The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the world's environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the environment.

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Legal Officer, P3

Job Type

Full Time

Qualification

BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA

Experience

5 years

Location

Nairobi

Job Field

Legal & Regulatory

Responsibilities

Technical assistance and capacity building implementation and support

Administers programmes of legal technical and capacity building support initiatives in the area of environmental law governance under the Montevideo Programme and in relation to sustainability and circularity. This includes assistance in developing project proposals and undertaking resource mobilization to advance the implementation of intergovernmental bodies’ decisions and recommendations in collaboration with UNEP substantive Divisions.

Prepares or assists in the preparation of agreements and contracts with governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other public and private entities. Advisory services and thought leadership

Handles a range of issues related to environmental law and governance, constitutional, international, public, administrative, law including the interpretation and application of MEAs at national level, synergies across MEAs, constitutive, legislative and other instruments governing United Nations activities and operations as they relate to UNEP, in consultation with senior Legal Officers as well as other emerging issues, including circularity across value chains, in consultation with other colleagues across UNEP.

Prepares or assists in the preparation of drafts of background papers, studies, reports, legislative texts and commentaries on those texts, teaching materials in the field of environmental law and international law.

Prepares or assists with the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public law issues and environmental law including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly and the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolutions decisions and interpretation and application of the MEAs, involving, inter alia, issues relating to privileges and immunities, institutional questions, treaty law and practice, procedural issues arising during meetings with United Nations organs, constitutional and administrative law of the Organization as applicable to UNEP.

Prepares or assists with the preparation of environmental law seminars and symposia, lectures on various legal issues at such events.

Services or assists senior colleagues in servicing intergovernmental meetings, negotiations, and conferences, committees, expert groups and other bodies such as the UNEA, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations and meeting reports.

Provides legal advice on administrative matters. Research and analysis support

Conducts extensive legal research and analysis and prepare studies, comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence in the field of environmental law and governance, including circularity across value chains.

Undertakes basic or extensive review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies major important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies.

Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Provides guidance to more junior staff.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international environmental law, or a related field with environmental law coursework is required.

A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programmes in data analytics, business analytics or data science programmes is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in environmental law, or environmental governance issues, including legal analysis, research, writing or negotiation in an international or multicultural setting is required.

A minimum of three (3) years of experience in project or programme management in relation to environmental governance, environmental law, sustainable development, or other related area is required. Experience in technical assistance and capacity building in environmental law is required.

Experience working in professional legal work relating to procedural or institutional matters of intergovernmental bodies is required.

Experience related to the sustainability and circularity of value chains is desirable.

A minimum of two (2) years of experience within the United Nations common system, an international organization, or an intergovernmental organization is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

• Administers programmes of legal technical and capacity building support initiatives in the area of environmental law governance under the Montevideo Programme and in relation to sustainability and circularity. This includes assistance in developing project proposals and undertaking resource mobilization to advance the implementation of intergovernmental bodies’ decisions and recommendations in collaboration with UNEP substantive Divisions.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of agreements and contracts with governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other public and private entities.
• Handles a range of issues related to environmental law and governance, constitutional, international, public, administrative, law including the interpretation and application of MEAs at national level, synergies across MEAs, constitutive, legislative and other instruments governing United Nations activities and operations as they relate to UNEP, in consultation with senior Legal Officers as well as other emerging issues, including circularity across value chains, in consultation with other colleagues across UNEP.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of drafts of background papers, studies, reports, legislative texts and commentaries on those texts, teaching materials in the field of environmental law and international law.
• Prepares or assists with the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public law issues and environmental law including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly and the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolutions decisions and interpretation and application of the MEAs, involving, inter alia, issues relating to privileges and immunities, institutional questions, treaty law and practice, procedural issues arising during meetings with United Nations organs, constitutional and administrative law of the Organization as applicable to UNEP.
• Prepares or assists with the preparation of environmental law seminars and symposia, lectures on various legal issues at such events.
• Services or assists senior colleagues in servicing intergovernmental meetings, negotiations, and conferences, committees, expert groups and other bodies such as the UNEA, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations and meeting reports.
• Provides legal advice on administrative matters.
• Conducts extensive legal research and analysis and prepare studies, comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence in the field of environmental law and governance, including circularity across value chains.
• Undertakes basic or extensive review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies major important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Provides guidance to more junior staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Legal research and analysis
• Legal writing
• Negotiation
• Project/programme management
• Technical assistance and capacity building
• Data analysis and visualization
• Intergovernmental body procedures

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international environmental law, or a related field with environmental law coursework is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programmes in data analytics, business analytics or data science programmes is desirable.