Senior Legal Officer

Senior Legal Officer (Head, Development Law Service) at Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Roma, LAZ, IT. This Full time on site position offers great opportunities for career growth.
Job Posting: 24/Jul/2026 Closure Date: 24/Aug/2026, 4:59:00 PM Organizational Unit: LEG

Job Type
Staff position Type of Requisition: Professional Grade Level: P-5 Primary

Location:
Italy-Rome Duration: Fixed-term: two years with possibility of extension Post Number: CCOG Code: 1G01
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.
FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAOs values FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives, and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization. FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
Organizational Setting The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. FAOs commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
Reporting Lines The Senior Legal Officer (Head, Development Law Service) reports to the Legal Counsel or the Deputy Legal Counsel.
Technical Focus Public international law, natural resources and/or development law, environmental law, comparative legislation and regulation, legislative drafting.
Key Results The provision of legal advice and support on questions related to the legal and institutional means to promote and regulate national development and international cooperation in the food and agriculture sector.
Key Functions Manages the Development Law Service, setting goals and objectives aligned with the Strategic Framework of the Organization and the priorities of the Members, monitoring efficiency and outcomes/results, and providing guidance, supervision and quality control of work outputs and clearance of the development law work of the Organization.
Manages the resources of the Service in close collaboration with the Legal Counsel and Deputy Legal Counsel, including by appropriately managing financial resources allocated to the Service, leading resource mobilization efforts, and providing leadership to its personnel in managing and implementing the work programme of the Service, ensuring the application of an appropriate framework for impact assessment of its work.
Ensures that the Service delivers high-quality outputs which are clear, objective, and based on sound technical legal analysis in a timely and efficient manner.
Coordinates and fosters exchange of experience and knowledge on development law issues and on modalities for delivery of the work programme within the Service.
Fosters innovation and the use of new technologies to enhance the work of the Service and its efficiency.
Fosters innovation and identifies legislative and other solutions to assist Members to address new and emerging challenges in the fields of food, agriculture and nutrition.
Oversees the preparation of policy and position papers and reports on development law in general, and on the results of the Service in particular for internal use and, as appropriate, for the Governing Bodies.
Provides high-level advice and consultancy services to managers and staff in FAO, as well as to Members on development law and international law issues as required, and supervi