Title:  Senior Legal Officer

Requisition ID: 7028 
Grade: P4 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: Professional and Higher 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Staff-Full-time
Appointment Type: Fixed Term - 100 series
Indicative Minimum Net Annual Salary: 131,707 USD 
Application Deadline: 17-Feb-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
Female candidates from all Member States are particularly encouraged to apply.

UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.  The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

Under the overall direction and supervision of the Director General, the Office of Legal Affairs (ODG/LEG) assists UNIDO in achieving its goals by ensuring that all its activities and programmes are compliant with its applicable legal framework. The core function of the Office of Legal Affairs, therefore, consists of the provision of sound and impartial legal advice and expert legal assistance to promote compliance with the rule of law and to manage legal risks in all aspects of UNIDO’s activities, as well as to defend UNIDO’s rights, positions and interests in contractual and litigation matters.

The Legal Adviser and Director, ODG/LEG is responsible and fully accountable to the Director General for the overall management of ODG/LEG and for the work and performance of the Office. Within the broad priorities outlined above and any specific direction cascaded downwards, the Legal Adviser and Director, ODG/LEG formulates the priorities of the Office, cascades tasks and responsibilities, and monitors, evaluates and reports on the results of the priorities in the areas under the responsibility of ODG/LEG. The Senior Legal Officer is accountable to and works under the direct supervision of the Legal Adviser and Director, ODG/LEG. The incumbent also works in close collaboration with colleagues in ODG/LEG and is expected to play an important role in supporting the achievement of the mandate of the Office.

At the P-4 level, the incumbent is expected to deliver (a) work that is innovative and original; (b) in creating an enabling environment which expands across functions and sectors; (c) in building partnerships which result in advocating and championing UNIDO’s programmes; and (d) in achieving results that are cross functional.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her supervisor and colleagues, within as well as outside ODG/LEG. The incumbent will be expected to be conversant in all the legal work of the Office and to backstop other team members as required.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Director General and in this context all staff are expected to serve in any assignment and duty station as determined by the needs of the Organization.

1. Main Responsibilities

Under the direction and supervision of the Legal Adviser and Director, ODG/LEG, the Senior Legal Officer performs the following generic functions and responsibilities:

• Support the Legal Adviser in providing authoritative legal advice and assistance to senior management and other organisational entities on legal matters affecting UNIDO or arising from the Organization’s activities and operations.
• Conduct research and draft expert legal opinions and advice on the interpretation of, and compliance with, legal instruments forming part of the legal framework of the Organization.
• Review, comment on and prepare replies concerning the legal aspects of draft agreements and arrangements to be concluded by UNIDO, including basic cooperation agreements, agreements with states hosting UNIDO offices, funding agreements, and other partnership agreements and arrangements, and represent the Office in the negotiation of these instruments as required.
• Draft, review and update appropriate models and templates of such agreements and arrangements as required.
• Serve as the leading subject matter expert and senior focal point for the legal aspects of the technical cooperation portfolio, donor relations, and the field presence of UNIDO, including by providing day-to-day legal support services to organizational entities to facilitate the Organization’s technical cooperation and global forum functions.
• Draft, review, comment on and prepare correspondence concerning the legal aspects of draft administrative issuances and other Secretariat documents sent to ODG/LEG for review.
• Draft, review, comment on and prepare correspondence concerning the legal aspects of draft decisions, resolutions and other documents of the policymaking organs of UNIDO.
• Represent the Office at meetings of the policymaking organs of UNIDO and at other meetings of Member States.
• Represent the Office at other meetings in regard to legal matters affecting the Organization, including its privileges and immunities.
• Represent the Office at internal meetings and on Secretariat committees such as the Procurement Committee and provide advice and assistance in resolving legal questions that arise in connection with the work of such committees.
• Serve as the designated senior case officer responsible for managing individual complaints brought against UNIDO before the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization (ILOAT), including by researching the facts and jurisprudence, advising on overall strategy, consulting with other relevant organizational entities, drafting the necessary legal briefs, reviewing the Tribunal’s judgment, and analysing lessons learned.
• Serve as the designated senior case officer responsible for managing cases, claims or legal proceedings concerning UNIDO and UNIDO personnel, including claims brought against the Organization in the areas of private and commercial law.
• Supervise the work of interns and other personnel at the request of the Legal Adviser and Director, and conduct peer reviews of draft legal opinions and legal advice prepared by colleagues.
• Actively support the maintenance and implementation of the Office’s advanced knowledge management system.
• Perform other related duties and assignments as required by the Director.

3. Core Values and Competencies

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those, we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

4. Organizational requirements and desirable criteria

Education: An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Law, in International Law or another field of law directly relevant to the work of the Office, is required. Admission to the Bar in at least one national jurisdiction is desirable.

Experience:

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in law, obtained in the legal office of an international intergovernmental organization, or the legal office of a government or a law firm, in areas relevant to the mandate of the Office, is required. A proven track record in litigation, including, e.g., employment law, alternative dispute resolution, mediation or arbitration, is required. A leading role in drafting and negotiating complex legal instruments is required. Experience in the provision of legal advice, gained in the legal office of a UN Common System or comparable international organization, is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency in or working knowledge of other official language(s) of the United Nations, is desirable.

For further information on salaries, refer to the International Civil Service Commission website: https://icsc.un.org/

Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO careers site for details on how to apply: https://careers.unido.org/ 

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org