forces expert working groups and other bodies with legal advice and preparation or review of legal documents to facilitate the formulation of GSUs legal advice on HR rules regulations and support for staff appeals for all GSU members regardless of geographic decisions/recommendations made by UN entities such as GA ICSC HLMC JIU and prepare bulletins to inform members of changes in staff conditions of with the Staff Federation on common system information bulletins on GSU positions on policy related information and guidance to members and others related to the work of the GSUwith a view to encouraging wider requested brief staff members on the work of the GSU with a view to encouraging wider membership.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced University degree in Law or First University degree in Lawwith additional relevant experience and training in private commercialor public Law.
Must be qualified to practice or admitted to practice by a recognizednational or state bar or law society.
Experience:
At least five years or more of relevant progressively responsibleexperience in providing a wide range of legal services.
At least three years experience with UN employment law.
Proven experience with staff relations issues.
Strong knowledge of WFP/FAO Regulations Rules and Manuals.
Good knowledge of UN entities and impact of their decisions on staffsuch as the General Assembly the International Civil ServiceCommission the Joint Inspection Unit and the High Level Committee onManagement.
Previous experience with UN Staff Associations/Unions or Legal Servicefor staff assistance is an asset.
Knowledge & Skills:
Knowledge of and ability to apply legal principles conceptsprocedures and
terminology for review examination and processing of a range oflegal documents.
Knowledge of various legal research sources techniques and abilityto interpret and apply legislative instruments and draft legal papers.
Knowledge of tribunal processes and procedures.
Business acumen.
Strong time management skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Languages:
Proficient in written and spoken English
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR SHORT-TERM/CONSULTANCY CONTRACTS
Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic ChineseFrench Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFPs workinglanguages) is desirable.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation please contact:

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate complete and includes your employment records academic qualifications language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed please apply and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport recommendation letters academic certificates etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Please contact us at in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs job requirements merit and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse all forms of discrimination any kind of harassment sexual harassment and abuse of authority. Therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) FAO Finance Committee WFP External Auditor WFP Audit Committee Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.