Senior Assistant Legal Adviser (international law)-240687
Belgium-Brussels
NATO International Staff (NATO IS)
Full-time
15-May-2024, 9:59:00 PM
: 7,540.44Euro (EUR) Monthly
Grade NATO Grade G17-G20
:
This vacancy is for a Senior Assistant Legal Adviser post with a focus on international law, including NATO missions and operations. See also vacancy no. 240686 for a Senior Assistant Legal Adviser post with a focus on financial rules, procurement law, and other institutional law.
1. SUMMARY
The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) at NATO headquarters in Brussels is an Independent Office within the International Staff (IS). It is responsible for providing advice and other legal services to the Secretary General, the IS, the North Atlantic Council and other NATO Committees. From time to time, OLA also advises NATO subsidiary bodies, including Agencies, as well as the NATO Allies directly.
Substantively, OLA advises on all legal matters impacting the responsibilities, functions, operations and other activities of NATO. This includes advice under international law on high-profile and fast-paced international defence and security matters, the development of associated policy, the facilitation of consensus amongst Allies on strategic legal issues, the negotiation and drafting of international treaties, defending NATO’s privileges and immunities, conducting litigation, and other administrative law matters typical of a large international organisation.
OLA is also mandated to represent the wider legal interests of the whole Organisation, including by improving legal coordination across different NATO bodies, by advising on some of the most complex or sensitive legal issues impacting Allies, and in representation before the Administrative Tribunal on cross-cutting legal issues.
The incumbent works as a Senior Assistant Legal Adviser within the core legal team at the heart of NATO HQ. Whilst expected to advise, as a legal generalist, on a variety of questions of international and domestic law, the focus of their work will be on questions of public international and administrative law, including those arising in the context of NATO missions and operations, planning, and exercises. The work entails close cooperation with the Operations Division and other divisions within the IS, the International Military Staff, as well as legal offices within the Supreme Allied Commands.
In addition, the incumbent may support the OLA team in other fields of relevance to the Organisation. They work to a wide and demanding portfolio, maintain and develop contacts with clients, and help manage the day-to-day running of the office. They are also expected to provide substantive input and guidance as well as supervision and line management to other OLA lawyers.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
The incumbent must possess:
DESIRABLE
The following would be considered an advantage:
3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES
Expertise Development
Apply knowledge and experience to identify the legal implications/interpretation of internal rules and regulations as required. Follow major activities in the field of international law of other International Organisations and international or national courts with a direct impact on assigned tasks. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legal publications and jurisprudence in the field of international law. Independently plan, research and prepare decisions on questions of legal and policy matters. Draft and, as required, assist in discussing and reviewing policies for use within NATO. Initiate relevant policies when required and contribute to development and monitoring for compliance with those policies. Exercise substantial latitude in executing responsibilities, including overseeing other OLA members on particular matters as requested by the Legal Adviser or the Deputy Legal Adviser.
Knowledge Management
Analyse the legal questions affecting the Organisation and NATO-led operations under international and applicable national law, including host nation law. Assist or represent OLA, as required, in the preparation and discussion of agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or other legal documents to be concluded by NATO.
Information Management
Prepare legal texts, internal memoranda and other legal documents. As required, prepare and give briefings/lectures on the legal aspects of NATO related subjects.
Stakeholder Management
Provide advice to officials of the Organisation on legal issues related to any assigned fields. Assist, as requested, in preparation for, or conduct, the defence of the Organisation before any internal or external Board/Tribunal, in co-ordination with the defence of other subsidiary bodies as well as military Headquarters. As required, represent OLA in meetings of relevant Committees, Task Forces, Boards, Panels and Working Groups, as well as at external seminars, conferences or other gatherings. Maintain and develop contacts NATO-wide, including with NATO member States, as well as with external legal offices. Contribute to co-ordination of legal issues across the NATO enterprise, including in consultation with legal offices of the International Military Staff at headquarters, Allied Command Operations (ACO) and Allied Command Transformation (ACT).
People Management
Assist or represent the Legal Adviser and Deputy Legal Adviser, as required, in overseeing and implementing particular projects. Provide support, feedback, and developmental opportunities. Promote integrity, professionalism and accountability through a sound and inclusive working culture. Supervise and manage other staff of the office. Cultivate a motivating, inclusive and effective workplace. Provide in-depth mentoring and be available to offer guidance and impetus.
Planning and Execution
Determine the required input to short-term work plans relating to projects entrusted to OLA, collaborate as appropriate with other stakeholders within the NATO enterprise, and manage implementation to achieve Office and Organisational objectives.
Policy Development
Determine how a policy will affect the legal position of NATO and its Allies and contribute to wider policy development within the Organisation on the basis of such legal analysis.
Project Management
Prepare and contribute to project work as required in OLA. Assume accountability and drive projects/initiatives to completion. Find timely and creative solutions to problems that meet client and Organisational needs and priorities while respecting rules and procedures.
Perform any other related duty as assigned.
4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS
The Senior Assistant Legal Adviser works under the overall authority and supervision of the Legal Adviser and under the direct supervision of the Deputy Legal Adviser, and collaborates closely with the other members of OLA. As required by his or her duties, the incumbent has contacts with the Private Office of the Secretary General and all other Divisions and entities at NATO HQ, including national delegations, as well as with other NATO bodies. In the exercise of their duties, the incumbent has contact with and represents OLA vis-a-vis the member States as well as other non-NATO states and organisations. The incumbent must be able to maintain good working relationships with high level NATO, national and other officials.
Direct reports: 2
Indirect reports: N/a
5. COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate:
6. CONTRACT
Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of three years; possibility of renewal for up to three years, during which the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite duration contract.
Contract clause applicable:
In accordance with the contract policy, this is a post in which turnover is desirable for political reasons in order to be able to accommodate the Organisation's need to carry out its tasks as mandated by the Nations in a changing environment, for example by maintaining the flexibility necessary to shape the Organisation's skills profile, and to ensure appropriate international diversity.
The maximum period of service foreseen in this post is 6 years. The successful applicant will be offered a 3-year definite duration contract, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years. However, according to the procedure described in the contract policy the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite contract during the period of renewal and no later than one year before the end of contract.
If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a 3-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.
Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Régulations.
NOTE: Irrespective of previous qualifications and experience, candidates for twin-graded posts will be appointed at the lower grade. Advancement to the higher grade is not automatic, and will not normally take place during the first three years of service in the post.
Under specific circumstances, serving staff members may be appointed directly to the higher grade, and a period of three years might be reduced by up to twenty four months for external candidates. These circumstances are described in the IS directive on twin-graded posts.
7. USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries. Applications must be submitted using e-recruitment system, as applicable:
Before you apply to any position, we encourage you to click here and watch our video providing 6 tips to prepare you for your application and recruitment process.
Do you have questions on the application process in the system and not sure how to proceed? Click here for a video containing the information you need to successfully submit your application on time.
More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/recruit-hq-e.htm)
Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate), approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser, verification of your study(ies) and work experience, and the successful completion of the accreditation and notification process by the relevant authorities.
NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO’s sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.
8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.
Building Integrity is a key element of NATO’s core tasks. As an employer, NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.
Due to the broad interest in NATO and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or e-mail enquiries cannot be dealt with.
Applicants who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment to another post of a similar nature, albeit at the same or a lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.
The nature of this position may require the staff member at times to be called upon to travel for work and/or to work outside normal office hours.
The organization offers several work-life policies including Teleworking and Flexible Working arrangements (Flexitime) subject to business requirements.
Please note that the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium is a non-smoking environment.
For information about the NATO Single Salary Scale (Grading, Allowances, etc.) please visit our website. Detailed data is available under the Salary and Benefits tab.
Read Full Description