Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Juba. The Judicial Affairs Officer is under the direct supervision of the Senior Judicial Affairs Officer and overall supervision of the Director, Rule of Law.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Judicial Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
•Prepares regular and special reports and other documents serving the mandate implementation of the Section and conducts relevant research into assigned legal areas.
•Prepares or assists in the preparation of administrative and policy outputs such as reports and assessments, policy documents and guidelines, and also participates in legislative or policy reviews and drafts/reviews of specialized commentaries and analyses.
•Advises on and prepares extensive research and analysis, including comparative legal, operational or procedural questions; prepares or assists in the preparation of a variety of written outputs.
•Fosters coordination and maintains close working relationships with relevant mission components (e.g. human rights, political affairs, peace and reconciliation, and gender), UN agencies, funds and programmes, and other international and national partners.
•Ensures effective knowledge management and information sharing, including developing a culture of respect for, and inclusion of, local actors in all judicial and legal system initiatives.
•Provides operational support to partners in exceptional circumstances for the implementation of workshops, seminars, outreach programmes and other related activities.
Help to develop policy advice to mission leadership and various government institutions and civil society organizations on community violence reduction (CVR)-related issues, how they interface with other areas of the implementation of R-ARCSS.
•Provides guidance to more junior staff.
•Performs other related duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
Counterparts and other staff from all relevant components of the mission, as well as UN specialized agencies, funds and programmes.
Legal professionals and civil society representatives; counterparts in relevant government ministries, the parliament, the courts, professional associations, women's groups, civil society and nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, diplomatic missions, donors, the media, consultants, etc.

Results Expected:
Delivers sound analytical and technical inputs and advice that contribute to improving and advancing the mission’s mandate, in accordance with applicable policies, rules and practices Provides independent, accurate and comprehensive research on diverse issues. Takes action to identify issues/problems and develops creative approaches to problem resolution. Provides timely delivery of assigned outputs, including carefully conceived, well written studies, recommendations, and other written products. Effectively interacts with diverse groups involved in judicial affairs and related activities being performed.

Competencies

•Professionalism:
-Knowledge and understanding of Section’s mandate and strategic direction.
-Demonstrated understanding of a range of issues related to judicial, prosecutorial and legal systems and their reform, as well as anti-corruption issues, transitional justice, and housing, land, and property policies.
-Knowledge of criminal law, justice reform, transitional justice, including international criminal law, and informal justice mechanisms.
-Ability to identify issues and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems. Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on judicial affairs initiatives in assigned country/area.
-Substantial experience in monitoring and reporting, and demonstrable experience drafting reports of significant depth and scope that address complex subjects, and which guide interventions by the Mission, UNCT, Government, international community and donors, among others.
-Ability to work under pressure in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human suffering).
-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.

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

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

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of legal experience in the field of justice and/or rule of law assistance may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A Master degree and a minimum of five (5) years of professional experience as a practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, legal academic, legal consultant or advisor in the field of justice OR a first level university degree and a minimum of seven (7) years relevant experience of professional experience as a practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, legal academic, legal consultant or advisor in the field of justice is required.
Two years of experience in a transitional, developmental or post-conflict setting outside the applicant’s country of nationality or two years of professional experience working on justice issues in an international governmental or non-governmental organization is required.
Experience working to develop legal and judicial institutions in a developmental, transitional or post-conflict setting is required.
Experience conducting research and analysis, including information-gathering and report drafting, to inform policy development, guide legal reforms, and deliver technical assistance to national counterparts is highly desirable.
Experience with community-violence reduction strategies is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 30 June 2021. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• 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.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.