Job Description
| Department/Office: | United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan |
| Posting Title: | Senior Rule of Law Officer, P5 |
| Job Code Title: | SENIOR RULE OF LAW OFFICER |
| Duty Station: | KHARTOUM |
| Posting Period: | 21 January 2021 – 03 February 2021 |
| Job Opening Number: | 21-Rule of Law-UNITAMS-147640-F-Khartoum (M) |
| Staffing Exercise | N/A |
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2524 (2020) authorizing the mandate of UNITAMS which is to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, in the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace; support peace processes and implementation of future peace agreements; assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Blue Nile and South Kordofan (the Two Areas) and Darfur; and support the mobilisation of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian assistance.
The position is based in Khartoum and is located in the Office of Support to Civilian Protection. The incumbent will report to the Director of the Office of Support to Civilian Protection.
Responsibilities
Within the limits of delegated authority, the Senior Rule of Law Officer will be responsible for performing the following duties:
•Leads and advises senior mission leadership on the development and implementation of the mission’s activities related to its rule of law mandate including through normative, strategic and programmatic advice on delivering support to executive, legislative and judicial branch counterparts on the implementation of accountability and rule of law provisions of the Constitutional Declaration, legislative and policy frameworks for the strengthening of accountable, independent and representative rule of law institutions, including in conflict-affected areas, and effective linkages between rule of law, security institutions and protection systems in support of the implementation of the National Plan for Civilian Protection; The incumbent will contribute to the development and implementation of strategic planning processes, including through the Multi-Partner Trust Fund and Peacebuilding Fund funding streams;
•Provides strategic guidance and normative advice to relevant national rule of law institutions at the senior level in the implementation of applicable international standards, review and development of relevant legislation, and management of the legal and judicial systems in Sudan, including the development of effective linkages with police and corrections institutions. This will be undertaken through structured advocacy and engagement with senior-level counterparts in the relevant Ministries, the judiciary, prosecution authorities, corrections, academia and civil society, including advising national counterparts on the work of key justice institutions and stakeholders related to the political transition, civilian protection and constitutional and peace processes;
•Establishes and maintains contacts and effective relations with senior national government officials and civil society representatives, including counterparts in the relevant Ministries, the police, courts, prisons, non-governmental organizations, universities and law schools, media, diplomatic missions and donors, to inform on the rule of law, justice and accountability situation and advise on strategic and policy issues in support of political and peace processes and protection objectives.
•Builds linkages with development partners and donors to ensure a seamless transition to long-term development support and the mobilization of resources where necessary;
•Advises on and prepares assessment reports, reports addressing complex strategic and operational issues, policy documents and guidelines; Ensures information on rule of law situation in the mission area can be made available to influence decision, strategy and policymaking;
•Advises on and participates in coordination mechanisms at mission level, maintaining close working relationships with relevant components and other United Nations entities, and represents the mission as required; advises on an integrated approach to rule of law support, including through joint rule of law programming under the Global Focal Point arrangement or peacebuilding strategic framework, aligned with political objectives; in coordination with the human rights and protection components and OHCHR Country Office ensures that UNITAMS support to judicial, legislative and rule of law reforms are complementary to transitional justice processes, in particular for accountability for sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence.
•Performs programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the mission’s rule of law, justice and accountability -related activities, including the preparation of budgets, reporting on performance and results, recruiting staff and managing and evaluating staff performance.
•Under the leadership of the Director, serves as team leader with responsibility for carrying out work coordination and administrative functions relating to staffing, planning and budgeting, including by providing substantive coordination and management oversight as required to the rule of law support in field offices, ensuring a link between field operations and strategic direction and results.
•Performs other related duties.
Competencies
Professionalism: Able to provide seasoned authoritative specialized advice on a broad range of rule of law, justice and accountability matters to Head of Mission and senior mission staff and other UN partners; comprehensive knowledge of the substantive role of the United Nations on the rule of law in general and of United Nations interventions on specific areas/themes related to the rule of law in particular; capacity to relate to and integrate rule of law issues and perspectives into other fields; shows ability to produce reports and papers on substantive issues and to coordinate, review and edit the work of others; demonstrates strong negotiation and consensus-building skills as well as demonstrated reporting and analysis skills; knowledge of the political background and rule of law situation in the country or region; sound knowledge of the institutional mandates, policies, guidelines and methodologies related to UN peace operations, rule of law and the work of the UN system. Shows pride in work and 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 and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments and 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.
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; Manages in a deliberate and predictable way; Operates with transparency; Has no hidden agenda; Places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients; Gives proper credit to others; Follows through on agreed upon actions-Treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.
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 that 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, or a first-level university degree combined with bar qualification or equivalent, is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree is required, in combination with other relevant academic qualifications and/or additional legal experience in the field of rule of law assistance.
Work Experience
At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience as a practicing lawyer, academic, prosecutor, judge, legal consultant or international legal assistance advisor, is required.
At least five (5) years providing technical assistance for the development/reform of legal and judicial institutions in a transitional, developmental or post-conflict setting, outside the applicant’s country of nationality, is required.
Experience providing services in the field of Rule of Law and Security Institutions or related areas to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization, is required.
Experience preparing reports, background papers, talking points, and correspondences on rule of law for senior management is required.
Experience planning United Nations (or comparable organization) peace operations is desirable.
Experience working on the development and implementation of accountability processes and use of informal or traditional justice mechanisms is desirable.
Experience in handling complex organizational issues at local and international level is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.
Assessment
Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
Special Notice
The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.
Please note that due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 and the travel restrictions imposed by national authorities, selected candidates may be required to start the assignment/appointment remotely, in agreement with the hiring manager, and until further notice.
This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. 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. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. 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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
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.
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