Senior Legal Officer

Organizational Context

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN-related organization established in 1951, facilitates humane and orderly migration. The Office of Legal Affairs (LEG) provides essential legal counsel to IOM leadership and offices, ensuring operations align with its constitution, regulations, and international law. This Senior Legal Officer role sits within the Institutional Law and Programme Support Division (LEGPS) of LEG.

Job Purpose

The Senior Legal Officer provides timely and accurate legal advice and services within the Office of Legal Affairs, specifically focusing on institutional law and programme support. This role is crucial for ensuring IOM's activities and operations are conducted in full compliance with its legal framework, including its Constitution, regulations, rules, and applicable international law. The position supports the interpretation and application of IOM's regulatory framework, advises on legal aspects of operations and policies, and contributes to the organization's governance and compliance efforts. The role involves handling a broad spectrum of legal matters, research, drafting legal opinions, and supporting negotiations and governing body meetings, thereby safeguarding the organization's legal integrity and operational effectiveness.

Responsibilities

Serve as a lead legal officer, independently managing diverse legal matters. Provide expert legal advice on public international law, focusing on IOM's mandate, status, governance, privileges, immunities, and its relationship with the UN. Conduct legal research and prepare opinions, studies, and notes on IOM's regulatory framework and international law. Draft, review, and support negotiations for host country agreements and related correspondence. Offer legal support for governing body meetings and review organizational regulations, rules, policies, and procedures for legal consistency. Contribute to LEG's work plan, including legal reviews, compliance, governance, risk management, and contract management. Supervise and coordinate the work of assigned legal officers.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in public international law, with at least five years within an international organization, preferably in the UN system. In-depth experience is required in handling legal matters related to the status, privileges and immunities, governance, mandate, and operations of international organizations.

Skills

Knowledge of public international law, particularly the institutional law of international organizations. Excellent writing, research, and analytical skills with meticulous attention to detail. Strong organizational skills. Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines. Knowledge of international humanitarian law and/or international human rights law is an advantage. Proven negotiation skills with governments are also an advantage.

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