To provide independent, authoritative and practical legal advice and legal services to enable the Organization to implement its mission of global public health consistently within its mandate and to protect the Organization's resources, reputation, integrity and its responsibility to its Member States. To provide legal review and input during the planning and implementation of WHO's activities, so as to facilitate effective cooperation among those taking part - Member States, international bodies, international officials, collaborating institutions, individuals and commercial entities; to ensure that the activities are carried out on a firm legal basis; to protect the Organization's legal interests and defend it from legal action.
Legal advice and services related to international administrative law, administrative, personnel and internal justice matters. This includes: to provide high quality legal advice (i.e., accurate, comprehensively researched, clearly presented advice, including - when possible - options informed by a clear legal/political risk assessment) to internal bodies, GPA, HRT, senior human resources officials and other managers on legally sound courses of action that will avoid costly administrative/personnel errors, and that comply with WHO's regulations, rules, policies and ILOAT jurisprudence. Areas of work include: recruitment (e.g., secondments, staff on loan or transfer); staff benefits (e.g. pension and staff health insurance); legal ramifications of wide-ranging human resource issues (e.g., disciplinary proceedings and departmental reorganizations); salary/benefit/insurance issues. The advice gives decision/policy makers well-researched information and options for the purpose of: avoiding negative legal implications of a course of action/decision under consideration; mitigating legal risks and/or resolving an existing problem taking into account not only legal but also policy and practical considerations.
Advice on privileges and immunities (P&I) matters to WHO and affiliated entities. This includes: advice to HQ, ROs and WRs on cases relating to P&I of the Organization and its officials, in particular in the context of judicial proceedings and the inviolability of WHO's premises, documents and archives. Advice on interpretation of host agreements, including co- leading on host agreements high level negotiations. This work will help safeguard the Organization's interests and ensure the correct implementation of agreements with governments. Advice on parliamentary proceedings and appearances before court. Advice on assisting arrested and detained WHO officials.
Representation of WHO, IARC, UNAIDS and UNICC before the ILOAT: (a) Prepare well-researched, well-written, persuasive and comprehensive submissions to the ILOAT in defense of WHO. This work should ensure that the Organization's decisions are well defended before the ILOAT. (b) Keep abreast of latest developments in ILOAT jurisprudence and in common system practices/policies in the area of employment law in the international civil service and using the ILOAT jurisprudence as a forecasting tool for risk assessment. This involves: reviewing the complainants' legal arguments; consulting with senior managers to gather facts; researching jurisprudence; deciding on the strategy and legal arguments necessary to best represent the Organization's interests; and preparing legal submissions (including a Reply and a Surrejoinder) that are legally sound, well-reasoned and persuasively presented.
Representation of the Office of the Legal Counsel on WHO internal committees or bodies.
General protection of WHO's legal interests in specific areas, such as WHO's collaboration in "cooperative ventures", e.g., collaborating centres, use of WHO's name and emblem; various forms of partnerships, and general legal questions confronting international organizations.
Participate in LEG's work related to WHO governing bodies, including advice on international administrative law questions and WHO legal framework arising during and relating to meetings of the World Health Assembly, the Executive Board and PBAC.
Management: Effectively supervise and coordinate the work of more junior staff and personnel (consultants, APW) in IAL if so requested by the First Level Supervisor. Ensure effective teamwork, both within LEG and in projects with colleagues throughout the Organization.
Act as officer-in-charge during the absence of the Principal Legal Officer, IAL, when requested.
Other functions of a legal nature as may be required by the exigencies of the work of the Office.
Essential: Advanced university degree (Master's level degree or above) in law or another relevant field.
Desirable: Professional legal qualification, such as having passed a national bar exam, or professional experience conducting litigation as an advocate in a court or tribunal.
Essential:
Subsequent extensive experience of public international law and, in particular, international administrative law.
Ten years of experience as a lawyer, including at least seven years performing legal functions within an international organization or government.
Demonstrated experience at the international level is required, including relevant professional experience gained in an international context and/or outside the applicant home country.
Proven experience in the presentation and communication of legal considerations to non-lawyers and in a time-sensitive and comprehensible manner.
Practical litigation experience.
Desirable: Experience working in the jurisdictional set-up of the United Nations system; experience in advising on the legal ramifications of a wide range of issues arising in an international organization (legal risk assessments, settlement negotiations, disciplinary matters, privileges and immunities, etc.).
Sound, demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in, all aspects of international administrative law and the law of the international civil service. This includes the jurisprudence/procedures of one or more administrative tribunals at the international level, and of the legal structures, texts and principles applicable in an international organization.
Good communication skills, including ability to present legally authoritative and complex ideas clearly and persuasively within WHO and before the Administrative Tribunal of the ILO and to stakeholders and partners.
Excellent skills in analysing and organizing facts, legal and policy considerations and in presenting clear, convincing, politically and practically sensible advice, services and support.
The experience and judgment necessary to evaluate risks/benefits/opportunities to WHO, to protect WHO's interests and avoid costly errors.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Excellent drafting skills in English and preferably also in French, including submissions before the competent Tribunal.
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Moving forward in a changing environment
Creating an empowering and motivating environment
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.
WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 103,165 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 7798 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.
Staff members separated due to the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will receive special consideration according to the applicable regulatory framework.
This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.
Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.
An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical Mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
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