Legal Consultant

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website:  and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

This position is located in the Legal Office (LEG) of the World Food Programme's Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Legal Consultant will be assigned to the Contractual & Constitutional Law Branch (LEGC).

The position will primarily focus on matters relating to:

• relations and agreements with external parties, such as public-sector donors, other UN agencies and international organizations, international financial institutions, NGOs, cooperating partners, and service providers;

• legal aspects of the governance of WFP and the interpretation of WFP's institutional legal framework, such as WFP General Regulations, General Rules, Financial Regulations and Financial Rules and other administrative issuances; and

• International law, including WFP's institutional privileges and immunities and humanitarian law.

At this level, job holders are fully qualified Legal Officers operating across an assigned area of work preparing and finalizing legal opinions and advice, except for complex and sensitive legal issues seeking clearance of more senior Legal Officers. Job holders normally work directly with more senior Legal Officers and may have responsibility of supervising more junior colleagues. Work requires a complete understanding of the subject matter in the context of the program.

At this level, there is the ability to adapt policies, approaches and models to meet emerging needs of the target client community. Within established areas of responsibility, job holders exercise high degree of independence. Opportunities for development through exposure to major interlocutors on program development and delivery issues.

Client interface focuses on maintaining relationships and projecting the image of a credible/reliable partner. Established in the subject legal field, the impact of the work reflects directly on the professionalism of the job holder and the overall reputation of the team for high quality work.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Carry out research and provide advice on a variety of legal issues.

• Prepare legal opinions, reports, memoranda and correspondence.

• Review the legal aspects of various legal documents, including agreements, memoranda of understanding, commercial contracts and other such texts referred to the Legal Office for review, comment, or clearance.

• Draft a variety of legal documents, including policies, agreements and contracts; study legal questions arising out of the interpretation or application of relevant rules, policies, conventions and agreements.

• Review, advise on and draft complex contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, or legal motions/submissions and other legal documents; develop new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances.

• Provide legal interpretations on a full range of issues regarding WFP's various internal Regulations, Rules and Policies, including the General Regulations, Financial Regulations, Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board and other basic texts.

• Identify potential liabilities and assist in the management of risks in the Programme's activities, particularly vis-a-vis third parties.

• Handle a wide range of multi-disciplinary, complex, and often sensitive and/or conflicting legal matters involving issues relating to international, public, private and administrative law, to include interpretation and application of instruments in that area of concentration.

• Represent WFP in dispute resolution proceedings.

• Negotiate commercial and operational contracts; draft, negotiate, review and/or interpret basic agreements and cooperation agreements with governments.

• Perform other related duties as required.

While LEGC will be the base branch for this position, please note that the Legal Office is adopting a pooled service arrangement for posts at this level aimed at promoting inter-branch engagement and expanding staff knowledge and skills. This includes an expectation to undertake up to 50% of work on matters pertaining to the other branches of the Legal Office.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

Articulate and concise thinking and drafting. Comprehensive research. Timely preparation of sound written analysis of a variety of legal issues pertaining to commercial and public international law contracts and constitutional law. Application of specialized expertise in preparing legal advice, which is easily understandable to staff members not trained in the field of law.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced University degree in Law or First University degree in Law with additional relevant experience and training.

Experience:

Three to five years of relevant progressively responsible experience as a lawyer in a law firm or in a private-sector legal department. Experience in an international organization, an asset.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to draft contracts ad-hoc that are appropriate to contractual counterparty and context.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Business acumen and ability to think strategically.

• Solid communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

• Solid time management and priorities management skills.

• Adaptability and ability to work on a wide range of legal issues.

• General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations, and procedures, desirable.

Languages:

Excellent working knowledge (proficiency/level C) of English.

Knowledge (intermediate/Level B) of French is an asset.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: 

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Please contact us at in case you face any challenges with submitting your application

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.