Legal Officer

Vacancy No: RAPS/2/2015/JUR/01 Title: Legal Officer Grade: P.2 Contract type: Fixed-term Appointment	Date: 21 May 2015 Application Deadline (midnight Geneva time) 21 June 2015 (14 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications   Organization unit:   JUR Duty Station:  Geneva, Switzerland
General introduction: The following are eligible to apply: - ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations. - External candidates. Staff members with at least five years of continuous service with the Office are encouraged to apply and will be given special consideration at the screening and evaluation stage. In accordance with the Staff Regulations and letters of appointment, successful candidates for positions in the Professional category would be expected to take up different assignments (field and Headquarters) during their career, the desirable length of an assignment in any specific position being two to five years, following which the incumbent should be willing to move to another assignment and/or duty station. Within the context of the Office's renewed efforts to promote mobility, staff members seeking mobility are encouraged to apply to vacancies. Mobility will be given special consideration at the screening and evaluation stages. The specific language requirements for this position are detailed hereunder. Candidates whose mother tongue is not one of the ILO working languages (English, French and Spanish) shall possess a fully satisfactory working knowledge of at least one of the working languages in order to apply. If appointed, and if so required as per the position requirements, they may be required to acquire a working knowledge of a second working language during their initial years of service in the Office. The ILO values diversity among its staff. We welcome applicants from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to erecruit@ilo.org . Applications from qualified candidates from non- or under-represented member States, or from those member States which staffing forecasts indicate will become non- or under-represented in the near future, would be particularly welcome. A list of these countries is in Appendix I. Successful completion of the Assessment Centre is required for all external candidates. Conditions of employment are described in Appendix II.
INTRODUCTION The position is located in the Office of Legal Services and Office of the Legal Adviser (JUR). JUR is responsible for providing legal advice and other legal services to the Organization on all matters implicating the legal interest of the Organization, including legal opinions concerning the Constitution, membership, rules and activities of the ILO. All officials in the performance of their functions are expected to seek legal advice and any necessary legal services on all such matters. JUR reports directly to the Director-General. It is responsible for furthering and defending the legal interests of the Organization. Under the supervision of the Legal Adviser, the incumbent will be required to participate in all tasks within the competence of JUR, including preparing legal opinions, drafting legal documents and formulating legal advice on the application and interpretation of administrative and policy matters.
Description of Duties Specific duties 1. Undertake legal research and draft research papers on questions relating to the protection of the ILO privileges and immunities, the interpretation of the ILO Constitution, the ILO supervisory system, or the application of the Standing Orders of the International Labour Conference, the Governing Body and other meetings. 2. Undertake review and legal analysis of proposals for technical cooperation agreements and partnerships, including assessment of related documents, legal consultation with concerned parties, and prepare or revise the necessary transactional documents in order to recommend them for signature. 3. Undertake research and studies on problems relating to internal administration, policies and procedures. 4. Prepare draft replies to requests for interpretation of the ILO Staff Regulations in connection with internal appeals and assist with the preparation of pleadings before the Administrative Tribunal, including through research/briefing notes on relevant case-law. 5. Service the Secretariat of International Labour Conference, the Governing Body and Regional Meetings as appropriate. 6. Perform other legal services as required. These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties: 1. Examine reports by governments and comments by employers' and workers' organisations on ratified and unratified Conventions and Recommendations. Perform comparative analyses of the legislation and practice of the different States. 2. Draft comments for the high-level committees and/or groups of experts. Draft notes, reports and comments concerning the application of Conventions, for consideration by governments, the Governing Body, and the International Labour Conference. 3. Undertake research and studies on problems relating to internal administration, international law or labour standards. 4. Participate as a member of the secretariat of various committees dealing with legal issues or labour standards, including the preparation of background material and documents, drafting records of meetings, drafting reports, etc. 5. Draft replies to requests from constituents or clients on questions relating to international labour standards or other legal questions. 6. Prepare summaries of judgements and national labour law case.
Required Qualifications
Education Advanceds degree in law, or its equivalent, preferably with specialisation in international, constitutional or administrative law; familiarity with labour law would be an advantage.
Experience Minimum of one year of national or international legal experience.
Languages (See also above) Excellent command of one of the working languages (English, French, Spanish) and a good working knowledge of a second with demonstrated ability to draft succinctly and correctly in both languages. Knowledge of the third language would be an advantage.
Competencies  In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires: Competencies - Ability to analyse defined aspects of legal issues; ability to draft clearly and concisely to prepare studies and comments and take initiative to keep up-to-date with new developments in international, administrative and labour law. Good analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to work quickly; integrity; impartiality; interest in keeping abreast of developments in international, administrative and labour law; ability to work in a team and to establish good working relations; absolute discretion in dealing with confidential matters; ability to use standard software. Behavioural competencies - Ability to work in a multicultural environment. Gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes. Communication skills. Collaboration.
Additional Information: Evaluation (which may include one or several written tests and a pre-interview competency-based assessment centre) and the interviews will tentatively take place between August and October 2015. Candidates are requested to ensure their availability should they be short listed for further consideration.
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR WRITTEN TEST.
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW.
APPENDIX I
Angola Antigua and Barbuda Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Barbados Belize Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Cabo Verde, Republic of Cambodia Chad China Congo Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Gabon Gambia Georgia Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Iceland Indonesia Iraq Japan Kazakhstan Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Latvia Liberia Libya Maldives, Republic of the Malta Marshall Islands Montenegro Mozambique Namibia Nicaragua Oman Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Poland Qatar Republic of Korea Russian Federation Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Solomon Islands Somalia South Sudan, Republic of Suriname Swaziland Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu United Arab Emirates United States of America Uzbekistan Vanuatu Yemen
APPENDIX II CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to ILO Staff Regulations and other relevant internal rules. - The first contract will be issued for a twelve-month period (for Geneva-based positions) and a twenty-four month period (for non Geneva-based positions) - A successful external candidate will be on probation for the first two years of assignment. - Any extension of contract beyond the probation period is subject to satisfactory conduct and performance. Grade: P.2 Salary and post adjustment (with dependants) US$ Salary Minimum 49916 rising to Maximum 64302 Post adjustment for Geneva Minimum 46721 Maximum 60186 Salary and post adjustment (without dependants) US$ Salary Minimum 46819 Maximum Maximum 59968 Post adjustment for Geneva Minimum 43822 Maximum 56130
Please note that the above salary levels are determined according to the criteria established by the International Civil Service Commission. The ILO is international public sector employer and salary and other employment conditions are not negotiable. Other allowances and benefits subject to specific terms of appointment: Children's allowance (except for the first child if the dependent rate of salary is paid in respect of that child); Children's education grant (per child per year); Pension and Health Insurance schemes; 30 working days' annual leave; Assignment Grant; Entitlement to transport expenses of personal effects; Repatriation Grant; Home-leave travel with eligible dependants every two years; Rental subsidy (if applicable). Recruitment is normally made at the initial step in the grade. Salaries and emoluments are exempt from taxation by the Swiss authorities and, on the basis of international agreements or national law relating to presence or residence abroad, are generally exempt from taxation by other governments. In the absence of exemption, in most cases tax paid will be reimbursed in accordance with an ILO document which will be supplied upon request. While the successful candidate will be initially working in Geneva, he/she may be assigned to any duty station designated by the Director-General of the ILO.
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO's e-Recruitment website at: erecruit.ilo.org. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants. Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including assessment centres, technical tests or interviews.