Associate Policy (Legal) Officer

The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) is the largest strategic partner for common, trusted, and cybersecure digital foundations across the entire UN system. Through state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure, digital tools, cybersecurity, cloud, data and artificial intelligence solutions, UNICC promotes progress toward a more connected, secure, and sustainable UN.

With over 50 years of experience, UNICC supports the digital transformation and future of the UN family and other international organizations, delivering scalable and innovative solutions through a cost-effective and shared services model. This approach empowers our partners and clients to accelerate the adoption of required technologies to better serve global needs.

To find out more about UNICC: https://www.unicc.org

The UNICC workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. UNICC seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity by ensuring equal opportunity and an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Purpose of the Position:

The Associate Legal Officer provides support to UNICC’s Senior Policy Officer (Legal), ensuring that UNICC operations are firmly grounded in the applicable legal framework and advising on a wide range of legal issues related to public international law and technology law. The latter may include a wide range of subjects, such as data protection and privacy law, ICT-related intellectual property law (particularly software licensing) and/or open-source licensing, commercial contracts in the ICT sector, legal aspects of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and similar areas.

The incumbent will assist in identifying, assessing and managing legal risks, and supporting the Centre’s mission-critical services provided to UN system entities and other international organizations by strengthening and facilitating the implementation of the contractual framework of UNICC in accordance with the rules and regulations of its Host Organization, WHO. The incumbent will also help translate complex legal principles and requirements into clear, actionable guidance for diverse stakeholders internal and external to UNICC, thereby enhancing UNICC’s ability to deliver secure and innovative digital solutions.

Objectives of the Programme:

UNICC provides the digital foundations that support the digital transformation and future of the UN system and other international organizations through information and communications technology (ICT) services, including both operational services and training.

Main duties and responsibilities:

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Senior Policy Officer (Legal) in the Policy (Legal) Unit (MSL), within the Management Support (MS) Division and in close collaboration with UNICC teams across technical, operational and administrative domains, as well as with UNICC’s Host Organization WHO and other external stakeholders, as required. The incumbent will be responsible to:

• Conduct legal research and analysis in diverse areas of international law and technology law, such as data protection and privacy law, ICT-related intellectual property rights law, commercial contracts in the technology sector, legal aspects of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, etc. within the broader context of public international law and the law of international organizations, including relevant administrative, regulatory and organizational frameworks of the United Nations system of organizations, in particular
• Support the provision of timely, accurate, and actionable legal advice across the above domains
• Prepare, draft and review legal and contractual documents, including service-specific agreements, memoranda of understanding (MoUs), commercial contracts, and other legal instruments to support UNICC’s contractual engagements and service delivery within the UN system and beyond
• Support and contribute to the progressive development of UNICC’s contractual framework governing its engagements with clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders
• Assist in drafting clear, concise legal briefs, documentation and correspondence on various legal matters in the context of UNICC’s ICT mandate. Support senior staff in negotiations and meetings with UNICC client organizations and other, including governmental, private sector and other counterparts, ensuring legal accuracy, clarity, and alignment with UNICC’s strategic and operational objectives
• Collaborate in the preparation and review of procurement-related legal documentation and assist in contract negotiations, as required, ensuring compliance with applicable UN procurement rules and international best practices
• Provide support to senior colleagues in formal and informal dispute resolution processes, as required
• Participate in the review, updating, and harmonization of UNICC’s internal regulatory framework, including policies and procedures related to legal compliance and risk management, as required
• Assist in developing information and training materials and delivering presentations on legal topics relevant to UNICC operations, as required
• Other: Provide other ad hoc support either within the team or in other teams as required – this includes the participation in special projects or temporary support to other areas of UNICC’s work on a part-time or full-time basis upon request from senior management

Recruitment Profile

Experience and Skills required:

Essential:

• Minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible legal experience, including legal analysis, research, and drafting in the public and/or private sector required.
• Professional work experience in at least one of the following legal domains is essential:
  • data protection and privacy law
  • ICT-related intellectual property rights law (e.g., software licensing, open-source licensing)
  • contract law with a focus on commercial contracts in the technology sector
  • another relevant technology-related legal domain (e.g., legal aspects of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity etc.)
  • public international law

Desirable:

• Experience in more than one legal domain of relevance to the position is highly desirable
• Private sector experience in law and/or technology law is desirable
• Experience in the negotiation and/or drafting of contracts, contractual provisions and/or licenses, particularly in or with the technology sector, is desirable
• Experience in public international law, particularly related to the law of international organizations, privileges and immunities is desirable
• International work experience, including but not limited to prior service with international organizations, is desirable

*Education:

Essential:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Law, International Law, Technology Law or a technology-related legal domain is required.
• Evidence of formal training or specialization in at least two of the following legal domains (whether as part of the university degree, or in addition thereto):
  • data protection and privacy law
  • ICT-related intellectual property rights law (e.g., software licensing, open-source licensing)
  • contract law with a focus on commercial contracts in the technology sector
  • another relevant technology-related legal domain (e.g., legal aspects of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity etc.)
  • public international law

Note: A first-level university degree in combination with additional formal training (such as a post-graduate diploma, certificate course or equivalent) as evidence of specialization in at least two relevant fields may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree, provided that legal studies formed part of the qualifications obtained in addition to a technology-related legal domain.

Desirable:

• Additional training in technology-related legal domains of relevance to the position
• Studies in more than one jurisdiction or legal tradition, or in comparative law

Languages:

• English: Expert knowledge is required
• Knowledge of another UN official language will be an advantage

UNICC Global Competencies:

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective relationships with colleagues and team members. Deals constructively with conflicts.
• Communicating: Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others; listens actively. Produces effective written communications. Ensures that information is shared.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences: Demonstrates the ability to work constructively with people of all backgrounds and orientations. Respects differences and ensures that all can contribute.
• Knowing and managing yourself: Manages ambiguity and pressure in a self-reflective way. Uses criticism as a development opportunity. Seeks opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth.
• Producing results: Produces and delivers quality results. Is action oriented and committed to achieving outcomes.
• Moving forward in a changing environment: Is open to and proposes new approaches and ideas. Adapts and responds positively to change.

Other Information

Compensation:

Annual Salary Estimation (net of tax at single rate):

• Valencia (Spain), including post adjustment (32% on June 2025): US$ 72,815.

UNICC also offers generous leave and absence allowances, flexible working hours, overtime compensation, teleworking, access to training, and depending on eligibility other benefits such as relocation grant, dependency allowance, language allowance, or education grant.

Closing date for applications:

Applications will be accepted until midnight (Geneva Time) on 17 July 2025.

Notes:

• Technical and/or personality tests may be carried out as part of the selection process
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted
• Though you may not be selected for this advertised position, the UNICC will keep your application in a roster if your profile is deemed to be of potential interest for the Centre. You may thus be solicited by our HR department to participate in an interview for another position

* For UNICC staff members who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please refer to the applicable WHO e-Manual Annex 6 – Guidelines on Standard Minimum Experience Exposure and Education Requirements

Please inform us should you require any specific accommodation to facilitate your application

The UNICC workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. UNICC seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity by ensuring equal opportunity and an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

For applications to be valid, they must contain a motivation letter and the filled Personal History Form.