Legal Officer, P-4

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Secretary-General is responsible for the investment of the assets of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The Secretary-General has delegated this responsibility to the Representative of the Secretary-General for the investment of the assets of the UNJSPF (RSG). The RSG is, in turn, assisted in this function by the Office of Investment Management (OIM). OIM manages a $90+ billion multi-asset class, global investment portfolio, about 85% of which is actively managed in-house. Asset classes under management comprise of global equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, timber and commodities. OIM’s staff are all based in New York and come from over 40 countries. This position is located in the Legal Team of OIM. The incumbent reports to the Senior Legal Officer.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority in consultation with the Office of Legal Affairs, the Legal Officer may be responsible for the following duties:

• Handles a range of legal issues related to investments, including the review and interpretation of a broad range of documentation relating to transactions in global public and private markets.
• Serves as a lead officer in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handles a wide range of multi-discipline and complex legal matters involving issues of international, public, private and administrative law, to include interpretation and Application of instruments in that area of concentration.
• Provides legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, which may include those related to administration and management, institutions support, procurement and contracts, and other operational matters.
• Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports, indictments and correspondence; provides legal advice to the unit/division.
• Participates on internal task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues, meeting reports, etc.
• Reviews, advises on and drafts complex contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, or legal motions/submissions and other legal documents; develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances.
• Serves on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required; promotes the work of the United Nations, including the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and represents the Organization at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.
• Coordinates and direct teams of other legal officers dealing with significant problems as required, and/or mentors and supervises the work of junior officers on specific projects.
• Contributes to review and design of new, or new applications of, legal instruments, policy, guidelines, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of international business and investment law and instruments, including business law relating to corporate finance, public and private market investment transactions, capital markets transactions and instruments and other commercial transactions. Ability to apply legal expertise to analyzing a diverse range of complex and unusual legal issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions. Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct comprehensive legal research on a range of issues, including those of a unique and/or complex nature; proficiency in legal writing and expression and ability to prepare legal briefs, opinions, and a variety of legal instruments and related documents. Discretion and sound judgment in applying legal expertise to sensitive, complex legal issues. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/cases. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law is required. A first level university degree in law in combination with an additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Admittance to the bar, or otherwise qualified to practice law, in a Member State of the United Nations is required.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in transactional law, including legal analysis, research and writing, acquired at a law firm or in the legal department of a global investment institution, multinational corporation, international organization, government or multilateral development bank, is required. (Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the university degree in law recognized by the United Nations).
• A minimum of three years of experience in drafting and negotiating comprehensive documentation for private market investment transactions (private equity, private credit, real estate and/or infrastructure) on behalf of limited partners and/or fund managers is desirable.
• A minimum of three years of experience in drafting and negotiating schedules to Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements and/or ISDA Master Agreements on behalf of a counterparty is desirable.
• A minimum of three years of experience in drafting and negotiating complex contracts for goods and services, including licensing of financial technology is desirable.
• Professional legal experience working in the legal office of an international intergovernmental organization is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Application instructions

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