Legal Advisor – Commercial Law, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and UruguayJob Ref. AR/UNOPS/1301-24/AR002

The Legal Group (LG)

LG advises UNOPS management, project offices, regional offices and other specialized units within UNOPS on institutional, commercial, and administrative law matters. Legal Advisors at UNOPS provide legal advice in the areas of public international law, dispute resolution, commercial law and administrative law.

This legal advice spans various topics, including host-country agreements, privileges and immunities, disputes with external parties, administrative/HR law, partnership agreements, grants, procurement contracts, and the establishment of hosted initiatives, joint programs, and multi-donor trust funds. It also involves working with outside counsel, pro bono law firms, and the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) as needed.

About the Role

The Legal Advisor, Commercial has the primary responsibility of leading a team of commercial lawyers in providing regional support in a timely, efficient and solution driven manner, thereby protecting the organization against financial and reputational risks.

Reporting into the Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial, the Legal Advisor exercises their accountabilities with designated authority provided by the Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial and in accordance with the instructions established by the Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial.

The Legal Advisor, Commercial demonstrates a good understanding of the operational context in which UNOPS operates and is charged with cultivating an inclusive, high-performing team of commercial lawyers which enables UNOPS to fulfil its mission.

The Legal Advisor, Commercial, is a good communicator, open to challenges, and versed in handling complex legal issues in a fast-paced work environment. Because of their analytical and strategic skills, they are able to propose and implement effective strategies for resolving and/ or handling complex issues while driving for fit-for-purpose solutions.

The Legal Advisor, Commercial, builds and maintains effective relationships with the management teams of country and regional offices as well as HQ stakeholder functions. They work closely with other legal advisors, policy units and specialized teams within UNOPS to ensure timely, accurate and solution-oriented legal advice in connection with commercial matters.

The Legal Advisor, Commercial is expected to travel from time to time.

*** There will be flexibility in the Duty Station as it can be in Panama City (UNOPS Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office) or another country in the Latin America and the Caribbean region where UNOPS has a presence: Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of key results expected:

1. Legal Advice and Representation

2. Business Efficiency

3. Team Management

4. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

1. Legal Advice and Representation

•  Advise on commercial matters under LG’s purview, including review and negotiation of legal agreements, interpretation and development of the UNOPS legal framework.
•  Lead a team of commercial lawyers to undertake reviews and provide advice to country offices on new projects (engagements) and amendments concerning project viability, risk exposure, legal arrangements and controls.
•  Provide legal advice and support in relation to partnership and framework or funding agreements, negotiation of model agreements with partners, procurement contract templates and grant agreements.
•  Provide legal advice and support in relation to hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds.
•  Provide timely advice and support actively finding solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices.
•  Represent UNOPS in meetings and negotiations with external parties on legal topics, such as negotiations on contracts and agreements.
•  Oversee and/or coordinate interactions between business units and local legal retainers, external legal counsel and legal advisors from OLA or other UN agencies.

2. Business Efficiency

•  Recommend changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the country offices.
•  Ensure transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs.
•  Work closely with other units within UNOPS to address mission-critical issues and find fit-for-purpose solutions and contribute with technical and practical knowledge to the development of strategies to improve efficiency and strengthen internal controls.
•  Contribute to cross-functional initiatives to ensure that internal policies, procedures, systems and tools are consistent with the overall legal framework, practical, relevant and add value to organizational operations.

3. Team Management

•  Motivate a team of commercial lawyers to continuously take ownership, innovate and learn by fostering a trusting and supporting work environment.
•  Assign tasks related to commercial work to lawyers under supervision.
•  Promote teamwork and collaboration within the team of commercial lawyers by providing clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
•  Provide legal mentorship, coaching, and training to junior legal advisors.

4. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

•  Coordinate the systematic documentation and updating of legal precedents and templates under their areas of expertise.
•  Contribute to research and coordination within the team and across the organization.
•  Provide structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices. ejIG7VV B2ZoFY
•  Keep abreast of internal and external developments and best practices.
•  Provide training on commercial matters to internal colleagues.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

•  Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in law is required.
•  A first-level university degree in law (Bachelor’s or equivalent) from an accredited university in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
•  Satisfaction of all requirements to practice law in a national jurisdiction of a UN Member State is required.

Experience

•  A minimum of seven (7) years of professional legal experience is required.
•  Within the seven (7) years of professional experience, at least three (3) years of commercial law experience is required, preferably as legal counsel in a law firm or international organization; and at least one (1) year supervising and leading a team is required.
•  Experience in providing legal advice in a government agency or international organization setting is desirable.
•  Proficiency in legal drafting and the ability to draft accurately, clearly, and concisely within tight deadlines is required.
•  Experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences is required.

Language requirements

•  Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish is required.
•  Working knowledge of French is desirable but not mandatory.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Staff Contract level: P4 Contract duration: Fixed-term staff contract – One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

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