JOB DESCRIPTION

The Legal Affairs Specialist will advise internal clients in particular supporting UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund Management Unit with a focus on governance, resource mobilization, supply and procurement and UNICEF regulatory compliance as well as supporting on a broad spectrum of legal matters ranging from commercial contracts to private sector partnerships. The Legal Affairs Specialist will report to the Senior Legal Affairs Specialist (Brussels) who reports to the Chief Legal Counsel.

How can you make a difference?

Members of the UNICEF Legal Team are expected to be open-minded and resourceful, responsive, and dynamic, transparent and approachable, and clear and authoritative. The overall direction of the Legal Team is set by the Chief Legal Counsel in New York.

The Legal Affairs Specialist will independently, working closely with other team members and under the supervision of the Sr Legal Affairs Specialist (Brussels).

1. At the request of the supervising Sr Legal Affairs Specialist (Brussels), act as the lead lawyer on matters relating to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) priorities including (a) governance, (b) advising on application of UNICEF’s regulatory framework to the CNF’s activities, (c) advising on, drafting and negotiating resource mobilization agreements with major partners, and (d) commercial negotiations for contracting for services to support the Child Nutrition Fund Management Unit as needed.

2. Collaborate closely with the Child Nutrition Fund Management Unit as well as teams across the organization, at the headquarters / divisional level, and at the regional and country office level, in widely varying development and humanitarian contexts.
3. Develop and provide training and capacity building to internal divisions and offices teams across UNICEF; proactively share knowledge with other team members.
4. Support projects managed by the Office (legal knowledge management, office governance, case management) throughout their entire lifecycle, including design & planning, stakeholder engagement, monitoring & evaluation.
5. Take on other tasks and duties as required.

The Legal Affairs Specialist will be expected to:

• Be alive to the bigger picture. Connect dots, identify trends, develop solutions. This involves: taking ownership and having sense of accountability over your portfolio as a whole, consciously answering the need for creativity and resourcefulness in all situations (i.e. show initiative, be proactive, create and use networks, think outside the box).
• Take leadership in action and be responsive with client, while keeping your supervisor posted. This involves communicating with the client regularly, maintaining high levels of responsiveness to the client, keeping your supervisor regularly informed and seeking their input and guidance appropriately, managing the expectations of the client and knowing when to escalate.
• Take charge – be responsible and be accountable. This involves:
  • taking a risk-based approach, prioritizing and, where matters warrant your investment, taking a forward-looking strategic approach – demonstrating coherence, rigor and thought over your matters;
  • being pro-active in stakeholder management, and following up on outstanding matters and queries;
  • being resourceful, for example, use networks to unlock matters.
• Exercise good judgement on emerging challenges, especially where there is a need to escalate so as to avoid or overcome an impasse and involve your supervisor in a timely manner.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A minimum of a post-graduate university law degree (for example. LL. B post-graduate; LL.M.; J.D.) in a relevant field of law (e.g. international law, commercial law) or equivalent is required; or, at the discretion of the Chief Legal Counsel, a first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Work Experience: A minimum of eight (8) years’ of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law in a relevant field is required (e.g. international law; commercial law).  Experience in a law firm, in private practice or as in-house counsel, or in an international organization (UN and international financial institutions, development banks, regional banks)  is highly desirable.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in another language, particularly one of the other official languages of the United Nations is also desirable (Chinese, Arabic, Russian, French, Spanish).

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements