National HLP Legal Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the UN agency dedicated to promoting socially and environmentally sustainable urban development and adequate housing for all. Established by the UN General Assembly in 1978, UN-Habitat has over four decades of experience in addressing urban growth challenges. It plays a crucial role in implementing the New Urban Agenda, adopted at Habitat III in 2016, and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Since 2015, UN-Habitat Syria has been actively involved in supporting urban resilience, recovery, and Housing, Land and Property (HLP) programming across the country. Following the political changes in late 2024, the program has expanded its support to administration" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">land administration, tenure security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and land sector reform as part of Syria's humanitarian-development-peace nexus, addressing critical HLP challenges essential for recovery, voluntary return, social cohesion, and sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The National HLP Legal Officer is expected to contribute significantly to UN-Habitat’s efforts in strengthening legal frameworks that protect Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) rights throughout the conflict cycle. This role involves providing technical expert support to UN-Habitat’s HLP projects in Syria and offering legal advice to non-HLP projects, ensuring a due diligence and risk management perspective is maintained with an HLP rights lens. The officer will also play a vital role in supporting UN-Habitat’s coordination efforts in various forums, including the HLP Technical Working Group (HLP TWG) and the Transitional Justice Technical Working Group (TJ TWG) in Syria. The position is crucial for improving the security of tenure in Syria by delivering efficient services to HLP rightsholders and rights claimants, contributing to strategic planning, fundraising, project design, implementation, and quality assurance of HLP projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The HLP Legal Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Urban Land Expert and in coordination with the HLP Programme Specialist and HLP Unit Leads. Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Advisory & Policy Alignment: Provide strategic legal advice to support the development and implementation of the HLP Unit’s strategy and workplans, ensuring alignment with UN-Habitat’s mandates.
• Representation & Inter-Agency Legal Leadership: Contribute to UN-Habitat’s co-leadership of the HLP TWG, providing legal expertise and supporting technical discussions.
• Legal Analysis, Knowledge Management, and Rights-Based Advocacy: Oversee the analysis of HLP-related legislative frameworks and emerging challenges, directing the production of high-impact legal knowledge products.
• Capacity Building, Synergy, and Portfolio Management: Design HLP mainstreaming initiatives and deliver legal training sessions to key stakeholders.
• Support project coordination and HLP activity management through donor engagement and the development of concept notes, proposals, and donor reports.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in law, social sciences, political sciences with HLP background, or any other relevant field. A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) combined with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of work experience in legal frameworks and HLP rights in humanitarian, early recovery, or development contexts, along with experience working with UN agencies and international NGOs on HLP rights or related topics.

Educational Background:
The educational requirements for this position include an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in law, social sciences, political sciences with a focus on HLP, or any other relevant field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) may be accepted if accompanied by two additional years of qualifying work experience.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in legal frameworks and HLP rights within humanitarian, early recovery, or development contexts. Candidates should have experience working with UN agencies and international NGOs on HLP rights or related topics, as well as experience leading capacity-building initiatives, advocacy, legal support, and legal research related to HLP.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the role.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as mid-level and is a full-time role under an Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) with a contract duration of 5 months, with the possibility of extension subject to funding availability. The vacancy is open to national personnel only, and applications from non-nationals will not be considered. The deadline for applications is set for midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessments.