Legal Officer

Job Posting: 02/Oct/2025

Closure Date: 23/Oct/2025, 4:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: LEG

Job Type: Staff position

Type of Requisition: Professional

Grade Level: P-2

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

Duration: Fixed term: one year with possibility of extension.

Post Number: 2010780

CCOG Code: 1G02

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
- __________________________________________________
- **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 FAO's 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**:

- 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**

As part of the Office of the Director-General, the Legal Office (LEG) provides authoritative legal advice and assistance on a wide range of issues to the Director-General, units in Headquarters and in the field, the Governing and Statutory Bodies and Members of the Organization.

The position is located in the General Legal Affairs Service (LEGA). LEGA provides legal advice to all units of the Organization, and its Governing and Statutory Bodies, on constitutional questions, the interpretation of its Basic Texts, international treaties, internal legal rules and policies, as well as on legal aspects of relations with the Host and other Governments, other international organizations, private sector and other entities, and specific legal aspects of personnel matters. It represents FAO in judicial proceedings and in settlements of disputes.

**Reporting Lines**
The Legal Officer reports to the Deputy Legal Counsel or another more senior Legal Officer as designated by the Legal Counsel.

**Technical Focus**

Public international law, law of international organizations/constitutional law, international administrative law and contract law.

**Key Results**

The provision of legal advice and support on questions pertaining to the Organization's constitutional and legal framework, and its status as a specialized agency of the United Nations system.

**Key Functions**- Assists senior legal officers to prepare and provide advice on various legal issues including on aspects of public international law and international administrative law.- Conducts legal research and analysis on questions relating to public international law, international administrative law, the law of international organizations, and international treaty law, having regard to the FAO Basic texts, relevant international treaties and practices.- Assists senior legal officers in the review and drafting of legal opinions, agreements, contracts, pleadings, formal correspondence and other legal documents, identifying important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies, etc. on matters falling within the above-listed areas of law.- Assists senior colleagues in servicing meetings of Governing and Statutory Bodies, conferences, expert groups and other bodies, including in the preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, meeting reports, etc.- Performs other duties, as required.

**Specific Functions**- Prepares legal advice on matters related to FAO's operations and status, including on questions related to privileges and immunities of the Organization and that of its personnel, as well as on the conclusion of host country agreements and operational arrangements.- Prepares legal advice on a variety of issues arising from complex contractual arrangements, including for the receipt of voluntary contributions, as well as modalities for collaboration with a variety of partners including the private sector, and the development of innovative modalities to promote FAO's operations and meet unique needs/circumstances supporting delivery of FAO's mandate as appropriate.- Advises on the legal aspects of human resources related matters, including on appeals filed within the internal justice system and the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization, disciplinary processes, policy