The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to United Nations peace operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. The Department works to integrate the efforts of United Nations, governmental and non-governmental entities in the context of peace operations. This position is located in the DPO Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), Justice and Corrections Service (JCS).

JCS serves as a centre of expertise on justice, corrections and related rule of law areas within the United Nations Secretariat and supports the work of justice and corrections components in United Nations peace operations and other United Nations entities. It assists host countries to deliver essential justice and prison services, strengthen criminal justice systems, and facilitate rule of law reforms. The incumbent will report to the Chief of Service. In the area of concentration and within delegated authority and location, and, as necessary, the Senior Legal Officer may be responsible for the following duties: (These duties are generic, and may not be performed by all Senior Legal Officers.) • Provides advice and expertise to senior management at Headquarters and senior leadership of United Nations peace operations on rule of law issues, including on the strategic direction of the Organization's rule of law work and the establishment of justice and corrections components of peace operations. • Serves as a recognized expert in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handles a wide range of multi-discipline, highly complex, and often sensitive and/or conflicting rule of law policy, guidance and training matters. • Coordinates and direct teams of other judicial and corrections officers, guides and supervises the work of junior officers; may assist the Director/Deputy Director in general management and administration of the Service, organizing and prioritizing the workload and providing general coordination and supervision of assignments. • Develop and maintain high-level partnerships within the United Nations system and with external agencies to encourage integrated and well-coordinated rule of law support to host countries of United Nations peace operations, as well as with relevant research institutions, academic experts, think tanks and NGOS to keep abreast and contribute to Rule of law policy developments. • Makes various types of recommendations to senior officials of substantive units with respect to actions to take; recommendations are usually accepted as proposed. • Provide authoritative policy and guidance advice on diverse range of highly complex or novel substantive and procedural rule of law issues, which may include those related to administration and management, institutions support, peacekeeping and other operational matters, separately administered programmes and funds, etc. • Organizes and supervises research studies and the preparation of lessons learned studies, as well as performs extensive rule of law research and analysis on highly complex or novel rule of law issues/questions and prepares opinions, studies, briefs, reports, and correspondence. • Services conferences, commissions, committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, meeting reports, etc. • Represents, or supervises the representation of, the organization on major briefings and conferences • Serves on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required; promotes the work of the United Nations and represents the organization at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc. • Contributes to review and design of new, policy, guidelines, etc. • Supervises and participates in preparing publications of the Service. • Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends, patterns and impact for planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.

Professionalism: Knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments, including criminal law, both substantive and procedural. Ability to apply legal expertise to analyzing a diverse range of complex and unusual legal issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions in prosecuting complex criminal cases. Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct comprehensive research on a range of issues, including those of a unique and/or complex nature; proficiency in legal writing and expression and ability to prepare a variety of policy and guidance related documents. Discretion and sound judgment in applying expertise to sensitive, complex rule of law issues. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/cases. Knowledge of contemporary international relations and of UN system, organization and interrelationships. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law. A first-level university degree in law, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Not available.

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in law, the rule of law or the justice and corrections sector is required. This must include at least two years providing strategic guidance and technical assistance for strengthening rule of law, legal, judicial and corrections institutions in a developmental, transitional and/or post-conflict setting outside of the applicant's home country. A proven track record of drafting and supporting the implementation of policies, lessons learned, and research papers in the field of rule of law, justice and corrections is desirable At least one year of experience working in the HQ of an international organization is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in both oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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