Senior Legal Officer (Head, Development Law Service)

Job Posting: 24/Jul/2026 Closure Date: 24/Aug/2026, 4:59:00 PM Organizational Unit: LEG Job Type: Staff position Type of Requisition: Professional Grade Level: P-5 Primary Location: Italy-Rome Duration: Fixed-term: two years with possibility of extension Post Number: 0426563 CCOG Code: 1G01 IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

As part of the Office of the Director-General, the Legal Office (LEG) provides authoritative legal advice and assistance on a wide range of issues to the Director-General, units in Headquarters and in the field, the Governing and Statutory Bodies and Members of the Organization.

The Development Law Service (LEGN) advises the Organization and its Members on legal and institutional means to promote and regulate national development and international cooperation in the food and agriculture sector, through law reform activities, legal research, data collection, technical assistance and capacity building in the areas of land, water, fisheries, plants, animals, food, forestry, wildlife, biodiversity and the environment, as well as other legal issues related to food and agriculture (including, but not limited to, nutrition, trade, technology).

The position is located in the Development Law Service (LEGN) of the Legal Office (LEG), at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Legal Officer (Head, Development Law Service) reports to the Legal Counsel or the Deputy Legal Counsel.

Technical Focus

Public international law, natural resources and/or development law, environmental law, comparative legislation and regulation, legislative drafting.

Key Results

The provision of legal advice and support on questions related to the legal and institutional means to promote and regulate national development and international cooperation in the food and agriculture sector.

Key Functions

• Manages the Development Law Service, setting goals and objectives aligned with the Strategic Framework of the Organization and the priorities of the Members, monitoring efficiency and outcomes/results, and providing guidance, supervision and quality control of work outputs and clearance of the development law work of the Organization.
• Manages the resources of the Service in close collaboration with the Legal Counsel and Deputy Legal Counsel, including by appropriately managing financial resources allocated to the Service, leading resource mobilization efforts, and providing leadership to its personnel in managing and implementing the work programme of the Service, ensuring the application of an appropriate framework for impact assessment of its work.
• Ensures that the Service delivers high-quality outputs which are clear, objective, and based on sound technical legal analysis in a timely and efficient manner.
• Coordinates and fosters exchange of experience and knowledge on development law issues and on modalities for delivery of the work programme within the Service.
• Fosters innovation and the use of new technologies to enhance the work of the Service and its efficiency.
• Fosters innovation and identifies legislative and other solutions to assist Members to address new and emerging challenges in the fields of food, agriculture and nutrition.
• Oversees the preparation of policy and position papers and reports on development law in general, and on the results of the Service in particular for internal use and, as appropriate, for the Governing Bodies.
• Provides high-level advice and consultancy services to managers and staff in FAO, as well as to Members on development law and international law issues as required, and supervises development law work undertaken by other units of FAO.
• Contributes as part of the management team of LEG in planning and evaluating the work programme of the Legal Office.
• Represents the Organization in multilateral fora dealing with development law and other issues of relevance to FAO and its mandate.
• Fosters teamwork and communication among personnel in the Service and across organizational boundaries.
• Performs other related duties, as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law.
• Ten years of legal experience relevant to the functions set to above with specialization in natural resources and development law in an international setting (such as a legal unit of an international organization or governmental institution, or in other forms of legal practice involving international dimensions).
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
• Relevance of knowledge and experience of agricultural and other renewable natural resources legislation.
• Extent of knowledge of both civil and common-law systems.
• Extent of communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and delivering training and technical assistance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage legal services, in particular to guide, motivate and train legal professionals, to direct advisory and research projects, to lead and facilitate the work of multidisciplinary teams of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, monitor and report against corporate strategic frameworks and related outcomes, indicators and impacts, including by implementing impact assessments frameworks for legal and regulatory work.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and perform programme or project budget holder responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to carry out legal research and analysis, to review legal texts of considerable difficulty, to develop and maintain effective working relationships with government officials and representatives of other partner organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate, and to rely on new technologies in the legal domain.
• Admission to practice law in a national jurisdiction is considered a strong asset.
• Extent of experience in drafting agricultural and other renewable natural resources legislation.
• Field experience in the provision of legal advisory assistance in agricultural and other renewable natural resources legislation.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency. _________________________________________________________________ GENERAL INFORMATION* Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds * FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment. * Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp

Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:

• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________HOW TO APPLY* To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills * Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile * Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application * Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings. * Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications * Incomplete applications will not be considered * Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application * Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered * Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile * We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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