Senior Legal Associate GS7 Vacancy-Job Ref: EJBEUNICEF/1201/202659

Senior Legal Associate GS7 Vacancy-Job Ref: EJBEUNICEF/1201/202659

Brussels (Belgium)

Job Description

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

For every child, the right to a Future

UNICEF’s Legal team supports the organization’s business units around the world – our clients – by delivering strategic legal solutions through collaboration. We provide legal advice that is risk-informed, timely, responsive, and pragmatic. We empower clients and build their capacity to self-help. We proactively engage with clients to anticipate trends and challenges and develop systemic solutions; and we protect UNICEF by identifying legal, reputational and other risks, and helping to mitigate those risks. Our lawyers are based in several UNICEF locations, including New York Headquarters, and in several other outposts, including Geneva, Copenhagen and Brussels and may expand to new locations in Asia.

We seek to hire a Senior Legal Associate under a fixed-term appointment to join the Legal team in Brussels. The initial appointment will be for two years, with the possibility of extension.

How can you make a difference?

The Senior Legal Associate in Brussels, in collaboration with the Senior Legal Associate in New York, will support the whole legal team, including through (a) assisting on a broad spectrum of legal matters ranging from commercial contracts to partnerships, disputes, programmes, and institutional matters, (b) preparing of legal documentation and (c) case and client management.

The Senior Legal Associate in Brussels will report to the Senior Legal Affairs Specialist in Brussels, who reports to the Chief Legal Counsel in New York.

Members of the UNICEF Legal team are expected to be open-minded and resourceful, responsive, and dynamic, transparent and approachable, and clear and authoritative. The overall direction of the Legal team is set by the Chief Legal Counsel in New York.

The Senior Legal Associate is expected to perform the functions of the role in close collaboration with all the team members, under the supervision of the Senior Legal Affairs Specialist.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: A minimum of a high-school diploma or equivalent supplemented by specialized training or technical courses related to the scope of the job description.
A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may replace 3 years of related work experience. A Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) may replace an additional 2 years.

Work Experience: At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in paralegal work or otherwise supporting the work of a legal team is required.
Skills: A constructive and client-oriented approach to resolution of problems is required.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including interpersonal skills with staff at all levels, and the ability to work with utmost discretion in handling sensitive and confidential matters are required.

Excellent skills using appropriate software tools (MS Office Suite, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Power BI) are required.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. Proficiency in another language is also desirable, including, for example, Portuguese.

Experience in a law firm or in the legal office of an international organization is highly desirable.

UN Experience, Multilingualism, Diplomacy, Communication, Discretion, UN legal knowledge.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Please click on the button below to Apply.