Draft and negotiate complex services contracts with suppliers.
Provide legal advice on the preparation and implications of memoranda of understanding and other agreements with UNHCR partners (including governmental agencies, NGOs, individuals or companies).
Provide legal advice on the drafting and negotiation of lease agreements and inter-agency common premises and common services agreements.
Represent the Legal Affairs Service as a member of relevant committees, including the Headquarters Committee on Contracts, and the Headquarters Procurement Ethics Review Committee.
Advise on matters related to intellectual property: including publications, copyrights, domain name issues and the protection of UNHCR name and emblem.
Advise on matters related to asset management.
Liaise with the UN Office of Legal Affairs in New York, and with legal offices in UN agencies on any relevant issues.
On behalf of UNHCR liaise, correspond and negotiate with relevant third parties on the legal aspects of the conclusion, interpretation and/or implementation of contracts and agreements.
Any other responsibilities/functions deemed necessary or as delegated by the General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel.
Develop and issue legal policy guidance on matters pertaining to procurement activities of the Organization.
Enforce legal policy and standards pertaining to relevant areas of responsibility.
In coordination with, and as delegated by, the General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel, represent LAS in meetings within UNHCR and represent UNHCR with external counterparts on the above issues.
Draft and present legal aspects of commercial agreements within UNHCR and with third parties.
Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
Perform other related duties as required.
Requirements
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3 - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law (civil and/or common law system) with a focus on (international) commercial law or other relevant field.
Additional Information
Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.
Deadline for Applications
June 12, 2026
Hardship Level
H (no hardship)
Family Type
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
PR3
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Professional
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date
2026-05-26
Standard Job Description
Legal Officer - Commercial Matters
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The position of Legal Officer - Commercial Matters contributes to LAS' pro-active support of UNHCR's operations, activities and organizational performance, in particular through providing legal advice on the interpretation of UNHCR's procurement guidelines and financial rules and regulations, the review and drafting of complex commercial contracts, leases or other agreements.
The staff member will function on a largely autonomous basis directly under the Assistant General Counsel or the Senior Legal Officer- Commercial Matters, and may supervise any interns, consultants and staff members. In view of the wide array of clients, he/she is required to work with key clients of LAS including DRM, DEPS, Regional Bureaux and field operations.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Unhcr · Geneva, Switzerland