occupied Palestinian territory: Legal Officer (Protection)

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY

FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST

UNRWA

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:

Legal Officer (Protection)

Vacancy Announcement Number

15-HQ-JR-61

Grade

P-3

Deadline for Applications

31 January 2016

(2 January 2016 for internal applicants)

Duty Station

Jerusalem

Under the supervision of the Director of Legal Affairs and Deputy Director of Legal Affairs, the Legal Officer (Protection) focuses on providing international law input and advice to Headquarters and all Fields on a wide range of issues, in particular protection issues arising in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The post leads the coordination of the Agency’s engagement with the international human rights system. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

· Assist in providing legal input into development and implementation of Agency strategy and policy, in particular coordinate and lead implementation of the Agency’s engagement with the international human rights system and provide input on Agency protection strategy and interventions to the Senior Protection Coordinator, Field Protection Coordinators and Officers and others;

· Assist in providing legal advice, training and outreach on the interpretation and application of relevant public international law, including UN law, international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law and practice, particularly as it relates to protection of Palestine refugees in the Agency’s fields of operation, status and mandate of the Agency, privileges and immunities and related responsibilities of the Agency and its personnel, and humanitarian principles;

· Liaise with other UN Agencies and NGOs on protection issues through participating in UN working group meetings in the occupied Palestinian territory, as appropriate;

· Contribute to responses to requests from governments, UN agencies, NGOs and asylum seekers’ representatives on verification of registration as Palestine refugees with UNRWA and related issues;

· Draft and review drafts of all types of Agency contractual modalities, including contracts for procurement of goods and/or services, memoranda of understanding with partners and funding agreements;

· Provide legal advice and assistance on matters relating to administrative and employment law issues, in particular by drafting Agency submissions to the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal and/or the UN Appeals Tribunal;

· Advise on the interpretation and application of the Agency’s regulatory framework, in particular General Assembly resolutions, UNRWA Staff and Financial Regulations, Rules and associated administrative issuances, and Organizational Directives.

Professional Knowledge and Experience

· A university degree from an accredited educational institution in law, preferably with specialisation in public international law and preferably also with some further specialization in international human rights law;

· At least six years’ experience as a lawyer in the United Nations, other international organization, in government service, the commercial/private sector or NGO, including a period of experience in public international law;

· Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Competencies

· Ability to negotiate effectively;

· Ability to effectively compile and synthesize information;

· Proven ability in the analysis of facts/information, the development of rigorous arguments and replies and the provision of sound advice;

· Good English drafting skills;

· Ability to progress with work independently and to participate as a member of a team;

· Ability to communicate effectively with a range of internal and external contacts.

Desirable Qualifications

· Advanced degree from an accredited educational institution in law, with specialisation in public international law, preferably also with some further specialization in international human rights and humanitarian law;

· Experience in the international human rights system;

· At least two years’ experience at the international level, outside one’s home country;

· Knowledge of the history and contemporary problems of the Middle East;

· Familiarity with the UN Common System and practices;

· Working knowledge of Arabic.

Additional information

The incumbent should be able to travel in the Agency’s five fields of operation in the Middle East.

Equivalency

When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Human Resources Department may substitute part of the unmet requirements under UNRWA’s equivalency determination guidelines with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and/or progressive relevant work experience. Note: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered sufficient for an equivalency determination.

Conditions of Service

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $60,813 net tax free with dependants or $56,766 single, plus post adjustment of 55.8% subject to change without notice). Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks annual leave. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Initial contract is up to one year, subject to the availability of funds, with the possibility of further extensions based on performance, the continuing need for the post and the availability of funds.

How to Apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWAPersonal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received throughhttp://jobs.unrwa.orgwill be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General Information

UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

On appointment, all individuals will be asked to sign a self-attestation, confirming that they have not committed, been convicted of, or prosecuted for, any criminal offence and that they have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

Date of issue: 20 December 2015 / CF

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWAPersonal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received throughhttp://jobs.unrwa.orgwill be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.