DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

6 October 2024-23:59-GMT-05:00 Eastern Standard Time (Panama)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s 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 WFP’s values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

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).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This position is located in WFP’s Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBP) in Panama and reports directly to management of the Legal Office (LEG) in Headquarters in Rome.

LEG is organized in three branches that advise on the various aspects of WFP’s work:

• The Administrative and Employment Law Branch (LEGA) provides advice to management on all aspects of the employment relationship between WFP and its employees;
• The Contractual and Constitutional Law Branch (LEGC) provides advice on legal aspects of WFP’s internal governance, public international law, partnerships with resource partners and other external parties, and commercial law, including in connection with financial arrangements, general contractual law and operational, legal issues; and
• The Maritime, Transport, and Insurance Law Branch (LEGM) provides advice on all aspects of WFP’s supply chain activities, including Procurement (Food, Goods & Services), maritime, aviation, logistics (inland transportation, storage, and warehousing), United Nations Humanitarian Response Depots and insurance.

The Legal Consultant will receive assignments from LEG and requests for legal advice and assistance concerning RBP operations in the above focus areas. Regular meetings between the Legal Consultant and Legal Officers in LEG will be set up to ensure information sharing and consistency in legal advice.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the direct supervision of the LEG management, and in close coordination with the front office of the Regional Director, RBP, the incumbent shall perform the following tasks:

• Provide legal advice to RBP and RBP Country Office functions on a wide variety of issues;
• Undertake extensive legal research and analysis, and handle a wide range of complex multi-disciplinary legal matters of a substantive and procedural nature, including interpretation and application of various legal instruments to facilitate comprehensive legal services to facilitate the provision of quality and timely legal services.
• Review and draft a variety of contracts with public and private entities, such as agreements relating to engagement with other UN entities, memoranda of understanding with central and decentralised governments for project/programme implementation, agreements concerning the provision of services by WFP and supply chain operations, etc.
• Prepare legal opinions, reports, memoranda, and official correspondence on the interpretation and application of WFP’s regulations, rules, policies and procedures as well as applicable conventions, resolutions, and agreements to facilitate decision-making;
• Participate in preparing, pursuing, negotiating, and settling claims and disputes with public and private entities.
• Identify potential liabilities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties, and assist in managing risks in WFP’s activities to facilitate well-informed decisions.
• Assist in providing legal advice and interpretations and reviewing administrative decisions including assisting in representing WFP in tribunals or administrative proceedings.
• Service and/or assist senior Legal Officers 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 WFP’s position.
• In consultation with colleagues from RBP and LEG, undertake field missions and conduct outreach activities through trainings and briefings to RBP and Country Office teams on legal matters.
• Other duties as required.

RESULTS EXPECTED

Articulate and concise thinking and drafting. Comprehensive research and reporting. Capacity to develop a sound understanding of WFP legal work and internal processes. Ability to adapt in an evolving context.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education: Advanced university degree in the discipline of law or university degree in the discipline of law with experience and advanced training in private commercial and public international law.

Professional qualification: Must be qualified to practice or admitted to practice law by a recognized national or state bar or law society or have equivalent professional legal practice experience.

Experience: At least five years post-graduate of experience in law or provision of legal services.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Knowledge of and ability to apply legal principles, concepts, procedures, and terminology to review, examine, and process legal documents.
• Knowledge of various legal research sources and techniques and the ability to interpret.
• and apply legislative instruments and draft legal papers.
• Business acumen.
• Strong time-management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and bring cases forward while informing supervisors of significant developments.

LANGUAGES

Fluency (proficiency/Level C) in English and Spanish is required; intermediate knowledge (intermediate/Level B) of French or another official WFP language, i.e., Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, and Russian, is an asset.

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 dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

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 global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org 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.