Principal Legal Officer (PAPS) At The African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Principal Legal Officer (PAPS)

Requisition ID: 1905
Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
Contract Type: Short-Term
Reports to: SRCC
Directorate/Department/Organ: PAPS
Number of Direct Reports: 2
Number of Indirect Reports: As delegated
Job Grade: P4

Purpose of Job

• Provision of legal advice to the mission on the legal implications of any intended actions and their consequences.

Main Function

• Provide legal advice to the Head of Section regarding the mission’s mandate as well as issues of constitutional and other national law as they affect the political process

Specific Responsibilities

• Represent the mission under direction
• Develop capacity building programs on legal issues for national counterparts
• Maintain a watching brief on all aspects of the peace process, particularly adherence to agreements
• Advice on administrative, personnel and contractual matters including privileges and immunities, Status of Forces Agreement, Status of Mission Agreement, procurement matters, the legal arrangements for any Government-owned premises provided to the mission, third party claims against the mission’s operations as well as legal questions relating to interpretation of African Union regulations and rules;
• Maintenance of knowledge and recommendations on SOFA and SOMA or any mission mandate instrument.
• Coordinate legal researches and analysis and ensure the production of studies, briefs, reports, and correspondence
• Supervise the handling of a wide range of multi-discipline, complex, sensitive and conflicting legal matters issues relating to international, public, private and administrative law including interpretation and application of legal procedures.
• Draft major contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, legal submissions and other legal documents.
• Collaborate, where possible with, including but not limited to administration of justice, constitutional, electoral, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, police, rule of law and human rights issues.
• Supervise the review of major contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, legal submissions and develop new legal modalities to meet mission requirements.
• Perform any other duties as directed by supervisor(s)

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s Degree in Law, International Law or any related discipline, with ten (10) years of experience in a related field with Government, NGO, think tank, or similar multilateral, regional or international institution of which six (6) years at managerial level and three (3) years at supervisory Level.

Or

• Bachelor’s Degree in Law, International Law or any related discipline, with twelve (12) years of experience in a related field with Government, NGO, think tank, or similar multilateral, regional or international institution of which six (6) years at managerial level and three (3) years at supervisory Level.
• A higher qualification and experience in Peacekeeping will be and added advantage.

Required Skills:

• Possess the ability to work closely with governments, NGOs and multi-lateral institutions
• Computer literate and well versed in the use of the Internet, Power Point, Excel and Word.
• Excellent writing, negotiating, analytical, communication and evaluation skills to conduct independent legal research and analysis
• Excellent knowledge of legal issues, administrative, contracts, and legislative experience.
• Ability to work in a multicultural setting
• Ability to work in a hardship context and highly pressurized and sometimes hazardous environment.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Perspective
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Foster Accountability Culture
• Communicating with impact

Functional Competencies:

• Drive for Results
• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Job Knowledge and information sharing

Tenure of Appointment

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

Gender Mainstreaming:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Remuneration
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 150,341.56  (P4 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 109,105.31  inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
19th July, 2023 at 11:59 EAT.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.
• Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
• The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Candidates from less represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles. These countries include Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, GuineaBissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.