Legal Analyst

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Under the direct supervision of the Corporate Legal Advisor, Head of the Commercial and Institutional Law Practice, the Legal Analyst assists the Legal Group in drafting and reviewing legal documents, in providing legal advice and supporting the implementation of UNOPS standards. A major part of this role is to provide support ensuring that UNOPS implementation activities are provided with enabling and solution-oriented support on a daily basis, and that these challenges are registered and made to contribute towards longer-term policy change. The incumbent of this position would need to be able to analyze policies and processes to meet practice needs and recommend change.

The Legal Analyst works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in Regional Offices, UNOPS HQ personnel, UN agencies and Government officials to successfully deliver legal services.

FUNCTIONS

Summary of Key Functions

1. Provides legal advice to UNOPS personnel, focusing on achievement of the following results:

2. Review and draft project agreements with various funding sources

3. Draft contracts, purchase orders and other agreements to mitigate commercial risks, ensuring that organizational legal requirements and standards are met;

4. Under the guidance of the Corporate Legal Advisor, provide legal advice on the application of UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations, in particular related to procurement and contracting;

5. Review and analyze various documents for the procurement process, assessing institutional risk;

6. Analyze disputes and claims related to procurement and service contracts;

7. Provide legal and procurement-related advice on institutional and commercial matters;

8. Support the implementation of UNOPS standards and coordination and review of audit responses; follow-up of the implementation of audit recommendations;

9. Provide advice on and/or development and institutionalization of new approaches and standards relevant to the legal practice;

10. Develop and maintain a system for keeping records of decisions made and actions taken.

11. Perform other duties as required.

12. Provides support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results:

13. Support the organization of training for UNOPS personnel on legal-related topics.

14. Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

15. Prepare summary of lessons learnt and best practices in administration.

REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law with 2 years of relevant experience.
• Admission to the bar in a national jurisdiction is required.

Experience:

• Relevant experience is defined as experience as a lawyer/counselor in commercial or international law, including legal analysis, advice, research or drafting of legal texts.
• Experience and knowledge at both policy and operational levels with a variety of relevant UN funding and/or operational agencies, bilateral donors and international financing institutions is desired.

Language:

• Fluency in written and oral English (reading, speaking and reading) is required.
• Knowledge of French is desirable.