judicial affairs officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates.

The Department works to integrate the efforts of United Nations, governmental and non-governmental entities in the context of peace operations.

This position is located in the DPO Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), Justice and Corrections Service (JCS).

JCS serves as a centre of expertise on justice, corrections and related rule of law areas within the United Nations Secretariat and supports the work of justice and corrections components in United Nations peace operations and other United Nations entities.

It assists host countries to deliver essential justice and prison services, strengthen criminal justice systems, and facilitate rule of law reforms.

The incumbent will report to the Chief of Service.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief of JCS (D-1) or his/her delegate, the Judicial Affairs Officer (P-4) will undertake the following functions: Mission Planning and Support

• Provide mission support to United Nations Missions on their rule of law, justice and corrections mandated tasks.
• Provide technical support and strategic guidance across all peacekeeping operations on criminal accountability including for crimes against peacekeepers and crimes again civilians.
• Provide strategic advice and support to the Department of Peace Operations and Member States on justice and corrections matters in peacekeeping.
• Provide rule of law, justice and corrections support to new, evolving or transitioning peace operations.
• Liaise with external and internal Department of Peace Operations partners on the rule of law including the Global Focal Point for Rule of Law towards coordination, effectiveness, and sustainability of United Nations support to host state authorities. Policy and Guidance
• Assist the Chief of Service or his/her delegate in the administration of the Service, including the development of workplans and budgetary documents.
• Draft, review and edit correspondence and other documents for the Chief of Service and other senior officials in Headquarters and in the field.
• Contribute to the development of policies, guidance, and project proposals for donor funding.
• Organize briefings, conferences and training events. Staffing and Human Resource Management
• Support all aspects of recruitment for professional staff, support staff and interns for the Service, and support the recruitment for counterparts in field missions.
• Support all aspects of selection, recruitment and deployment of Government Provided Personnel (GPP) and other seconded personnel, including by identifying and mobilizing specialized expertise.
• Ensures consideration of gender and diversity in all aspects of staffing and human resource management, and contributes to efforts to promote department and organizational strategies towards gender equality, diversity and integration.
• Supervise Justice and Corrections personnel as required.
• Assists with other tasks as requested by the Chief of Service or his/her delegate.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Demonstrated knowledge of judicial and legal system issues, including knowledge of criminal law and relevant international human rights standards and their relationship and linkages to the broader post-conflict recovery/developmental framework and initiatives.
• Ability to proactively seek and recommend sound policy initiatives.
• Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, including ability to identify and articulate issues that require a coordinated United Nations response.
• Judgment in applying technical expertise to a wide range of complex and unusual problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions.
• Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to judicial affairs and knowledge of the institutions of the United Nations system.
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately.
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication.
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed

Commitment to continuous learning:

• Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession.
• Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally.
• Contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates.
• Shows willingness to learn from others.
• Seeks feedback to learn and improve

Managerial Competencies:

Leadership:

• Serves as a role model that other people want to follow.
• Empowers others to translate vision into results.
• Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support.
• Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions.
• Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo.
• Shows the courage to take unpopular stands.
• Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, criminology, public administration, or a related field is required.

A first-level university degree in any of these fields, with a bar qualification or equivalent, in combination with two additional years of relevant legal experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of experience as a practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, legal expert, corrections expert, or rule of law expert is required.

Significant experience providing technical assistance for the development or reform of rule of law, justice, or corrections institutions in a transitional, development or post-conflict setting outside the incumbent's country of origin is required.

A minimum of one year experience working in the headquarters of a regional or international organization is required. Significant experience drafting strategic documents and reviewing the written work of others is required.

Significant experience providing support for criminal accountability efforts or the investigation and prosecution of serious crimes in post-conflict settings is desirable.

Experience managing an international team is desirable. Experience working in the front office of a senior official is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This post is financed by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her.

In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.

The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts.

The term "sexual exploitation" means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.

The term "sexual abuse" means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

The term "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator's working relationship.

Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs.

The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c).

Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised.

This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on "Manuals" in the "Help" tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines.

Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening.

No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted.

Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING).

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

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