Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial

UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services

Copenhagen, Denmark

The Legal Group

The Legal Group (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 covers a wide range of topics, including host-country agreements and privileges and immunities, disputes with external parties, administrative/HR law matters, engagements, partnership agreements, grants, procurement contracts and set-up of hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds, and collaboration with outside counsel, pro bono law firms and the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), where required.

About the Role

The Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial has the primary responsibility of supervising the commercial law team in providing guidance and authoritative interpretations as required on project agreements, legal policies and procedures.

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

The Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial demonstrates a good understanding of the operational context in which UNOPS operates and leads the provision of review and advice on commercial law matters, assuming direct responsibility for especially complex and sensitive matters, as necessary.

The Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial supervises and oversees legal aspects of UNOPS’ commercial operations (including activities concerning engagements, procurement contracts, grant agreements, partnership agreements, and setting-up of hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds).

The Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial works with a high degree of independence, and is expected to travel from time to time.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of key results expected:

Legal Advice;
Strategic Advisory Services;
Team Leadership;
Knowledge Management and Capacity Building.

Legal Advice:

Supervise and oversee the provision of advice on commercial law matters under LG’s purview, including assuming direct responsibility for sensitive and high-risk matters, and high-level contract negotiations;
Provide guidance on, and authoritative interpretation of, the UNOPS legal framework. Maintain and lead in the development of the legal framework, including policies, procedures, guidelines and other internal documents to promote operational effectiveness and efficiency;
Ensure that outputs produced by the commercial law team are aligned and of a high-quality standard, and that advice is responsive, clear, objective and based on comprehensive data;
Interface with key stakeholders, develop, implement and evaluate controls to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and requirements;
Ensure that the GC is informed of sensitive or high-risk matters that have significant financial and reputational implications, or are of strategic importance for UNOPS.

Strategic Advisory Services:

With input from the GC, take responsibility for translating the functional (LG) workplan into priorities for the commercial law team, and directly provide inputs to developing the commercial law team’s workplan;
Develop and implement innovative approaches to legal services provided by the commercial law team, including development and deployment of standards, processes, contracting mechanisms and templates, ensuring effective quality control;
Drive ongoing analyses of LG-related data to identify and assess risks, opportunities and trends within the commercial law area. Provide the GC with timely and accurate reports containing strategic advice and proposals on the implications of the risks, opportunities and trends, aligned with UNOPS’ strategic plan;
As delegated by the GC, represent UNOPS internally and externally on issues related to commercial law matters;
As directed by the GC, represent LG on UNOPS committees;
Perform other strategic legal advisory services as directed by the GC.

Team Leadership:

Provide authoritative legal advice, support and recommendations to senior managers;
Lead the commercial law team in the delivery against its workplan and objectives, reporting on progress to the GC;
Work with data analytics and evolve the risk approach to keep track of workload and trends of the commercial law team’s activities and tasks, in order to efficiently manage the team and workload;
Ensure effective planning, recruitment and development of a flexible workforce across the commercial law team, with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance.

Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

Ensure that knowledge and information on commercial legal matters are maintained and actively shared within LG;
Enable collaboration and continuous feedback through different channels and prepare advice and training for the commercial law team and relevant stakeholders in easily disseminated formats, with emphasis on areas identified as recurring issues;
Drive awareness across UNOPS on contractual obligations and impact of non-compliance on the organization's image/reputation;
Contribute to enabling the culture of ongoing research, keep abreast of internal and external developments, and coordinate productive partnerships with other legal offices across the UN system, to develop best practices to ensure the provision of comprehensive legal services;
Supervise and coordinate a team of professional staff, to ensure appropriate capacity development and that technical advice and assistance are consistently high quality, client focused and within the established legal framework.

Impact of Results:

Achievement of results by the Senior Legal Advisor, Commercial supports UNOPS entities in delivering the organization’s long-term strategic plan and reinforcing UNOPS reputation as an effective partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the countries served.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above);
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion;
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles;
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role);
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries;
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements;
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving;
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

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;
Qualification to practice law in a national jurisdiction of a UN Member State, or admission to practice law by a recognised national or state bar or law society of a UN Member State is required.

Experience:

A minimum of ten (10) years of professional legal experience is required;
Within the ten (10) years of professional experience, at least five (5) years of commercial law experience is required, preferably as legal counsel in a law firm, company, governmental service or international organization; and at least five (5) years supervising and leading a team is required;
Strong understanding and knowledge of the United Nations system, including the privileges and immunities of international organizations, is an asset;
Experience in providing legal advice in support of a government agency or international organization is an asset;
Demonstrated experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences and managing complex stakeholder interactions and negotiations is required.