Legal Specialist, Amman, Jordan

## Legal Specialist, Amman, Jordan - Organization:UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services Position Title:Legal Specialist Vacancy Type:Internal candidates only Duty Station(s):Amman, Bangkok, Copenhagen, Geneva, Home based, Nairobi Seniority Level:Mid Level Contract Type:ICA - IICA - Regular Contract Level:IICA 2 Posting Start Date:24-Aug-2026 Posting End Date:30-Aug-2026 This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned legal professional to contribute to UNOPS' global mission by providing authoritative commercial legal advice. The role offers significant autonomy in managing the provision of legal services to projects, the chance to adapt policies to new challenges. It provides exposure to diverse legal topics within an international development and humanitarian context, fostering professional growth and impact. The Legal Group (LG) advises UNOPS management, project offices, regional offices and other specialized units within UNOPS on institutional, commercial, and administrative law matters. Legal Advisors at UNOPS provide legal advice in the areas of public international law, dispute resolution, commercial law and administrative law. This legal advice spans various topics, including host-country agreements, privileges and immunities, disputes with external parties, administrative/HR law, partnership agreements, grants, procurement contracts, and the establishment of hosted initiatives, joint programs, and multi-donor trust funds. It also involves working with outside counsel, pro bono law firms, and the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) as needed. The Legal Specialist, Commercial, acts as a seasoned professional, independently providing in-house legal services within existing legal frameworks. S/he provides authoritative advice on the application of established commercial law policies and procedures, adapting them to meet emerging client or project needs. The Legal Specialist is responsible for solving complex legal problems, managing a specific portfolio of commercial legal work, and maintaining strong client relationships to ensure reliable service delivery, thereby protecting UNOPS from legal, financial, and reputational risks. Functions / Key Results Expected 1. Legal Advice and Representation - Advise Project Offices on commercial matters under LG's purview, including review and negotiation of legal agreements, interpretation, alignment and development of the UNOPS legal framework. - Provide legal advice and support to Project Offices in relation to partnership and framework or funding agreements, negotiation of model agreements with partners, procurement contract templates and grant agreements. - Provide legal advice and support to Project Offices in relation to hosted initiatives, joint programmes and multi-donor trust funds. - Provide timely advice and support actively finding solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices. - Represent UNOPS in negotiations with external parties on legal topics, such as negotiations on contracts and agreements. - Coordinate interactions between business units and local legal retainers, external legal counsel and legal advisors from OLA or other UN agencies. 2. Policy Development and Implementation Support - Recommend changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the country offices. - Ensure transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs. - Work closely with other units within UNOPS to address mission-critical issues and find fit-for-purpose solutions and contribute with technical and practical knowledge to the development of strategies to improve efficiency and strengthen internal controls. - Contribute to cross-functional initiatives to ensure that internal policies, procedures, systems and tools are consistent with the overall legal framework, practical, relevant and add value to organizational operations. 3. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building - Support the systematic documentation and updating of legal precedents and templates. - Contribute to research and coordination within the team and across the organization - Provide structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices. - Stay informed about internal and external developments and best practices. - Deliver and facilitate trainings on commercial matters to internal colleagues. 4. Regional Focal Point Role (as assigned) - Represent the LG Commercial Practice as the identified Focal Point by assuming the responsibilities for a specific region, liaising with the Regional Office and all regional actors (internal and external) for all legal matters related to the regional portfolio. - Manage the regional workload, completing the above listed functions with a focus on a specific region. - Foster and develop the relationship and collaboration with one specific region allowing for dedicated and tailored legal support, capacity building and solutions to the region. - Coordinate and oversee the legal advice and support provided by other LG members (other than the Legal Specialist's supervisees) to a specific region to ensure consistency; - Liaise and communicate with the other regional focal points on novel, high-risk and/or problematic issues to ensure consistency in strategy and advice across the LG Commercial Practice. Analytical Skills, Corporate Law, Legal Advice, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Negotiation, Risk Management Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation. Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion. Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others.For people managers only:Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground. Education Requirements - An advanced university degree (J.D. or Master of Laws or equivalent); or a first-level university degree in law (Bachelor of Laws or equivalent) from an accredited university in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree Experience Requirements - A