Legal Adviser / Director

OVERVIEW

Position Number: LA 001Grade: D-2Parent Sector: Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs (LA)Duty Station: ParisJob Family: LawContract Type: Fixed TermDuration of contract: 2 years, renewableRecruitment open to: Internal and external candidatesApplication deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 25/06/2026

UNESCO Core Values

Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs reports directly to the Director-General. The Office's mission is to protect the Organization's interests by concentrating its efforts along two main lines: ensuring compliance with the Organization's rules, regulations and procedures; and, pursuing improvements in the legal safety of activities carried out by the Organization.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The work of the Legal Adviser/Director of the Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs (LA) is of an advisory and managerial nature. It requires in-depth analysis of legal issues and provision of authoritative, reliable and judicious legal advice on complex and highly varied questions of international and national law. It includes managerial responsibility for a vital area of the Organization's programmes, the direction and provision of leadership to staff in various organizational units dealing with the analysis of administrative, substantive, procedural and other intricate problems that are of critical concern to the Organization, and contribution to the overall policy and objectives of the Organization.

Under the authority of the Director-General, the incumbent will be responsible for the direction and management of the overall Office. In particular, the incumbent will provide organizational leadership and strategic guidance to the Office in the preparation, coordination and supervision of the activities and management related to the financial and human resources of the Office.

KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal advice on all legal issues arising from the Organization's activities.
• Advise the Secretariat on legal issues pertaining to the regulatory, statutory and standard-setting activities of the Organization.
• Provide legal advice at their request to the General Conference and the Executive Board of UNESCO.
• Advise on the elaboration, adoption and revision of international standard-setting instruments, and on the implementation of the procedures for the application of these instruments.
• Advise on the application, interpretation and amendment of the Constitution and other statutory and legislative texts of the Organization.
• Direct the preparation and review of briefs for representing the Organization in proceedings before courts of law, administrative tribunals and other judicial or quasi-judicial bodies.
• Represent the Director-General on the committees of the governing bodies of UNESCO related to legal matters.
• Be responsible for the management of LA and ensure the direction of the activities of the Office and its cooperation with other units of the Organization.

COMPETENCIES – Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)
• Professionalism (C)
• Building partnerships (M)
• Driving and managing change (M)
• Strategic thinking (M)
• Making quality decisions (M)
• Managing performance (M)
• Leading and empowering others (M)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in the field of law, with a specialization in public international law.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in the legal field at the national level and/or within a United Nations system organization.
• Extensive relevant professional experience in senior management or executive positions.
• Proven experience in providing authoritative legal advice on complex and wide-ranging questions of international and national law.
• Demonstrated experience in leading diverse teams and managing organizational transformation.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of, and commitment to, the Organization's mandate, vision, strategic direction and priorities.
• In-depth knowledge of legal practice and procedures in international organizations.
• Leadership capacity, high sense of objectivity, strong analytical capabilities, professional integrity and diplomacy.
• Sound knowledge of general management practices and techniques.
• Ability to exercise intellectual authority, as well as provide and manage advisory services.
• Excellent analytical and drafting skills, with the ability to produce high-level reports and briefs for senior leadership and governing bodies.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and management abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to direct change processes at the management level within large institutions of national or international scope.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to manage relationships at all levels of the Organization as well as foster collaboration across diverse, multicultural environments.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with strong representational abilities.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge and drafting skills in one of the working languages of the Organization (English or French) and ability to work in the second language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Other degrees or short- to medium-term training in disciplines relevant to the post.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated experience of management at the international level.
• Experience in conducting complex negotiations diplomatically and tactfully.
• Experience within the United Nations system and/or in a specialized institution or other international organ would be an asset.