Senior Legal Officer

Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC). OLC is responsible for providing legal advice and assistance to the Director General, to the bodies of WIPO Member States and to the Secretariat on constitutional, administrative, contractual, and general legal matters and in respect of the depository functions of WIPO-administered treaties, in harmony with statutory requirements and applicable law.

Purpose Statement

• The main role of the incumbent is to advise and act on legal aspects of human resources and administrative matters.

Reporting Lines

• The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head, Administrative Law Section.

Work Relations

• The incumbent collaborates with a wide range of internal stakeholders in relevant divisions within WIPO and occasionally with external stakeholders for the delivery of the work as appropriate.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

• Represent the Organization before the WIPO Appeal Board and the ILO Administrative Tribunal; prepare and review pleadings and other necessary documents submitted to these bodies.
• Review work-related grievances, rebuttals of performance appraisals, requests for review of administrative decisions and disciplinary cases in accordance with established procedures; advise on the decision to be made and draft the proposed response for the Director General.
• Assist in the resolution of legal questions relating to the interpretation and application of the Staff Regulations and Rules and to disputes as to their application.
• Provide advice on the legal acceptability of proposed actions and remedies for actions relating to personnel already taken with or without financial implications for the Organization.
• Contribute to the resolution of issues from a policy and legal angle as they relate to talent management, creating and upgrading HR practices and policies, working closely with end users and in close collaboration with the Talent Service colleagues who provide the specialized HR expertise.
• Review new or existing policies related to Talent Management, to ensure alignment with Organizational needs, and to promote stronger people-orientation and HR best practice beyond the UN system, including benchmark organizations.
• Remain abreast of latest trends in HR and relevant developments in HR policy issues that could have an impact on the Organization.
• Perform other related duties as requested.

Requirements

Education (Essential)

• Advanced university degree in law. A first-level university degree plus an additional two years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Education (Desirable)

• Specialization in administrative law.

Experience (Essential)

• At least seven years of relevant legal experience gained in an intergovernmental organization or national administration or by working for a law firm of which a minimum of four years must be in, or related to, administrative law.
• At least four years of experience in litigation gained at the domestic or international level.
• Experience in the application and interpretation of the staff regulations and rules of intergovernmental organizations or of comparable administrative legislation.
• Experience providing legal and policy advice.

Language (Essential)

• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and good knowledge of French.

Source: https://wipo.taleo.net/careersection/wp_1/jobdetail.ftl?job=24256-FT