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.