Senior Legal Officer

| Job Description - Senior Legal Officer (2602098) Senior Legal Officer-(2602098)Grade:P5Contractual Arrangement:Fixed-term appointmentContract Duration (Years, Months, Days):2 years## Job Posting:Sep 28, 2026, 5:49:40 AM## Closing Date:Oct 19, 2026, 5:59:00 PM## Primary Location:Switzerland-Geneva## Organization:HQ/LEG Office of the Legal Counsel GPA## Schedule:Full-timeIMPORTANT NOTICE:Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.## OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMMETo provide independent, authoritative and practical legal advice and legal services to enable the Organization to implement its mission of global public health consistently within its mandate and to protect the Organization's resources, reputation, integrity and its responsibility to its Member States. To provide legal review and input during the planning and implementation of WHO's activities, so as to facilitate effective cooperation among those taking part - Member States, international bodies, international officials, collaborating institutions, individuals and commercial entities; to ensure that the activities are carried out on a firm legal basis; to protect the Organization's legal interests and defend it from legal action.## DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES1. Legal advice and services related to international administrative law, administrative, personnel and internal justice matters. This includes: to provide high quality legal advice (i.e., accurate, comprehensively researched, clearly presented advice, including - when possible - options informed by a clear legal/political risk assessment) to internal bodies, GPA, HRT, senior human resources officials and other managers on legally sound courses of action that will avoid costly administrative/personnel errors, and that comply with WHO's regulations, rules, policies and ILOAT jurisprudence. Areas of work include: recruitment (e.g., secondments, staff on loan or transfer); staff benefits (e.g. pension and staff health insurance); legal ramifications of wide-ranging human resource issues (e.g., disciplinary proceedings and departmental reorganizations); salary/benefit/insurance issues. The advice gives decision/policy makers well-researched information and options for the purpose of: avoiding negative legal implications of a course of action/decision under consideration; mitigating legal risks and/or resolving an existing problem taking into account not only legal but also policy and practical considerations. 2. Advice on privileges and immunities (P&I) matters to WHO and affiliated entities. This includes: advice to HQ, ROs and WRs on cases relating to P&I of the Organization and its officials, in particular in the context of judicial proceedings and the inviolability of WHO's premises, documents and archives. Advice on interpretation of host agreements, including co- leading on host agreements high level negotiations. This work will help safeguard the Organization's interests and ensure the correct implementation of agreements with governments. Advice on parliamentary proceedings and appearances before court. Advice on assisting arrested and detained WHO officials. 3. Representation of WHO, IARC, UNAIDS and UNICC before the ILOAT: (a) Prepare well-researched, well-written, persuasive and comprehensive submissions to the ILOAT in defense of WHO. This work should ensure that the Organization's decisions are well defended before the ILOAT. (b) Keep abreast of latest developments in ILOAT jurisprudence and in common system practices/policies in the area of employment law in the international civil service and using the ILOAT jurisprudence as a forecasting tool for risk assessment. This involves: reviewing the complainants' legal arguments; consulting with senior managers to gather facts; researching jurisprudence; deciding on the strategy and legal arguments necessary to best represent the Organization's interests; and preparing legal submissions (including a Reply and a Surrejoinder) that are legally sound, well-reasoned and persuasively presented. 4. Representation of the Office of the Legal Counsel on WHO internal committees or bodies. 5. General protection of WHO's legal interests in specific areas, such as WHO's collaboration in "cooperative ventures", e.g., collaborating centres, use of WHO's name and emblem; various forms of partnerships, and general legal questions confronting international organizations. 6. Participate in LEG's work related to WHO governing bodies, including advice on international administrative law questions and WHO legal framework arising during and relating to meetings of the World Health Assembly, the Executive Board and PBAC. 7. Management: Effectively supervise and coordinate the work of more junior staff and personnel (consultants, APW) in IAL if so requested by the First Level Supervisor. Ensure effective teamwork, both within LEG and in projects with colleagues throughout the Organization. 8. Act as officer-in-charge during the absence of the Principal Legal Officer, IAL, when requested. 9. Other functions of a legal nature as may be required by the exigencies of the work of the Office. ## REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS### EducationEssential: Advanced university degree (Master's level degree or above) in law or another relevant field.Desirable: Professional legal qualification, such as having passed a national bar exam, or professional experience conducting litigation as an advocate in a court or tribunal.### ExperienceEssential: - Subsequent extensive experience of public international law and, in particular, international administrative law.  - Ten years of experience as a lawyer, including at least seven years performing legal functions within an international organization or government. - Demonstrated experience at the international level is required, including relevant professional experience gained in an international context and/or outside the applicant home country. - Proven experience in the presentation and communication of legal considerations to non-lawyers and in a time-sensitive and comprehensible manner. - Practical litigation experience.Desirable: Experience working in the jurisdictional set-up of the United Nations system; experience in advising on the legal ramifications of a wide range of issues arising in an international organization (legal risk assessments, settlement negotiations, disciplinary matters, privileges and immunities, etc.).### Skills- Sound, demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in, all aspects of international administrative law and the law of the international civil service. This includes the jurisprudence/procedures of one or more administrative tribunals at the international level, and of the legal structures, texts and principles applicable in an international organization. - Good communication skills, including ability to present legally authoritative and complex ideas clearly and persuasively within WHO and before the Administrative Tribunal of the ILO and to stakeholders and partners. - Excellent skills in analysing and organizing facts, legal and policy considerations and in presenting clear, convincing, politically and practically sensible advice, services and support. - The experience and judgment necessary to evaluate risks/benefits/opportunities to WHO, to protect WHO's interests and avoid costly errors. - Excellent interpersonal skills. - Excellent drafting skills in English and preferably also in French, including submissions before the competent Tribunal. ### WHO Competencies- Teamwork - Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences - Communication - Producing results - Moving forward in a changing environment - Creating an empowering and motivating environment ### Use of Language SkillsEssential: Expert knowledge of English.Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.## REMUNERATIONWHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are cal