Chief of Section, Legal Affairs

Job Posting Organization:
The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) serves as the central legal service of the United Nations, providing legal advice to the Secretary-General and various UN organs. It operates in the field of public and private law, representing the Secretary-General in legal conferences and judicial proceedings. The OLA performs substantive functions for legal organs involved in public international law, the law of the sea, ocean affairs, and international trade law. The Chief of Treaty Section, who reports directly to the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, plays a crucial role in the administration and management of the Section, overseeing its work and ensuring the delivery of high-quality outputs.

Job Overview:
The Chief of Treaty Section is responsible for formulating the work programme of the Section, determining priorities, and allocating resources for timely delivery of outputs. This role involves overseeing the administration and management of the Section, including budget preparation and staff performance evaluation. The Chief will manage tasks within the Section, conduct research on complex treaty law issues, and provide legal advice on treaty-related questions. Additionally, the Chief promotes wider participation in the multilateral treaty framework and supervises the dissemination of international law information. The position requires strong leadership and communication skills to interact effectively with Member States and international organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Chief of Treaty Section will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Formulating and managing the work programme of the Section, determining priorities, and allocating resources.
• Overseeing the administration and management of the Section, including budget preparation and performance evaluation.
• Managing task assignments and evaluating programme performance.
• Supervising research and analysis on treaty law and related international law issues.
• Providing legal advice on treaty-law questions and drafting final clauses of multilateral treaties.
• Promoting participation in the multilateral treaty framework through organizing events.
• Supervising the interpretation and application of regulations related to treaty registration.
• Responding to inquiries from Member States and international organizations.
• Planning activities for the dissemination of international law. 1
• Ensuring high-quality outputs from the Section. 1
• Supervising treaty-related data processing and publication. 1
• Conducting capacity-development activities at Headquarters and regionally. 1
• Participating in international conferences and seminars. 1
• Advising the USG/ASG on management strategies and operations. 1
• Performing other related duties as requested.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of public international law and treaty law, with analytical skills and sound judgment. Familiarity with UN policies and procedures, as well as modern computer technology, particularly document management systems, is essential. The role requires professionalism, effective communication skills, and the ability to manage performance and lead a diverse team. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to gender equality and inclusivity in the workplace.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, with training in public international law, is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in public international law, with managerial experience in a multicultural environment, preferably within an international organization or government. Experience in treaty law and innovative approaches to organizational challenges is desirable, as is experience in applying behavioral science insights for design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design and stakeholder engagement.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level III in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is desirable, also at UN Level III proficiency.

Additional Notes:
The appointment is for an initial period of one year, subject to availability of the post or funds. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process is competitive, and candidates may be subject to reference checks. The UN Secretariat does not charge any fees during the recruitment process, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities.