Legal Information Management Associate
Vacancy code VA/2014/B5106/4787
Position title Legal Information Management Associate
Department/office AEMO, Jerusalem
Duty station Ramallah, Palestine (State of)
Contract type Local ICA Support
Contract level LICA-4
Duration 01 April 2014 to 15 September 2014 (with possibility of extension)
Application period 19-Feb-2014 to 26-Feb-2014
Background Information - UNOPS
UNOPS mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.
Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.
Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding contexts, always satisfying or surpassing partner expectations.
We employ more than 6,000 personnel and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.
Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS JMPC is supporting the Canadian government with the implementation of two components of the Sharaka project, a multi-year DFATD-funded program of assistance directed at strengthening the Office of Attorney General/Public Prosecution (OAG/PP) in order to enhance its contribution to the stability, prosperity and democratic development of the West Bank. The first component is a procurement component, which will satisfy a substantial part of the operational objectives of the project by supplying concrete and tangible support to the PA through (i) retrofitting the new OAG headquarters building; (ii) furnishing and equipping PP district offices; (iii) equipping the OAG/PP offices with IT equipment; (iv) providing videoconferencing facilities for the OAG/PP; and (v) purchasing vehicles for use by the OAG/PP. The second component is a technical legal assistance component, which will satisfy the structural, knowledge and capacity building objectives of the project by supplying assistance to the OAG/PP in the following areas: (i) supporting the creation of a Planning Unit within the OAG; (ii) strengthening the internal structure, organization, management and operational capacity of the OAG/PP; (iii) developing human rights and gender capacities; (iv) providing targeted training support; and (v) supporting Canada’s coordinating role for donor and implementing agency activities within the OAG.
The Canadian-funded Sharaka Project requires the services of a qualified Legal Information Management Associate to advance the Project’s efforts at developing the OAG/PP’s legal information management capacity. The Associate will work with OAG management and other specialists engaged by the Sharaka Project to assist the OAG/PP in developing the platforms and tools necessary to grant prosecutors swift access to the knowledge and information they require.
To successfully carry out their role, prosecutors must have access to up-to-date information on legislative and jurisprudential precedents. The complexity of their tasks also means that they must be able to quickly gather best-practices, precedents and insights from colleagues. The Project will improve the prosecution service's legal information management capacity so that the institution can make relevant information readily available to prosecutors.
The associate will focus on attaining the Project’s targeted outputs in the realm of legal information management. This includes the creation of an electronic toolkit for lawyers. The exact content of that toolkit will be determined in consultation with the prosecution service and through the input of Canadian knowledge and experience in this area. The toolkit is meant to make easily accessible things of direct relevance for the day-to-day work of prosecutors, such as the text of frequently used laws, models for certain procedures, and excerpts from major court decisions. Another targeted output in this area is the development of a legal reference library that will make key legal texts available to prosecutors throughout the prosecutions service.
A crucial objective of the Associate is the transfer of knowledge to OAG officials so as to enhance the sustainability of the Project. Where human resources are presently lacking, the Project will create “sustainability positions” as a bridging measure that will provide the OAG with a pool of future employees who have benefited from the Project’s capacity development activities. One such sustainable position will be in the area of legal information management. The Associate will play a crucial role in developing the capacity of the legal information management sustainability position incumbent. This includes acting as a formal mentor to the incumbent. Specifically, the Associate will on a six-weekly basis meet with the sustainability position incumbent to review progress in the latter’s capacity development. At both the midpoint and end of each calendar quarter, the Associate will submit a one-page report to the Sharaka Field Director on progress in the incumbent’s capacity development as well as recommendations for training activities that would benefit the incumbent.
The Associate will be embedded with the OAG for the duration of the contract and will provide services directly to the Office of the Attorney General and its staff. Management of the position will be provided by United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in conjunction with the OAG and the Sharaka Project. UNOPS will be responsible for remuneration and contract related matters. The Sharaka Project, headed by the Sharaka Field Director, will be the Project Authority and will be responsible for providing overall project-related direction to the Associate in his/her support to the OAG. On the final day of each calendar quarter the Associate will provide the Sharaka Field Director with a one-page report outlining progress on the Associate’s activities. The OAG, through the Planning Unit Head, will act as the Technical Authority providing daily supervision and substantive guidance to the Associate on matters of internal OAG management, needs and priorities, and will facilitate the Associate’s integration with the OAG. In all of his/her dealings, the Associate will be driven by a focus on attaining the strategic objectives of the OAG and the Sharaka Project, and will work closely with the heads of OAG divisions and Sharaka team members in order to achieve this.
Functional Responsibilities
Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The Associate‘s core duties will include, but are not limited to, assisting OAG management to increase legal information management capacity in the following areas:
Work in close collaboration with OAG officials involved in the storage and distribution of legal information. Work with OAG officials to develop strategies and work plans in this area. Work to ensure that legal information management priorities are integrated into the OAG/PP’s annual planning process.
Take a leadership role in the development of the electronic toolkit for prosecutors. This will involve working in close collaboration with the Sharaka-supported IT Associates, Communications Associate (and sustainability position) and OAG IT staff to modernize the OAG/PP’s information technology and information management tools, particularly in developing software for the electronic toolkit for prosecutors. This may involve engaging with a Palestinian IT firm. It will also involve working closely with Canadian experts in legal information management.
Take a leadership role in the development of a legal library that will provide prosecutors throughout the prosecution service with timely access to essential legal texts. The Associate will ensure that appropriate measures are taken to ensure that the library can be maintained sustainably post-Project.
In developing the electronic toolkit for prosecutors and legal library, the Associate will consult extensively with OAG officials both at OAG headquarters and at district offices to ensure that the products are developed in a consultative manner that takes into account the varied needs and viewpoints of employees throughout the institution. The Associate will take into consideration gender perspectives in this exercise and in all his or her tasks.
Work closely with OAG/PP officials to ensure as much knowledge transfer as possible. This will include acting as a mentor to the sustainability position incumbent and submitting periodic reports (see “Monitoring and Progress Controls” section below for timelines) to the Project Field Director outlining progress on the capacity development of the sustainability position incumbent and proposing training initiatives that would benefit the incumbent.
3-Monitoring and Progress Controls
Successful completion of the tasks explained in the previous paragraph. Successful and timely delivery of all activities and products.
On the final day of each calendar quarter the Associate will provide the Sharaka Field Director with a one-page report outlining progress on the Associate’s activities.
At both the midpoint and final day of each calendar quarter, the Associate will submit a one-page report to the Sharaka Field Director on progress in the sustainability position incumbent’s capacity development as well as recommendations for training activities that would benefit the incumbent.
4-Final Product
Electronic toolkit developed, implemented and used by prosecutors. Electronic toolkit is designed so as to be sustainably maintained post-Project. Strategy in place to constantly update contents of electronic toolkit.
Legal library completed and used by prosecutors. Strategy in place to sustainably maintain library post-Project.
Transfer of knowledge to OAG staff. Successful mentorship of sustainability position incumbent, reflected in a marked increase in the sustainability position’s capacity.
Competencies
Key Competencies
Excellent ability to write and communicate orally with accuracy and professionalism.
Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively across different constituencies.
Possess tactfulness and the ability to provide professional leadership.
Ability to work collaboratively with other operational and information technology professionals, both Palestinian and international.
Ability to effectively take into account gender considerations.
Ability to work effectively under conditions of limited or dual supervision, high stress and rapidly changing situations and circumstances.
Ability to set priorities and meet deadlines.
Strong report writing abilities.
Strong attention to detail.
Excellent analytical ability, sound judgment, independent and creative thinking.
Ability to use computer software related to an office environment (Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent) and software related to information management.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
a-Education
Master’s degree in information management, library and information sciences, information science or related field. Additional years of relevant work experience, preferably in combination with a relevant bachelor’s degree, may substitute for the requirement for a master’s degree.
b-Work Experience
Five (5) or more years experience in information management or library management.
Knowledge of programming.
Previous experience working in the public sector is an asset.
Previous experience working with lawyers or other legal professionals is an asset.
Previous experience developing electronic information management tools is an asset, including: publication development, layout, dissemination, website construction and maintenance, computer business applications (Microsoft Office Suite, Publisher, etc.).
c-Languages
Strong written and verbal communication skills in Arabic;
Intermediate written and verbal communication skills in English are an asset.
d-Others
Previous experience working with lawyers or other legal professionals highly desired.
Strong knowledge of processes and tools associated with knowledge information management.
Knowledge of Palestinian justice sector, in particular prosecutions, is an asset.
A demonstrable understanding and acceptance of the mission, values, goals and objectives of the Sharaka Project and the OAG/PP.
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement
Contract level: Local ICA level 4
Contract duration: 01 April 2014 to 15 September 2014 (with possibility of extension)
Additional Considerations
Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.
رام الله والبيرة, 5-Feb
بيت لحم, 4-Feb
رام الله والبيرة, 2-Feb
