Paralegal Officer at OPEC Fund for International Development

The OPEC Fund for International Development is a multilateral development finance institution established in 1976. Our 12 Member Countries are:  Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Paralegal Officer

Location: Austria
Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract
Department / Unit: Legal Services / Private Sector - Legal 
Required Languages: English
Job Category: E
Recruitment Status: Local

Job Profile

• The Paralegal is responsible for supporting the private sector legal team in providing legal advice and services to the OPEC Fund’s stakeholders and conducting a variety of research and analytical work all in accordance with the institutional strategy and framework, to support the achievement of Private Sector’s long-term goals, strategic targets and annual objectives.
• The role will also serve as the Secretary to the Staff Appeals Committee (SAC) and in that capacity will report to the Chairperson of the SAC. 

Duties and Responsibilities
Legal drafting:

• Drafts legal instruments (including loan and grant agreements or equivalent), as well as amendments to legal instruments

Research and analysis:

• Conducts legal research on a diverse range of policy and legal issues using varied research sources
• Presents findings/recommendations on policy issues and procedures; prepares background papers, written records of proceedings, memoranda summarizing documents, other legal source material, or equivalent
• Assists in drafting and reviewing draft documents, highlighting issues, inconsistencies, etc.
• Responds to inquiries ranging in complexity and takes decisions, subject to approved authority, with the guidance of Legal Counsels 
  Participates in task/project teams as assigned required
• Serves as the project assistant for projects under the management of the private sector legal team
• Organizes project and departmental documents and records in accordance with appropriate standards and files in the appropriate document management system
• Handles tasks in absence of primary counsel with limited supervision
• Assists with portfolio management tasks (amendments, consents, waivers, cancellations)
• Assists with organizing team meetings, taking minutes and preparing reports related to various tasks
• Supports Private Sector legal counsels in the achievement of the Units goals

Stakeholder management and engagement:

• Works with external stakeholders (authorized legal officials of partner countries/institutions) and internal stakeholders (e.g. all OPEC Fund departments/units) on the subject of legal services and advice on an ongoing basis 

Staff Appeals Committee (SAC) Support:

• Provides secretarial support to the Chairperson of the Staff Appeals Committee (SAC) in accordance with Chapter 3 of the HR Rules of Procedure, ensuring all procedural aspects are met in a timely and effective manner
• Manages appeal documentation, verifies compliance with applicable rules, and maintains confidential electronic case files 
  Advises appellants and SAC members on procedures, coordinates meetings and hearings, and facilitates administrative arrangements
• Drafts summaries and reports of appeal cases, prepares SAC recommendations, and supports communication among involved parties
  Organizes training for SAC members and oversees the election process for staff-elected committee members.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in law or; Bachelor’s degree in law with an additional two years of experience  
• A minimum of two (2) years relevant professional experience,with a (Master’s degree) or four (4) years (with a Bachelor’s degree)
• A minimum of one (1) year at an international development finance institution is highly desirable
• Experience in human resources management, with a focus on employee relations  is an added advantage
• Fluent in English. Good working knowledge of Arabic, French or Spanish is an added advantage

Competencies:

• Subject Matter Knowledge - The in-depth understanding and expertise in specific fields relevant to the OPEC Fund's operations and the individual's role.
• Collaboration and Teamwork - The ability to effectively work with colleagues, stakeholders and partners to achieve shared goals.
• Communication - The ability to relay ideas, information and messages effectively and succinctly to a variety of audiences.
• Decision making - The ability to analyze information comprehensively to make well-informed decisions; assess both immediate and long-term ramifications. 
• Sense of Responsibility - The ability to demonstrate ownership and accountability in tasks and outcomes; uphold reliability and commitment to fulfilling responsibilities. 

Application Closing Date
11th October, 2025.