Senior Legal Officer (Administrative Law)

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East, established to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees. With over 30,000 staff members, UNRWA operates in five areas of operation, focusing on delivering education, health care, social services, and emergency assistance to the most vulnerable communities. The agency is committed to helping Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development despite the challenging circumstances they face. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations, and individual contributions. The agency aims to be environmentally sustainable and is targeting to be plastic-free by 202

• For more information, visit their official website at https://www.unrwa.org/.

Job Overview:
The Senior Legal Officer (Administrative Law) plays a crucial role in leading the administrative law team within the Human Resources Division (HRD) of UNRWA. This position involves managing the workflow of the team, ensuring efficiency and adaptability in handling administrative law deliverables. The officer will provide mentorship and support to team members, ensuring high-quality work output. The role requires offering legal advice on operational matters to various stakeholders, including Field Offices and the Executive Office, and interpreting the regulatory framework in relation to operational scenarios. The officer will also manage disciplinary cases at Headquarters, review investigation reports, and make recommendations regarding disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, the Senior Legal Officer will contribute to the development of HR policies related to administrative law and represent HRD in committees and working groups focused on administrative law issues.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise the administrative law team in HRD, ensuring effective management of workflow and deliverables.
• Provide legal advice on operational matters to Field Offices, the Executive Office, and HR counterparts.
• Interpret and apply the regulatory framework to operational scenarios, assessing risks and compliance requirements.
• Manage disciplinary cases at Headquarters, including reviewing investigation reports and making recommendations for disciplinary actions.
• Collaborate with the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA) on appeals and provide legal reviews of recommendations from Field Offices regarding serious misconduct.
• Advise DLA on the merits of pursuing judgments from UNRWA’s Dispute Tribunal to the UN Appeals Tribunal.
• Review implementation memoranda for DHR signature and issue instructions related to UNRWA DT/UNAT judgments.
• Contribute to the development of HR policies concerning administrative law and the internal justice system for UNRWA staff.
• Manage communication with partners and represent HRD in relevant committees and working groups.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in law from an accredited institution. Admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction is required. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate a strong understanding of employment/labor law, administrative appeals, and grievances. A declaration regarding any current or past affiliations with NGOs, academic institutions, or political organizations is also required, although such affiliations will not automatically disqualify candidates.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in law is mandatory for this position. Candidates must have their degrees from accredited educational institutions and must be admitted to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in employment/labor law, administrative appeals, and grievances. If not currently serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, candidates must have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and their country of nationality. This experience should be in roles that demonstrate a strong understanding of administrative law and its application in an international context.

Languages:
Excellent command of spoken and written English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is a UN Regular Budget post with a contract duration of 2 years, which may be extended based on performance and organizational needs. The incumbent may be required to travel occasionally throughout the Agency's area of operations in the Middle East. Applications must be submitted in English, and only those completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system will be considered. Late applications will not be accepted. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity and encourages applications from under-represented groups. The agency also provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request.