National Legal Officer (NP1) - OSCE Mission to Moldova, Chisinau



National Legal Officer (NP1) - OSCE Mission to Moldova, Chisinau

  • Issued by: OSCE Mission to Moldova
  • Requisition ID: MOL000025
  • Contract Type: Local Contracted
  • Grade: NP1
  • Job Level: Professional
  • Job Type: Contracted
  • Number of posts: 1
  • Location: MOL - OSCE Mission to Moldova, Chisinau
  • Issue Date: Mar 30, 2023
  • Closing Date: Apr 19, 2023
  • Employee Status: Fixed Term
  • Schedule: Full-time
  • Education Level: Master's Degree (Second-level university degree or equivalent)
  • Job Field: Human Rights

Background:

The incumbent is assigned to the Human Rights Programme (HuR) and functions as National Legal Officer, under the direct supervision of the Human Dimension Officer (HDO), who reports to the Human Rights Programme Manager (PM). The incumbent serves as a human rights lawyer to the Mission and collaborates with the HDO, who primarily is responsible for the general area of human rights, with planning, developing and implementing projects in this field.

The purpose of the post is to provide legal expertise on human rights issues and general issues of relevance to the human dimension work of the Mission.  The goals and objectives of the post are preparation of analytical reports on (draft) laws and advising the Mission on concrete recommendations to be given to the public authorities on various legal issues as well as the project management, collaboration with governmental officials, NGOs and international organizations.

The work of the National Legal Officer is supervised by the Human Dimension Officer, who assigns work within the general strategic priorities of the Human Rights and Democratization Programme. Much of the work is carried out independently by the incumbent, but at the same time in close co-operation and dialogue with the HDO. The HDO reviews the work and provides advice and guidance on planning and priorities. Written reports and analyses are reviewed by the HDO. The incumbent and HDO have meetings on a regular basis to set the priorities and decide on the abovementioned issues. The incumbent is also expected to reach for assistance whenever necessary so that the guidelines are respected and acknowledged even when outside one’s own expertise. In particular, the National Legal Officer must maintain a professional relationship with ODIHR, HCNM and local stakeholders as well as in-house in the Mission with the OHoM, CPR, FAU, senior management and their representatives.
 


Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Human Dimension Officer, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Serving as legal expert on human rights issues and collaborating with the HDO in the human dimension work by performing the research and analysis of applicable national law and comparative approaches to  human rights issues; legal analysis and drafting of policy initiatives in the field of human rights; identifying areas for capacity-building and trainings for governmental actors,  assisting in planning, organizing and implementing human rights related activities of the Mission with national and international institutions, organizations and NGOs; assisting with negotiations between central and regional education authorities, monitoring the situation of Moldovan institutions in the Transdniestrian region, and making recommendations concerning the Mission’s activities; monitoring the reform processes of Moldovan central and local institutions and makes recommendations concerning the Mission’s response and follow-up, suggesting reforms of the Mission’s human rights work and following sound political cases, where human rights issues are involved;

2. Serving as a legal expert on general issues by providing legal review and analysis on issues of the national legal system in general, as well as on particular areas of interest for the Mission and its mandate (for the HDO, Public Relations Officer, Political Officer and the Deputy Head of Mission), monitoring the legal reform in Moldova and informing Mission members about draft laws and newly adopted legislation, obtaining draft laws and information regarding initiatives in the legal reform from the competent bodies and preparing informative and analysis reports/memo to the Mission members and making comparative analysis of the national legislation and international legal documents as required;


3. Serving as a project officer responsible for identification and/or recommendation of the priorities for support and/or developing project proposals, reviewing project proposals, supervising and monitoring the implementation of the projects, maintaining and updating the filing system on projects, attending donors meetings, etc.;

 4. Collaborating with governmental officials, NGOs and international organizations by maintaining contacts with relevant authorities on developments in human rights related fields, following/gathering information on human rights activities undertaken by the international and national institutions and NGOs, attending seminars/roundtables on human rights and legal issues, maintaining and updating the database on NGOs and their projects, and organizing capacity-building activities; 

5. Preparing, participating in and facilitating thematic Working Group meetings in the settlement process format of the Sides, including liaising with co-chairs, and conducting analysis on priority issues as required; Attending meetings and taking minutes, collecting updates, preparing reports and briefing papers in accordance with the Mission’s Standard Operating Procedures; Providing substantive recommendations on how to promote progress in the relevant thematic Working Groups and proposals for the resolution of remaining issues; Keeping regular contact with the Sides and relevant stakeholders, and advising Mission Members on the developments on issues raised within the thematic Working Group meetings;
Supporting mainstreaming of gender equality and a integrating a human rights perspective into the discussions and development of priorities in the Working Groups; Participating as observer during elections.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, please see: https://www.osce.org/mission-to-moldova.


Necessary Qualifications:

  • University degree in law; 
  • Specialization in fields relevant for Human Rights (Constitutional Law or International Law with specialization in human rights);
  • Holding a valid driving license;
  • Minimum two years professional work experience in law in the human rights field, either nationally or internationally with possible  working experience  in an NGO or international organization in the field of human rights protection;
  • Knowledge of international human rights standards, OSCE commitments, and the national and international human rights network;
  • Knowledge of the human rights context in Moldova
  • Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English, Romanian and Russian;
  • Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
  • Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
  • Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications;
  • Resident of the Republic of Moldova


Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deduction is EUR 1664, the OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Moldova. Social benefits include participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. 


If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://jobs.osce.org/vacancies.

Please note that CVs and other applications submitted in different formats than the OSCE Application Form will not be reviewed.

Applications received after the deadline, submitted without reference to the vacancy number or in other languages than the English language would not be considered.
 

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please note that for this position the OSCE does not reimburse expenses such as travel in connection with interviews, tests, visas and relocation.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.