Young Professional Officer (Legal)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable, reduce rural poverty, and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. The organization employs thousands of professionals across various fields, including agriculture, nutrition, and environmental sustainability, and operates through a network of regional and country offices.

Job Overview:
The Young Professional Officer (Legal) position is situated within the Legal Office (LEG) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This role is designed for recent graduates or young professionals who are looking to gain experience in legal advisory services related to sustainable food and agriculture, as well as natural resource management. The officer will be involved in providing legal support and analysis on a variety of issues that align with the organization's strategic objectives. The position requires a strong understanding of development law and the legal frameworks governing food and agriculture, as well as the ability to conduct thorough legal research and analysis. The Young Professional Officer will work closely with senior legal officers and contribute to the development of legal instruments, opinions, and training materials, thereby playing a crucial role in supporting FAO's mission to promote sustainable agricultural practices and resource management.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Young Professional Officer (Legal) will be responsible for a range of duties, including but not limited to: conducting legal research and analysis on multidisciplinary legal matters related to development law; preparing and reviewing legal opinions, briefs, and reports; drafting legal texts, regulations, and other legal instruments; maintaining and updating legal databases and web pages; providing technical support for various projects and initiatives; collaborating in the development of training materials and organizing workshops and seminars; participating in meetings, consultations, and conferences, and assisting in the production of required materials; contributing to the work of Strategic Programme Teams and Technical Units at FAO Headquarters and decentralized offices; and ensuring alignment with the organization's policies on gender equality and sustainable development.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, with a focus on legal and institutional aspects of food and agriculture or natural resources. A minimum of one year of relevant experience in these areas is required, along with a working knowledge of English at proficiency level C and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) at level B. Candidates should demonstrate competencies in results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement, as well as technical and functional skills relevant to the position.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in law, which should encompass a comprehensive understanding of legal principles, particularly those related to food and agriculture, natural resources, and environmental law. Candidates should have a solid foundation in legal research methodologies and the ability to apply legal concepts to real-world scenarios, particularly in the context of sustainable development and resource management.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least one year of relevant experience in legal and institutional aspects of food and agriculture or natural resources. Experience in working with international organizations, government bodies, or non-governmental organizations is considered a strong asset. Candidates should also have experience in drafting legal texts and conducting legal research and analysis, as well as familiarity with international normative instruments and best practices in policy and legislation.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, with a requirement for candidates to have a working knowledge (level C) of the language. Additionally, candidates must possess intermediate knowledge (level B) of another FAO official language, which can include Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. This multilingual capability is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the organization and with its partners.

Additional Notes:
Candidates must be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application. The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is specifically designed for talented and qualified professionals, with priority given to candidates from non- and under-represented countries, particularly those from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). The position is full-time and offers an opportunity to start a career as an international civil servant with FAO. All candidates are expected to adhere to FAO's values of commitment, respect, integrity, and transparency.