Registrar

Organizational Context

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is the largest UN operation in the Middle East, employing over 30,000 staff across five areas. The Registrar role is within the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal, reporting directly to the Judge(s) and serving as the principal legal officer for the Tribunal.

Job Purpose

The Registrar serves as the principal legal officer for the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal, providing comprehensive legal, technical, and administrative support to the Judge(s) in adjudicating cases. This role involves supervising a legal team, ensuring uniformity in Tribunal issuances, managing case files, conducting legal research, and drafting judgments. The Registrar also plays a key role in developing best practices for tribunal operations, managing case receivability, scheduling hearings, and exploring informal resolution options. Furthermore, the position involves analyzing emerging issues, preparing reports, maintaining the jurisprudence database, and managing the Registry's human, financial, and administrative resources, including budget drafting and staff performance evaluations.

Responsibilities

Serve as the principal legal officer for the Dispute Tribunal, supervising the legal team in analyzing case files, researching law, and drafting judgments under the Judge's direction. Review and finalize all team drafts to ensure jurisprudential, structural, and stylistic uniformity. Provide substantive, technical, and administrative support to the Judge(s) in case adjudication, enforcing procedural compliance and developing best practices for tribunal operations. Review cases for receivability, schedule hearings, and manage all logistical aspects. Identify cases suitable for informal resolution and refer them for mediation. Analyze emerging issues affecting the Registry and Tribunal, developing strategies to address them. Prepare periodic reports on the Tribunal's work and maintain its case law and jurisprudence database. Manage the Registry's human, financial, and other resources, including budget drafting and staff performance evaluations. Advise the Judge(s) on administrative, personnel, and logistical matters. Represent the Office of the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal internally and externally, conduct outreach sessions, draft publications, and respond to inquiries. Maintain an electronic case management system and the Tribunal's registers, ensuring the publication and dissemination of decisions.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressive experience in judicial administration or litigation, preferably in administrative law, is required, including at least two years in a managerial/supervisory role. Extensive experience in legal research and drafting judicial issuances is also mandatory. One year of international experience outside UNRWA and one's country of citizenship is required for those not already serving in the UN Common System. Experience with administrative tribunals is desirable.

Skills

Core UN Competencies: Communication, Working with People, Drive for Results. Specific Competencies: Deciding and Initiating Action, Managing Complexity and Change, Leading and Supervising, Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership, Analyzing. Additional Skills: Knowledge of administrative law, ability to conduct comprehensive legal research, and effective negotiation and collaboration skills.

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