**WFP celebrates and embraces diversity.
It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees **and**
**gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.
**
**Job Title**:Legal Officer
**Type of Contract**:Consultant
**Division: PSA - **WFP Professional Staff Association
**Duty Station (City, Country)**: HQ Rome
**Duration**:6 months
**BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT**:
The WFP Professional Staff Association (PSA) was established in September 2004 and a Recognition Agreement with WFP management was signed in April 2007.
The PSA is a voluntary organization of WFP Professional staff choosing to associate, irrespective of their duty station, Headquarters or Field, to promote and safeguard:
- The rights, interests and dignity of professional staff
- The overall general welfare of staff
- The conditions of service
- Fairness and justice in the treatment of staff
The Association works to promote and to maintain continuous dialogue with Management on behalf of Staff and to ensure that their concerns are taken into account in management and policy decisions.
The Association is governed by an elected Staff Council of eighteen members and an Executive Committee of five members, who are elected from amongst the Staff Council.
**ACCOUNTABILITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES**:
The Professional Staff Association (PSA) Legal Officer, handles matters related to the requirements of the staff.
This will entail providing legal advice to members of the PSA, including the preparation of Appeals to the Executive Director, the FAO Appeals Committee and the ILOAT.
In addition, the incumbent would have a key role in reviewing draft WFP policies and directives and providing advice to the PSA Staff Council, to help formulate a position with a view to improve staff conditions of service.
Under the general supervision and guidance of the PSA President, the Legal Officer, PSA will be responsible for the following key duties:
- Review legal documents, identify important issues, similarities and inconsistencies, and present findings for internal review to facilitate the decision-making process.
- Prepare or assist in preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of legal issues, background papers, studies, memoranda, reports and other legal documents to facilitate coherence and quality of legal documents.
- Prepare and/or review agreements including participation in negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes to meet unique client needs.
- Identify potential liabilities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties, and assist in the management of risks in PSA's activities to facilitate well-informed decisions.
- Prepare and assess briefs of evidence and draw recommendations to facilitate legal analysis and solutions.
- Assist in providing legal advice and interpretations and reviewing administrative decisions including assisting in or representing staff in tribunals or administrative proceedings.
- Service and/or assist Staff Council members in servicing committees, task forces, expert working groups and other bodies with legal advice and preparation or review of legal documents to facilitate the formulation of PSA's position.
- Provides legal advice on HR rules, regulations and manuals.
- Provides support for staff appeals for all PSA members, regardless of geographic location.
- Review decisions/recommendations made by UN entities such as GA, ICSC, HLMC, JIU and prepare bulletins to inform members of changes in staff conditions of work.
- Liaise with the Staff Federation on common system issues.
- Prepare information bulletins on PSA positions on policy related issues.
- Provide advice and guidance to members and others related to the work of the PSA.
- As requested, brief staff members on the work of the PSA, with a view to encouraging wider membership.
**QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED**:
**Education**:
- Advanced University degree in Law, or First University degree in Law with additional relevant experience and training in private, commercial or public Law.
- Must be qualified to practice or admitted to practice by a recognized national or state bar or law society.
**Experience**:
- At least three years or more of relevant progressively responsible experience in providing a wide range of legal services.
- At least three years' experience with UN employment law.
- Proven experience with staff relations issues.
- Strong knowledge of WFP/FAO Regulations, Rules and Manuals.
- Good knowledge of UN entities and impact of their decisions on staff, such as the General Assembly, the International Civil Service Commission, the Joint Inspection Unit and the High Level Committee on Management.
- Previous experience with UN Staff Associations/Unions or Legal Service for staff assistance is an asset.
**Knowledge and Skills**:
- Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts, procedures