Senior Legal Officer (P)

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 ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally, while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration.

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 IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories: 

    

    

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
 

Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.

The Department of Legal Affairs 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 Department of Legal Affairs is comprised of three divisions, the Contracts Law Division, the General and Administrative Law Division, and the Institutional Law and Programme Support Division.

The General and Administrative Law Division (LEG-GL) is responsible for:

• Advising on misconduct cases and the management of disciplinary processes, including the imposition of disciplinary and non-disciplinary measures.

• Reviewing the legality of contested decisions in formal Requests for Review by staff Members and representing the Organization in internal justice processes, including the Joint Appeals Review Board and the International Labour Organization Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT).

• Reviewing policies related to management and Human Resources, including revisions to the Unified Staff Regulations and Rules, instructions and other issuances.

• Assisting with the roll-out of the Unified Staff Rules to local staff members in IOM Regional and Country Offices worldwide.

• Advising on privileges and immunities matters related to employment disputes, including on litigation filed in national courts.

• Preparing legal advice on the interpretation and application of personnel policies, contractual terms and complex administrative law matters.

• Reviewing contracts, agreements and templates for staff and non-staff personnel, (including for internships, consultancies, escorts, loans, secondments, standby personnel, Junior Professional Officers, and settlements with staff members).

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the General and Administrative Law Division, the Senior Legal Officer will be accountable and responsible for providing legal advice, recommendations and services related to the responsibilities of the General and Administrative Law Division.

1. →Advise the Office of the Director General and IOM Regional and Country Offices on the interpretation and implementation of IOM’s privileges and immunities within LEG-GL’s area of responsibility.
2. →

   Supervise the review and drafting of legal submissions in LEG-GL’s area of responsibility, draft legal submissions in the complex cases.

3. →

   Develop and review internal rules and policies to address ongoing reforms and ensure the effective functioning of the internal administration of justice system and robust misconduct-prevention mechanisms.

4. →

   Provide legal advice to senior officials on a wide range of complex, and often sensitive and/or conflicting legal and personnel matters, involving substantive and procedural issues relating to international administrative law and administration of justice, including the provision of legal advice on the interpretation and application of the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances, and other policies.

5. →

   Review investigation reports and provide recommendations on appropriate actions; handle disciplinary procedures and draft related correspondences.

6. →

   Represent, the Organization in internal administrative proceedings, including in staff appeals before the Joint Administrative Review Board and supervise the drafting of legal submissions. Draft written pleadings to the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization (ILOAT) and handle related Tribunal’s requests.

7. →

   Keep abreast of developments in the law of the international civil service, administration of justice, and accountability and prepare legal opinions, briefs, reports, as requested.

8. →

   Performs such other duties as may be assigned.

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

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

• A minimum of seven years of relevant professional legal experience; 

• At least four years of practicing law in an international organization, in the field of international administrative law; and,

• Demonstrated experience with administrative investigations and disciplinary matters.

• Proven research and analytical skills; and,

• Sound knowledge of the jurisprudence of international administrative tribunals and/or the staff conditions of service under the UN Common System would be an advantage. 

All IOM staff members in all categories are required to be fluent in one of the IOM's official languages (English, French, Spanish).

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).

Working knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, 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.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.