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UNDP Legal Specialist Vacancy in New York. Apply Today!

Legal Specialist Details

  • Position(s): Legal Specialist
  • Organization: UNDP
  • Location: New York, United States
  • Grade: P4
  • Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
  • Practice Area: Management
  • Bureau: Bureau for Management Services
  • Contract Duration: 2 Year with Possibility for extension
  • Education & Work Experience: Master’s Degree – 7 year(s) experience OR Bachelor’s Degree – 9 year(s) experience
  • Deadline: Jan 31, 2025

About UNDP

UNDP Legal Specialist Vacancy in New York. Apply Today! UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

As the United Nations’ lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.

UNDP personnel are united by a common purpose: to help countries and communities across the world pursue peaceful, prosperous lives, lived in harmony with the planet. The Office of Legal Services in the Bureau for Management Services (BMS/OLS) provides strategic legal services of the highest standard to UNDP, UNCDF and UN Volunteers, giving pragmatic and timely legal advice that enables the right people to make good decisions.

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, both domestically and internationally, to reduce poverty and support economic development.

UNCDF’s financing models work through three main areas: (1) inclusive digital economies, which connects individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty; (2) local transitional finance, which drives structural transformation of localities through policy and regulatory reform, fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance including project finance to unlock capital flows to the local level; and (3) investment finance, which provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment of loans and guarantees to drive SDG impact and resource mobilization. UNCDF uses a combination of grants, loans, guarantees and technical assistance to support early-stage businesses, SMEs, projects, financial institutions and municipal investments.

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BMS/OLS is seeking an outstanding, proactive lawyer with a strong public service background, and the capacity and commitment needed to deliver transformative impact. We are seeking colleagues who challenge, inspire, and deliver sustained results. This is a newly created position. The successful applicant will be part of BMS/OLS and will be dedicated to the work of UNCDF.

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Duties and Responsibilities

The Programmes and Projects Team (P+P) within BMS/OLS advises on the legal aspects of UNDP’s mandate, legal framework and matters related to its programmes and projects.

Under the overall supervision of the General Counsel and Director of BMS/OLS, and reporting directly to the Senior Legal Advisor and Head of P+P, the Legal Specialist provides dedicated support to UNCDF. The UNCDF Executive Secretary will also provide feedback at least annually to the Director of BMS/OLS on the performance of the Legal Specialist who will be required to attend management and other meetings as determined by the Executive Secretary.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Under the supervision of the Head of P+P, the Legal Specialist performs the following primary functions with respect to UNCDF:  

1) Legal advice, guidance and counsel on all legal aspects of UNCDF’s operations, including: 

  • Preparing and negotiating standard and non-standard legal instruments, contractual arrangements and other agreements to implement UNCDF’s operational and programmatic activities with various development partners. 
  • Preparing and negotiating legal instruments for risk-sharing activities. 
  • Advising on transactions related to debt instruments, equity and other capital markets transactions, including legal review and advice on structure, definitions, term sheets, and contractual arrangements. 
  • Advising on partnership agreements with public and private sector entities for financial instrument development.
  • Negotiating and settling claims arising from UNCDF’s operations, legal instruments, contractual arrangements and partnerships.  
  • Reviewing claims and advising on the negotiation and settlement of commercial claims and disputes involving UNDP.
  • Advising on arbitration and, where appropriate, litigation of claims and disputes arising from commercial contracts.
     
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2)  Legal advice, guidance and counsel on matters relating to the design and implementation of evolving programme initiatives, strategies and operational practices, policies and procedures, including:

  • Working closely with UNDP, provide legal advice on the design and implementation of evolving programme initiatives designed to streamline UNCDF’s activities, including around engagement with the private sector. 
  • Working closely with UNDP, provide legal advice on the development of new financial instruments and programmatic tools designed to expand UNCDF’s ability to be an effective partner of choice for local and global programmes and projects. These instruments and tools may include guarantees, development services (including impact advisory services, pipeline generation for investible impact projects, MSME support and acceleration, etc.), direct grants to enterprises through competitive challenge funds, matching grants, performance-based and cost-sharing mechanisms. 
  • Provide legal advice on the design and review of policies and procedures, including new modalities for engaging the private sector.

3)  Legal advice, guidance and counsel on partnership arrangements and donor financing agreements involving UNCDF, including:

  • Preparing and negotiating partnership agreements with public and private sector entities, other United Nations entities, civil society, Members States and national authorities and institutions. 
  • Reviewing deviations to standard donor financing agreements and partnership instruments.
  • Drafting, review and negotiation of complex donor financing agreements and partnership instruments.
     

4)    Legal advice, guidance and counsel on institutional issues, including matters arising from UNCDF’s status, mandate and legal structure: 

  • Advising on the interpretation and application of UNCDF’s constitutional documents and legal framework, in particular with respect to the privileges and immunities applicable to UNCDF. 
  • Advising on UNCDF’s arrangements with other UN agencies, including the provision of services by and to UNDP, and on common issues affecting the UN system.
     

5)    Training activities and knowledge management: 

  • Facilitating training programmes on institutional, corporate and commercial issues for UNCDF personnel globally.
  • Developing and maintaining relevant template agreements. 
  • Advising on relevant policies and procedures. 
  • Regularly updating the Head of P+P, the Deputy Director, and the General Counsel on assignments and legal issues, and identifying recurring issues and scope for growth and improved client service. 
  • Identifying and engaging on areas where systemic or policy changes may strengthen UNCDF’s activities and/or allow internal clients to work more effectively and efficiently.
     
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The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

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Requirements

Education:

  • An advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) in law from a recognized university is required, or
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in law from a recognized university in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

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Experience:

  • A minimum of 7 years (with Master´s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant practical experience in the practice of law with a law firm, financial institution, multilateral development bank, a legal office of a government and/or the legal office of an international organization is required.
  • Experience in drafting and negotiating financial instruments, including grants, loans, and guarantee agreements is required. 
  • Experience advising on private debt, private equity, fixed income and/or project finance transaction structuring solutions, as well a innovative investment product solutions is an asset;
  • Practical experience in the operations of fund formation, investment management and/or structured finance is desirable. 
  • Project management experience, including the ability to monitor and deliver on many activities concurrently under tight time constraints, as well as the ability to determine and manage priorities, is required. 
  • Excellent research, legal writing and drafting skills are required.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a strong and proven focus on client service, is required. 
  • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is required. 
  • Understanding of, and experience with, the privileges and immunities of international organizations is an asset.
  • Understanding of, and experience with, the United Nations system is an asset. 

Application Link

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