Legal Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Office of Legal Services (OLS) is a crucial part of the Bureau for Management Services (BMS) within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Established to provide exclusive legal advice to the Administrator and all UNDP business units, OLS plays a vital role in guiding organizational priorities and decision-making aligned with UNDP's mission and the Sustainable Development Goals. The office supports the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) in developing necessary policy and legal instruments for the implementation of UNDP projects and programs. The BMS/OLS is involved in various initiatives, including the Climate Hub, which focuses on supporting countries in fulfilling their commitments under the Paris Agreement. As a Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accredited Entity, UNDP assists countries in securing eligibility and developing funding proposals for climate-related projects. The office is engaged in managing the REDD+ portfolio and ensuring compliance with performance-based climate finance initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Legal Specialist will be responsible for supporting the Senior Legal Advisor and the Programmes and Projects Team at BMS/OLS in updating and adjusting legal templates and policies related to performance-based climate finance projects. This role involves ensuring that the Performance-Based Payment Agreement (PBPA) and Development Services Agreement (DSA) templates reflect current policy changes and are suitable for implementing climate finance initiatives. The Legal Specialist will also review proposed policy changes, provide legal feedback, and liaise with various internal departments to gather input for the templates and policies. The position requires a proactive approach to legal analysis and the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders to ensure compliance and alignment with UNDP's objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Update the Performance-Based Payment Agreement (PBPA) template to reflect policy changes and ensure donor conditionalities are accurately represented.
• Create separate PBPA templates for working capital reimbursements and those without.
• Revise the Development Services Agreement (DSA) template to accommodate policy changes and prepare two versions based on the relationship between the service recipient and financer.
• Review proposed policy changes to the PBP Policy, DSA Policy, and other relevant UNDP policies, providing legal feedback and drafting necessary documentation.
• Liaise with internal departments to gather input and feedback on templates and policies.
• Assist the Senior Legal Advisor with additional tasks related to legal matters, including drafting advice and participating in meetings.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, or a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Law with two additional years of qualifying experience.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience as a lawyer in the development or environmental sectors (nine years with a bachelor’s degree).
• Previous experience in a legal function within a United Nations organization or as a consultant providing legal support to a UN organization.
• Proven experience in developing legal agreement templates and knowledge of the legal framework applicable to UN organizations.
• Familiarity with performance-based financing and experience in legal review of policies is essential.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Law. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Law, combined with two additional years of qualifying experience in law practice within the development or environmental sector, will be considered in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of relevant work experience for candidates with a master’s degree, or nine years for those with a bachelor’s degree. This experience should be specifically in legal roles within the development or environmental sectors, demonstrating a strong understanding of the legal frameworks and practices relevant to these fields.

Languages:
Proficiency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, proficiency in Spanish or French is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a consultant role, reporting to the Senior Legal Advisor at HQ/BMS/OLS. The consultant will work closely with BPPS, and payment approvals will be processed by the Climate and Forest budget holder following invoice approval by BMS/OLS. UNDP is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply. The organization does not tolerate harassment or discrimination and conducts relevant checks on selected candidates. UNDP reserves the right to select multiple candidates from this vacancy announcement and may retain applications for similar positions at the same grade level.