Senior Legal Officer and Chief
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building peace through food assistance. The Legal Office (LEG) is structured into three branches, with LEGC focusing on contracts and constitutional law. This specific P-5 role leads the "Public" team within LEGC, handling matters of public international law, governance, and partnerships.
Job Purpose
The Senior Legal Officer and Chief of Branch (LEGC - Public) provides authoritative legal advice on WFP's governance, constitutional framework, public international law, privileges and immunities, and partnerships with public entities and NGOs. This role is crucial for interpreting and applying WFP's regulations, assisting in their revision, and drafting new rules. The incumbent leads legal support for host country relations, Executive Board matters, and public partnership frameworks, ensuring constitutional and governance conformity in internal instruments. They also advise on contentious matters, legal and reputational risks, and oversee the development and quality control of legal outputs. The position requires strong leadership, people management, and a commitment to maintaining consistent legal quality and risk mitigation across a diverse public-facing portfolio.
Responsibilities
The role involves leading and managing a legal branch, overseeing staff through work planning, resource allocation, performance management, and development to ensure high performance and effective legal service delivery. This includes supporting workforce and succession planning, and managing financial resources for efficient program delivery while fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace. The position supports the development and implementation of strategies and policies aligned with organizational objectives, driving performance improvements and championing the adoption of technology in legal workflows. As a recognized expert, the role handles complex legal issues related to WFP’s constitutional instruments, public international law, privileges and immunities, and partnership agreements, determining legal strategies to mitigate risks. The incumbent acts as a knowledge focal point, providing guidance and technical clearance for legal advice and written products. They brief senior management on sensitive matters, advise on the interpretation and application of governance instruments, and support revisions. The role leads legal support for contentious matters, including disputes and claims, and provides advice on governance compliance and institutional partnerships. Responsibilities also include supervising the drafting and quality control of legal documents, promoting risk identification and mitigation, developing standard templates and guidance, and coordinating with internal and external counterparts. Establishing monitoring mechanisms and ensuring the implementation of audit recommendations are also key duties, alongside promoting the organization's mandate and objectives.
Work Experience
Requires at least 11 years of progressive legal experience, with significant expertise in relevant international legal matters. Demonstrated experience in an international organization, law firm, or similar setting is essential. The role also demands proven ability to manage, motivate, and supervise a team, along with deep subject-matter expertise in public international law, governance, and partnerships.
Skills
Public International Law, Privileges and Immunities, Governance, Partnership Agreements, Constitutional Law, Legal Advice, Risk Management, Staff Supervision, Strategic Planning, Change Management, Legal Research, Contract Drafting, Dispute Resolution, Team Leadership, Quality Control