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Programme Officer (Legal) (P-3)


Category: ICA/IPB

Post title: Programme Officer (Legal)

Grade: P-3

Contract Type Fixed term

Job Summary 

 

 

This position is part of the Implementation Support Branch (ISB) and its responsible is to ensure that all Member States are capable of delivering on a wide variety of obligations concerning all aspects of national implementation including legislation and related notifications, the submission of declarations, the receiving of inspections and communicating with the Secretariat. The primary responsibilities of the Programme Officer (Legal) are to ensure that all Member States are capable of delivering on a wide variety of obligations concerning all aspects of national implementation including legislation and related notifications, the submission of declarations, the receiving of inspections and communicating with the Secretariat. This is with the view to removing any hindrances that States Parties may face in their efforts to ensure full compliance with the Convention.

Main Responsibilities

 

As the Programme Officer (Legal) (P-3), you will be responsible for the following duties:             

As Programme Manager:

  • Provides strategy and policy advice to Head of the Implementation Support Branch in connection with regional and sub-regional programmatic approaches to CWC implementation support.
  • Plans, leads/coordinates and evaluates the delivery of programmes and activities in support of the national implementation of the CWC, including: conceptualisation and design of new initiatives to assist States Parties with expediting the drafting and adoption of implementing and/or chemical security legislation, to enhance understanding and awareness of the CWC, and to advance national implementation.
  • Liaises with representatives of States Parties and National Authorities to identify needs and gaps in the national implementation that require assistance; advises on, develops and formulates approaches for such assistance to Member States, in close coordination with relevant staff at the Technical Secretariat.

As Legal Expert: 

  • Provides accurate and timely information and advice related to legislation aspects of Article VII of the CWC.
  • Coordinates inputs and drafting of annual reports on the status of implementation of Article VII of the CWC; maintains and updates internal records (including those in databases) on legal implementation of the CWC.
  • Advises States Parties on proposed legislative approaches to the CWC; prepares or supports the preparation of draft CWC national implementing legislation; reviews draft legislation submitted by States Parties with regard to its alignment with the CWC and other relevant legal instruments.
  • Identifies trends and emerging issues relevant to CWC legislation as well as to legislation relevant for chemical security.
  • Provides legal advice to Head IPB in connection with OPCW work relevant to the UNSC 1540 Committee and OPCW’s Open-Ended Working Group on Terrorism; contributes to relevant reports and presentations; identifies trends and emerging issues relevant to CWC legislation and non-State actors.
  • Drafts correspondence, concept notes, briefing notes, reports, background documents and similar documents for review by the Head of Branch.

Educational qualifications required for this post:

Essential:

  • Advanced university degree in Law, preferably with specialisation in International Law or related fields; a first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 7 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Essential:

  • At least 5 years of relevant working experience in international organisations and/or government service, in the areas of International Law, Treaty Law, Law of International Security or related fields; or 7 years with first level degree.
  • Practical knowledge of the drafting and reviewing of legal documents and agreements.
  • Knowledge of and experience in dealing with the Chemical Weapons Convention or relevant disarmament treaties.

Desirable:  

  • Direct experience in planning and implementing awareness-raising and/or capacity building projects, preferably within a multinational setting.
  • Experience in providing strategy and policy advice in relation to sensitive policy issues, particularly in connection with international peace and security.
  • Knowledge and experience in project planning, implementation and monitoring.

Skills and Abilities (key competencies):

To succeed in this role, you will need the following skills and competencies:

 

  • Excellent communication skills – both written and oral; good negotiation skills.
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct legal research.
  • A well-developed sense of judgement.
  • Ability to plan and organise, and to work under pressure of time and urgent deadlines.
  • Flexibility and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to reprioritize on tight deadlines.
  • Tact and discretion.
  • Ability to work individually and in a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
  • Solid computer skills (eg. Windows, MS Office).
  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Language Requirements:

Language Requirements:  Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

 

 


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