Legal Officer (UNRWA Dispute Tribunal), P-3 HQ Amman, Jordan Deadline
Closing date: 13 Jan 2019
Vacancy Announcement
Legal Officer (UNRWA Dispute Tribunal), P-3
HQ Amman, Jordan
Deadline for Applications 13 January 2019
(30 December 2018 for internal applicants)
Duration 1 year, renewable. Appointment subject to funding confirmation
Vacancy Announcement
Number
18-HQ-AM-73
UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current
UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified women.
UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.
UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff
working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed professionals wishing
to make a change.
UNRWA’s Dispute Tribunal
The UNRWA Dispute Tribunal, which is utilized by the Agency as the neutral first instance of
the United nations two-tier formal system of administration of justice. The UNRWA Dispute
Tribunal is established under UNRWA’s Area and International Staff Regulations and Rules
and is competent to hear and pass judgment on an appeal of: (1) an administrative decision
taken by UNRWA Management in respect of a staff member that is alleged to be in noncompliance
with the terms of appointment or the contract of employment; or (2) an
administrative decision imposing a disciplinary measure.
Do you want to make a lasting difference?
If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the
most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. In this role
you will be providing substantive technical and administrative support to the Registrar and
the Judge of the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal in the discharge of their functions in accordance
with the Statute, Rules of Procedure and any Practice Directions of the UNRWA Dispute
Tribunal.
Dispute Tribunal
The main responsibilities include:
In accordance with the Statute, Rules of Procedure and Practice Directions of the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal and the Agency’s policy and procedures and within delegated authority:
Identifying legal issues; drafting, reviewing and advising on Judgments and Orders; responding or assisting in the preparation of responses to complex legal inquiries and correspondence involving interpretation and application of administrative law; assisting the Tribunal in producing accurate, comprehensive judgments by reviewing draft judgments for any inconsistencies or inaccuracies to ensure editorial uniformity prior to dissemination;
Providing substantive technical and administrative support and preparing background materials and summaries of issues, as required, to the Judges of the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal in the adjudication of cases;
Attending meetings and providing legal and ad hoc advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions and emerging issues, as required;
Reviewing submissions to the Tribunal to ensure that they meet procedural requirements and identifying, where applicable, cases that are amenable to informal resolution, such as third party conciliation or mediation, to be brought to the attention of a Judge for possible referral to the Mediation Division;
Conducting extensive legal research and providing detailed analysis of cases and jurisprudence;
Assisting in maintaining the Tribunal’s Registers (electronic and online), including the Tribunal’s case law and jurisprudence databank, and ensuring the publication and dissemination of the decisions, rulings and judgments rendered by the Tribunal, in the official languages, through the agreed media;
Assisting in the preparation of reports on the work of the Tribunal to the Commissioner-General and other bodies, as may be mandated;
Assisting the Registrar in the overall supervision and guidance of the administrative officers and translators.
Conditions of service include:
UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $59,151 net tax free with post adjustment of 48% (subject to change without notice). All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
Dependency allowances
Rental subsidy
Education grant for children
Home leave travel
6 weeks (30 working days) annual leave
Pension fund entitlements under the
UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
International health insurance; optional
life insurance
Disability protection
To qualify for this position, you will need:
Education
A university degree from an accredited educational institution in law with an emphasis on administrative, employment or international law.
Work
Experience
At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in law, two years of which should be at an international level outside one’s home country; experience in administrative law and judicial structures and procedures at the international level is preferred; experience in an international public organization is preferred.
Language(s)
Excellent command of written and spoken English at native language level.
Desirable qualifications:
Comprehensive knowledge of Staff Rules relevant to UNRWA or other United Nations common system agencies;
Experience working in or appearing before an international administrative tribunal;
Advanced university degree in law.
Additional Information
The incumbent will be required to travel in the Agency’s area of operations.
Who we are
For over 65 years, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) has
been working on the ground in five fields of operations in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West
Bank and the Gaza Strip providing direct assistance and protection for some 5 million
Palestine refugees in the Middle East. UNRWA is mandated by the UN General Assembly to
provide this assistance and its mission is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full
potential in human development until there is a just and lasting solution for their plight.
UNRWA restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who have been uprooted by conflict
with services encompassing education, health care, relief and social services, camp
infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance.
For more details on UNRWA, please visit:
www.unrwa.org
You will also need to demonstrate the following competencies:
Excellent communication, negotiation skills and demonstrated ability to handle sensitive
situations diplomatically;
Excellent interpersonal skills; independent, disciplined, loyal, self-confident and selfassured;
Excellent writing, analytical and legal research skills;
Ability to work under pressure and within a team;
Flexible, able to assess and analyse situations quickly, objectively and prudently;
Ability to establish priorities and to plan work assignments;
Good knowledge of MS Office applications and computer/IT systems.
For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews:
https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI
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 UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications
received through
http://jobs.unrwa.org will 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. The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank
accounts.
General information
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and
impartiality at all times. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity,
and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and
unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a
non-smoking work environment.
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.
HOW TO APPLY:
How to applyTo start the application process, applicants are required to register at
http://jobs.unrwa.org by
creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications
received through
http://jobs.unrwa.org will 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. The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank
accounts.
