LEGAL OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar was established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 39/2, adopted on 27 September 2018. The creation of the Mechanism was welcomed by the General Assembly in its resolution 73/264, adopted on 22 December 2018. This position is located within the Collection, Analysis and Sharing Section (CASS), based in Geneva, Switzerland. The Legal Officer (Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes) reports to the Chief of the Collection, Analysis and Sharing Section (CASS).




Responsibilities

Within delegated authority the Legal Officer (Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes) will be responsible for the following duties: •Assists the Chief of the Collection, Analysis and Sharing Section in fulfilling his or her supervisory and management functions. •Contributes to the development of policies and protocols and provides advice on complex legal issues relating to the collection, preparation and analysis of evidence and the development of case files for sharing with national, regional and international courts and tribunals with particular emphasis on evidentiary and legal issues relating to sexual and gender-based crimes and crimes against children under both international law and domestic laws. •Assesses the quality and sufficiency of the evidentiary materials collected, including the identification of evidentiary gaps and whether evidentiary materials meet legal requirements, such as admissibility and reliability in the context of international, regional and domestic judicial proceedings. •Participates in complex criminal investigative missions, including the strategizing, planning and organizing of such missions, with particular emphasis on issues related to sexual and gender-based crimes and crimes against children. •Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of evidentiary materials and case files to be shared with national, regional and international courts and tribunals. •Supports the development and implementation of protection and support measures to meet the needs of victims and witnesses who engage with the IIMM with particular emphasis on victims of sexual and gender-based crimes and crimes against children. •Monitors, conducts research and provides advice on the interpretation and application of legal developments in domestic and international jurisdictions relevant to the implementation of the IIMM’s mandate. Prepares and/or reviews studies, reports and correspondence as they relate to sexual and gender-based crimes, as well as crimes against children. •Performs other assignments as required.




Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Sound knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments, including international criminal law, with a particular emphasis on the legal practice of the international criminal tribunals. Sound knowledge of criminal investigations and prosecutions at the national and international levels. Ability to apply legal expertise to the analysis of a diverse range of complex issues and develop innovative solutions. Strong proficiency in legal writing and expression, and ability to produce legal documents. Ability to work well in a multicultural environment. Ability to work to tight deadlines and to handle multiple concurrent projects. Good computer skills and ability to use relevant software applications and online legal research tools. 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; 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 AND 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. JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.




Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law is required. A first-level university degree in law in combination with at least two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.




Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.




Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional legal experience, including at least five years of experience in international criminal law, is required. Experience conducting criminal investigations, including interviewing victims of sexual and gender-based crimes and crimes against children, is required. A minimum of three years of experience working in an international or hybrid criminal tribunal or accountability mechanism is desirable. Experience working on legal matters related to Myanmar is desirable.




Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a language used in Myanmar such as Burmese, Kachin, Chin, Rohingya and/or Shan languages is desirable.




Assessment

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




Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available for up to 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.




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.