Legal Officer

Position Title**: Legal Officer**
Duty Station**: Panama City, Panama**

Classification**: Professional Staff, Grade P3**
Type of Appointment**: Fixed term, one year with possibility of extension**
Estimated Start Date**: As soon as possible**

Closing Date**: 11 November 2024**
- Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading_
- UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and_
- non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the_
- benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants._

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and

Applications are welcome from first
- Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Comoros; Congo (the); Cook Islands;_
- Guinea-Bissau; Holy See; Iceland; Kiribati; Lao People's Democratic_
- Republic (the); Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated_
- States of); Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia;_
- Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas;_
- Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu_

**_ Context:_**

The Office of Legal Affairs (LEG) provides legal advice to the Director General, the Deputy
Directors General, the Regional Offices, Country Offices, and other Offices of the Organization.
LEG 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 instructions and international law.

The Office of Legal Affairs is comprised of three Divisions, namely the Contract Law Division
(LEGCR), the General and Administrative Law Division (LEGGL), the Institutional Law and
Programme Support Division (LEGPS), and the Regional Legal Hubs. The Regional Legal Hubs
address the legal matters that arise in their respective Region, in coordination with the three
Divisions of LEG.

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Legal Officer in the Regional Legal Hub for the
Americas based in Panama, the Legal Officer will provide timely and accurate legal advice and
facilitate the efficient functioning of the Hub.

**_ Core Functions / Responsibilities:_**

1. Provide legal advice on various types of contracts necessary for the development and
implementation of IOM projects and supply chain arrangements in the Region, taking into
account IOM's legal status, IOM's contract templates and IOM’s regulations and rules.

2. Assist with the development of new contract templates as needed to meet the legal needs of
the Region.

3. Provide timely and accurate legal advice in relation to contract related disputes in the Region.

4. Conduct trainings for IOM personnel on contract law issues and promote LEGCR online
resources available to colleagues in the Region, as required.

5. Draft legal terms and contracts in order to help protect IOM’s legal interests in arrangements
with third parties.

6. Draft recommendations for conduct related matters in the Region in coordination with the
Senior Legal Officer.

7. Support the Emergency focal point in the Office on contract needs in emergencies in the
Region.

8. Assist with the roll out of the Unified Staff Rules in the Region, in coordination with the Senior
Legal Officer.

9. Prepare legal advice on issues arising in the Region pertaining to IOM legal status and
privileges and immunities, including the preparation of Notes Verbales in response, in
coordination with the Senior Legal Officer and LEGPS or LEGGL as appropriate.

10. Track requests for legal services arising in the Region by analyzing trends and preparing
recommendations for the more efficient delivery of legal services.

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 in combination with seven years of relevant professional experience.

**Experience**
- A minimum of five or seven years (depending on the education qualification, see above) of

relevant professional legal experience, including legal research, analysis and writing, of which at
least three years working in the legal office of an intergovernmental organization or the legal
office of a Government; and,
- Experience in contract review in an international governmental organization.

**Skills**
- Excellent writing skills;
- Proven research skills; and
- Knowledge of public international law, in particular, law of international organizations.

**Languages**

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be
fluent in one of the three languages.

For this position, fluency in English and Span