Legal Officer P4, LEGC

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

19 June 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.
To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This role is located in the Legal Office in Headquarters (HQ) and report to the Division Director or the designate.

At this level, job holders operate with a high level of operational independence for issuing legal advice and dealing client’s legal issues. They perform a high degree of specialized legal work and deal with complex and sensitive legal issues. In addition, particularly in larger legal groups, it is common for the P-4 job holder to be a team leader providing guidance, leadership and mentoring for other Legal Officers. At this level, job holders originate new policies or programs in a specific subject area or field of work. Work involves specialist expertise that goes beyond established procedures or models. Job holders work with minimal supervision and are expected to pursue new areas of activities within a broad program framework combining credible capacity with independent responsibility for developing specific program initiatives and creates opportunities for developing new client relationships.

This position sits within the Contractual and Constitutional Law Branch (LEGC), in a team that provides legal support on private sector partnerships, communication, finance, cash-based transfer (CBT), Data and Personal Data, technology, in support of relevant HQ units and field implementation. The role will primarily focus on the provision of legal support on CBT — including procurement of financial service providers — technology, innovative finance initiatives, and privacy. The holder will also be expected to assist the wider Legal Office on Spanish-language matters pertaining to international law, privileges and immunities, and procurement.

THE ROLE

To provide sound legal advice, services and representation on complex legal matters in accordance with applicable legal policies, rules and practices, to protect the interest of the organization and minimize liabilities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

• Serve as a lead officer in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handle a wide range of multi-discipline and highly complex legal matters including interpretation and application of various legal instruments in the relevant area of concentration to ensure the provision of comprehensive legal services.
• Contribute to determination of strategy and approach to legal matters, to ensure provision of solid recommendations and cohesive legal services.