Senior Legal Officer

Purpose

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director/Head, Legal Affairs Office in the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, the incumbent serves as a lead officer to provide wide range legal advice and legal review of treaties and technical regulations contained therein.
The incumbent will assist the Director and the Deputy Director in coordinating the work of the Division with the other Divisions of the Organization in particular in preparing for the sessions of the Maritime Safety Committee, Marine Environment Protection Committee, Facilitation Committee, Legal Committee, and their subsidiary bodies, as well as working and drafting groups, to ensure high quality in drafting texts of treaties and technical regulations contained therein, as well as other IMO instruments.

Responsibilities

• Relying on an in-depth knowledge of the IMO legal framework, in particular regulations related to maritime safety and security, facilitation and the protection of the marine environment, serve as a lead officer in the provision of authoritative legal advice on drafting of technical regulations, resolutions and other instruments.
• Conduct comprehensive and extensive legal and technical research on a range of issues, including those related to maritime safety and security, facilitation and the protection of the marine environment regulations, with an understanding of policy implications.
• Provide authoritative legal advice in negotiations of technical regulations and other instruments, influencing others to facilitate enabling Member States reaching agreement.
• Provide authoritative legal advice regarding the interpretation and application of technical regulations to ensure they are drafted clearly and consistently with the focus on the effective implementation and enforcement.
• Participate in meetings of, and provide advice to IMO organs, their subsidiary bodies, working groups and drafting groups conducted to develop, approve or adopt treaties, regulations, resolutions and other IMO instruments.
• Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity regarding the decision-making process.
• Coordinate and communicate the provision of legal advice with other Divisions of the Organization. Draft inputs to documents and briefs, as requested, related to the development of new, or amendment of, existing treaties, regulations, resolutions and other IMO instruments.
• Contribute to the review and design of new legal instruments, policy documents, circulars and guidelines, as and when required.
• Perform other related duties as may be required.

Competencies

• In-depth knowledge of the IMO legal framework, including practical field implementation, in particular regulations related to maritime safety and security, facilitation and the protection of the marine and atmospheric environment
• Proficiency in providing authoritative legal advice on drafting of technical regulations, resolutions and other instruments.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct comprehensive legal and technical research on a range of issues, including those related to the maritime safety and security, facilitation and the protection of the marine environment regulations.
• Strong negotiating skills and ability to provide authoritative legal advice in negotiations of technical regulations and other instruments, influencing others to reach agreement.
• Proven legal drafting skills with the ability to focus on the implementation and enforcement aspects of technical regulations and other instruments.

Experience

Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience with the IMO legal framework, including drafting of technical regulations, legal analysis and research, and with the practical implementation of IMO instruments is required. Experience in advising on a wide range of questions concerning international maritime law, including advising on IMO’s technical regulations, is desirable.

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in law is essential. Additional technical training or equivalent experience would be an asset.

Languages

Excellent command of English in both oral and written communication is essential, as well as the ability to clearly articulate complex issues and positions to a variety of audiences.

Other skills

Experience in drafting regulations of a legal and technical nature.

Contract information

Fixed-term for two years (first year is probationary) with the possibility of further extension, subject to satisfactory performance.

Salary information

US$ 86,027 net per annum, plus post adjustment (currently US$ 65,810). Salary is free of income tax in the United Kingdom.