Legal Officer (Gaza Response)

Position Title: Legal Officer (Gaza Response)

Duty Station: To be determined

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P3

Type of Appointment: Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 22 August 2024

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates
2. Candidates from the following non-represented member states: Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands; Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second-tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:

The Office of Legal Affairs (LEG) provides legal advice to the Director General, the Deputy Directors General, the Regional Offices, Country Offices, and other Departments and Offices of the Organization. The Department provides support to ensure that the activities and operations of the Organization are carried out in accordance with the legal framework governing IOM, including the IOM Constitution, decisions of the governing bodies of IOM, the Unified Staff Regulations and Rules, the Financial Regulations and Rules, IOM instructions and international law.

The Office of Legal Affairs, headed by the Legal Counsel, comprises three divisions: the Contract Law Division, the General and Administrative Law Division, and the Institutional Law and Programme Support Division. Additionally, an Emergencies Focal Point reports directly to the Legal Counsel, who oversees and provides cross-cutting advice during all Level 3 (L3), Level 2 (L2), and Director General-declared emergencies.

This position directly reports to the Senior Legal Officer for the Gaza Response. The Senior Legal officer operates under the administrative supervision of the Regional Crisis Coordinator and the direct technical guidance of the Legal Counsel at Headquarters (HQ). Additionally, the role requires coordination with both the Regional Office (RO) and HQ and maintains close collaboration with the overall emergencies legal focal point.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Acting Senior Legal Officer: In the Senior Legal Officer’s absence, assume their duties, maintaining effective communication with headquarters to ensure ongoing legal oversight and operations.
2. Legal Risk Management: Under the guidance of the Senior Legal Officer (Gaza Response), regularly assess and update the risk register to identify and mitigate legal risks effectively.
3. Document Management and Lessons Learned: Oversee legal documentation and information management, standardize document templates for the Gaza response, and ensure knowledge sharing with headquarters to enhance organizational practices.
4. Support in Negotiations: Provide substantive assistance in preparing and conducting negotiations with both local and international stakeholders, ensuring all documentation adheres to legal and organizational standards.
5. International Legal Monitoring: Monitor and assess developments in international legal forums, such as UN resolutions and International Court rulings, and provide detailed analyses and advice on their implications for Gaza operations to the Senior Legal Officer and the Emergencies Focal Point.
6. Contract Review: Review all contracts related to funding to ensure compliance with internal policies and minimize organizational risks.
7. Legal Training and Capacity Building: Develop and ensure comprehensive, onboarding briefings and other training programs that build capacity and awareness across multiple dimensions of international law, including International Humanitarian Law (IHL), international refugee law, international human rights law, international trade law, the law of international organizations, privileges and immunities, and other relevant legal frameworks, while simultaneously ensuring a deep understanding of the ethical underpinnings provided by humanitarian principles.
8. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Law or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• A minimum of five years of professional legal experience, including legal research, analysis and writing;
• Field experience, working on the ground in a humanitarian crisis is an advantage;
• Experience of working in the region is an advantage;
• Experience in Advisory work on access and supply chain issues, international humanitarian law, international trade law, money laundering and sanctions compliance work;
• Experience in analysing legal instruments, undertaking legal research and drafting legal documents and contracts; and,
• Experience in advising on the privileges and immunities of an international organization.

Skills

• Legal research and drafting skills;
• Critical thinking and problem-solving ability; and,
• Ability to handle crisis situations effectively and provide solutions in high-pressure environments.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Arabic and/or another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

1 Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.p df

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates endorsed by the Appointments and Postings Board will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.