Closing Date: 22 September 2024
Apply for the Legal Officer, P-4 Role at UNFCCC
Background
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the focus of the political process to address climate change. The UNFCCC secretariat supports the Convention, its Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement through a range of activities, including substantive and organizational support to meetings of the Parties and the implementation of commitments. It is a dynamic organization working in a politically challenging environment to help resolve one of the defining environmental issues of our time.
Where you will be working
This position is located in the Legal Affairs Division of the secretariat of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The incumbent will report to the Director of the Legal Affairs Division. The Legal Affairs Division provides legal and procedural advice and services to support (1) the
intergovernmental negotiation process and the implementation of the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol
and the Paris Agreement, and (2) the administration and operations of the UNFCCC secretariat. The Intergovernmental and Programme Support subdivision of the Legal Affairs Division provides legal
support to governing, subsidiary and constituted bodies with respect to the intergovernmental
negotiations and the implementation of the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The Legal Officer will serve in the Intergovernmental and Programme Support subdivision.
Your responsibilities
The Legal Officer reports to the Director of the Legal Affairs Division and has the following responsibilities:
- Serve as the secretary of the Kyoto Protocol Compliance Committee and the Paris Agreement
- Implementation and Compliance Committee and provides strategic leadership to the Committees;
- Organize and supervise the provision of substantive, legal, and procedural advice to the Kyoto Protocol Compliance Committee and the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee, as well as the substantive and logistical preparation, delivery, and follow-up of their meetings;
- Serve as the lead legal officer in one or more areas of work, and independently handle a wide range of multi-discipline, highly and often sensitive legal matters as regards climate change law;Advise governing, subsidiary and constituted bodies on substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity in the context of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) and the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs). This involves the provision of independent, authoritative and timely legal advice to the Parties and secretariat divisions regarding the intergovernmental climate change negotiation process.;
- Lead and manage team members working under their responsibility;
- Provide expert legal advice to other divisions of the UNFCCC secretariat on complex legal questions arising in international climate change law and the UNFCCC process;
- Liaise with representatives of the Parties, the presidency and observers and provide expert legal advice on legal, procedural and institutional issues related to the UNFCCC process;
- Organize and supervise research studies and the preparation of legal opinions, as well as perform extensive legal research and analysis on highly complex or novel legal issues/questions and prepare legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports, and correspondence;
Your qualifications
Educational Background:
Required: Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, with a specialization in international law. A first level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
Required: A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required. Experience in the area of public international law is desirable. At least five (5) years in an international environment, preferably in a United Nations common system organization or other intergovernmental organization, is desirable. Additional experience in providing substantive support to government or intergovernmental bodies, including subsidiary bodies thereof, is
desirable.
Language skills:
Required: Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.
Desirable: Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
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