Legal Officer (Head, Contract Law Division, Manila Unit)

The Office of Legal Affairs (LEG) provides legal advice to the Director General, the Deputy Directors General, Regional Offices, Country Offices, and other Departments and Offices of the Organization. The Office provides support to ensure that the activities and operations of the Organization are carried out in accordance with the legal framework governing IOM, including the IOM Constitution, decisions of the governing bodies of IOM, the Unified Staff Regulations and Rules, the Financial Regulations and Rules, IOM internal governance and administrative instruments and international law.

The Office of Legal Affairs is comprised of the Office of the Legal Counsel, the Institutional Law and Programme Support Division (LEGPS), the Contract Law Division (LEGCR), the General and Administrative Law Division (LEGGL), as well as Regional Legal Hubs. The Legal Counsel and Director of the Office is responsible for managing the Office and providing strategic direction for the work of the Office, as well as providing legal advice to Senior Management, reporting directly to the Director General.

The Contract Law Division (LEGCR) is responsible for:

• Providing legal advice on all types of contracts necessary for IOM’s operations and activities, including public and private donor funding agreements, contracts for the purchase of goods and services, project implementation agreements and cooperation agreements with partners and Governments;
• Reviewing contracts that deviate from the Organization’s standard terms and conditions, advising colleagues worldwide on the relevant implications, legal risks and suggested mitigation;
• Reviewing internal administrative instruments and policies related to contracting and otherwise raising contract law issues;
• Assisting colleagues worldwide to structure contractual arrangements for projects, including cash-based initiatives and public-private partnerships;
• Advising on privileges and immunities matters related to contracts and appropriate legal protections in complex areas such as funding conditions, intellectual property, confidentiality, liability and settlement of disputes;
• Representing the Organization as needed in contractual negotiations and disputes. Preparing legal advice on issues of breach of contract and contractual termination; and,
• Developing and maintaining a repository of contract templates for the Organization.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Contract Law Division, the Legal Officer (Unit Head, Manila Unit, Contract Law Division) will be accountable and responsible for the following activities.

Responsibilities

1. Oversee, supervise, and manage the day-to-day work of LEGCR Manila Unit, Contract Law Division (LEGCR) and guide and supervise the work of the Legal Officers within the Unit.
2. Review and approve various types of contracts and agreements necessary for the development and implementation of IOM projects in a timely manner with limited supervision, taking into account IOM's legal status, IOM's contract templates and the organizational policies, regulations and rules.
3. Revise and update IOM contract templates, including identifying the needs of developing new templates and revising existing templates.
4. Provide timely and pertinent legal advice to contract related (potential) disputes and other problems, including proposing the best actions in response to court summons or invitation to conciliation or arbitration.
5. Review and provide comments to various organizational policies related to the work of LEGCR, including in the areas of funding and operations,
6. Conduct trainings on concluding contracts and agreements for IOM staff for the English-speaking regions.
7. Participate in negotiating legal terms of contracts and agreements and undertake consultations with internal and external entities, as required.
8. Work on a variety of in-house legal issues concerning contractual matters, including drafting or reviewing research papers.
9. Follow up on meetings and international conferences (mainly in the English-speaking regions) relevant to the Office of Legal Affairs regarding issues related to the work of LEGCR.
10. Represent LEGCR in the internal meetings in absence of the Division Head and assist the Division Head in leading the functions of LEGCR.
11. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Law from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in Law with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional legal experience:
• At least two years of practicing contract law in the Legal Department of an international organization or private sector entity, or law firm;
• Demonstrated experience with contractual negotiation and disputes; and,
• Experience managing the work of a team is an advantage.

Skills

• Proven legal research and contract review skills;
• Membership of a national bar or equivalent professional legal qualification; and,
• Knowledge of the privileges and immunities of international organizations is an advantage.

Languages

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).

Working knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and French) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.