Legal and Risk Officer

The Legal and Risk Officer position at UNEP in Nairobi involves providing legal advice on conduct and discipline matters, supporting enterprise risk management, and managing grievance redress mechanisms. The role requires coordination with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance and risk mitigation within UNEP.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate awareness initiatives and facilitate training to ensure all personnel understand their conduct obligations, focusing on discrimination, harassment, and abuse of authority.
• Serve as an initial point of contact for receipt of misconduct concerns related to UNEP personnel and provide procedural guidance.
• Conduct initial assessments and advise complainants on appropriate mechanisms to address allegations.
• Maintain confidential records relating to conduct and discipline matters and support preparation of periodic reports including the Annual Report on Conduct and Discipline.
• Provide legal advice to the Executive Director on conduct and discipline matters and recommendations to address systemic issues.
• Liaise and coordinate within UNEP and with other UN Secretariat entities on conduct and discipline issues.
• Fulfil responsibilities of the Conduct and Discipline Focal Point as appointed by the Executive Director.
• Support the Chief Risk Officer and ERM Secretariat in implementing and improving UNEP’s Enterprise Risk Management framework.
• Prepare documentation and provide analytical and coordination support for ERM Committee meetings.
• Support preparation of periodic risk reports for senior management and governing bodies.
• Update risk-management tools in line with UN Secretariat standards.
• Collaborate with internal audit, ethics, legal, compliance, programme quality assurance and other functions to review risk mitigation effectiveness.
• Promote a risk-aware culture through training, communication and engagement activities.
• Support monitoring and receipt of complaints under UNEP’s Stakeholder Response Mechanism and undertake initial eligibility screening.
• Provide analysis and advice on protective measures to minimize risks of retaliation against complainants.
• Explain the Stakeholder Response Mechanism process to affected persons and stakeholders.
• Maintain and update a roster of independent experts and consultants for compliance reviews and dispute-resolution processes.
• Support preparation of reports for the Executive Director on compliance reviews and dispute-resolution outcomes.
• Maintain up-to-date information on the Stakeholder Response Mechanism website and Case Registry.
• Support processing, tracking, documentation and archiving of grievance cases in accordance with records management requirements.
• Contribute to annual reporting on stakeholder complaints including analysis of systemic observations and lessons learned.
• Support review and updating of UNEP policies and procedures relating to the Stakeholder Response Mechanism.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends and provide insights through data visualization methods.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.
• Academic or professional training in one or more of the following areas is desirable: administrative law, environmental and social safeguards, conduct and discipline, enterprise risk management, grievance redress, dispute resolution or compliance.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional legal experience, advisory services, compliance, administration, programme management or a related field is required.
• Experience in supporting work in one or more of the following areas is required: conduct and discipline, enterprise risk management, grievance redress or accountability mechanisms, environmental and social safeguards, ethics, compliance or human resources policy.
• Experience in gathering and analysing information, preparing legal or policy advice, drafting reports and recommendations, and supporting the resolution of complex or sensitive matters is desirable.
• Experience working on confidential or sensitive cases, including the application of appropriate information-management and data-protection requirements, is desirable.
• Experience supporting coordination among legal, human resources, ethics, oversight, risk management, programme or compliance functions is desirable.
• Experience with stakeholder grievance mechanisms, dispute-resolution processes, compliance reviews or environmental and social accountability frameworks is desirable.
• Experience in the United Nations Common System or a comparable international, intergovernmental, public-sector or non-profit organization is desirable.
• Experience working in a multicultural setting is desirable.
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Skills

• Legal Advisory Services
• Enterprise Risk Management
• Grievance redress mechanisms
• Compliance Reviews
• Dispute Settlement
• Environmental and Social Safeguards
• Conduct and Discipline Management
• Policy Analysis
• Legal Drafting
• Data Analytics
• Information Management
• Data Protection
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Programme Management
• Ethics Compliance
• Human Resources Policies
• Report Writing
• Confidential Case Management

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian, Spanish, French