Senior Legal Officer (ECOSOCC) 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: Senior Legal Officer (ECOSOCC)

Requisition ID: 1976
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Job Grade: P3
Contract Type: Regular
Reports to: Executive Secretary
Directorate/Department/Organ: ECOSOCC

Purpose of Job

• The Senior Legal Officer reports to the Executive Secretary and technically to the African Union Office of Legal Council (AU-OLC).  Working in close collaboration with the AU-OLC, the incumbent shall provide legal advisory services to the ECOSOCC and its Secretariat.  

Main Functions
Under the overall supervision of the Executive Secretary the Senior Legal Officer job level involves the following:

• Provide technical support in the preparation and implementation of programmes developed out of the Organ’s strategic plan
• Liaise with Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and other stakeholders on relevant matters
• Provide technical support for the development of resource mobilization strategy with stakeholders’ coordination
• Conduct complex analysis and generate accurate reports in a timely manner for the Organ’s internal use.
• Liaise with the various Departments/Units of the AU Commission and other Organs for coordination and alignment purposes
• Actively contribute in the development of strategies, policies, programmes and plans

Specific Responsibilities:

• Under the overall supervision of the Executive Secretary, the Senior Legal Officer’s duties will be the following:
• Provide sound, timely high level legal and policy advice to the Executive Secretary, teams within ECOSOCC, and to stakeholders
• Produce and/or contribute to key legal or policy analyses and publications.
• Promote the integration of legal work across the regional programs and particularly in the regional offices.
• Contribute to standard-setting, through participating in meetings, drafting work and promoting international standards.
• Participate in the organization or assist in servicing relevant meetings, congresses and conferences with stakeholders;
• Engage with relevant mid-level stakeholders and develop relationships

Under the overall supervision of the Executive Secretary, the Senior Legal Officer’s specific responsibilities are:

• Prepare legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public or AU Institutional Law issues, including the AU Constitutive Act, Policy Organs decisions, AU Regulations and Rules and other general issuances, etc. involving, inter alia, issues relating to privileges and immunities, institutional questions, procedural issues arising during meetings of AU organs, constitutional law of the Organization.
• Assists in the review, advise on and draft complex contracts, cooperation agreements, project documents, institutional and operational modalities
• Reviews, verifies and processes legal instruments, ensuring conformity to relevant guidelines and requirements; extracts key data and update database; monitors requisite follow-up actions, approvals, etc.
• Provide technical support in the drafting of legal texts and memoranda ensure that the interests of the organ are protected and ideals of the African Union are not compromised and offer advice on issues and disputes that may arise from their application;
• Provide legal services to ECOSOC to ensure legality in decision-making and compliance with the AU rules and regulations;
• Liaise with relevant ECOSOCC divisions and assist in drafting and  validating Legal frameworks;
• Conduct legal research and proffer legal opinions on matters raised by ECOSOCC; Advise on Legal Issues relating to internal administrative justice;
• Serve as focal point between ECOSOCC and Office of the Legal Counsel and regularly liaise with the Office of the Legal Counsel in negotiating Agreements where ECOSOCC is a party;;
• Provide legal advice on the interpretation of legal texts relating to administrative and institutional matters;
• Follow up agreements with partners as well as with the Office of the Legal Counsel;
• Participate in meetings of relevant legal nature on behalf of ECOSOCC;

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Must have a University Master's Degree in Law with seven (7) years’ relevant work experience out of which three (3) years should be at expert level experience in a similar role that requires provision of legal advisory services in an organization dealing with multilateral issues, Departments of Justice/International Affairs or Cooperation of Member States, or such other relevant organizations.

OR

• Must have a University Bachelor Degree in Law with ten (10) years’ relevant work experience out of which three (3) years should be at expert level, in a similar role that requires provision of legal advisory services in an organization dealing with multilateral issues, Departments of Justice/International Affairs or Cooperation of Member States, or such other relevant organizations and institutions.

Required Skills:

• Conscientious in observing deadlines and achieving results
• Familiarity with international and regional policy processes and policy analysis in the relevant area
• Strong communication ability both orally and in writing
• Proficiency in one of the AU official working languages (French, English, Portuguese, Arabic, Kiswahili or Spanish) is required and  fluency in another AU language(s) is an added advantage

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationships
• Accountable and Complies with Rules.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Job Knowledge Sharing
• Drive for Result
• Continuous improvement orientation.

 Tenure Of Appointment:

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Gender Mainstreaming:

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

Languages:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of USD37,453.00 (P3 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (44% of basic salary), a Housing allowance of US$  16,819.80 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Application Closing Date
26th October, 2023; 11h59 p.m. EAT