Director, Legal Affairs
Pay and conditions
Source: Estimates by grade and duty station. Click the cards for more details.
Job Description
As Director of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, this D-2 role leads the UN’s legal and secretariat work on the Law of the Sea Convention. It manages the Division’s strategy, programme, budget and staff while directing intergovernmental support, BBNJ interim-secretariat work, legal analysis, capacity building, external representation and UN Oceans coordination.
Key Details
Department
Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Position Details
Experience level
Leadership
Minimum experience
15 years
Arrangement
Onsite
Minimum education
Bachelor's degree
Contract duration
Initial period of one year
Language Requirements
Required
English
Preferred
French
Summary of Responsibilities
- Organise and supervise substantive support, legal advice and documentation for General Assembly, States Parties and other law-of-the-sea bodies
- Lead the Division’s interim-secretariat work under the BBNJ Agreement
- Monitor and analyse ocean-affairs and law-of-the-sea developments and oversee legal publications
- Plan and supervise capacity building through training courses, manuals and institutional cooperation
- Manage the Division’s budget, programme performance, work programme, staff and delivery of outputs
- Represent the Organisation and communicate with permanent missions, governments and international organisations
Role Requirements
- Advanced degree in law with a specialisation in public international law, or a first-level law degree with two additional years of qualifying public-international-law experience
- Over 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public international law, including at least five years in supervisory positions
- At least five years of international-level law-of-the-sea and ocean-affairs experience
- At least five years in a senior leadership position in a multicultural environment
- English at UN Language Framework Level III
Desired Criteria
- Experience providing secretariat services to, or participating as a delegate in, intergovernmental meetings or conferences
- Experience using data and digital technologies to improve strategic decisions, efficiency and service delivery
- Experience designing innovative approaches to complex organisational challenges
- Experience applying behavioural-science insights to programme design, policy implementation and stakeholder engagement
- Experience using strategic foresight methods, including scenario planning and trend analysis
Skills
Tools and Technologies
Additional Information
- Annual financial disclosure statement required after appointment or assignment
Source & verification
IGO Jobs sourced this vacancy from OLA Careers, on 20 Aug 2026.