Legal and Compliance · Contract
Direct employerLegal Officer, P3
United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme
NairobiMid level · Not statedCloses Friday, 6 November 2026, 07:59 EATChecked 7 Oct 2026
Published by employer
About this role
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Role overview
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is hiring a Legal Officer at the P3 level. The role is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and is suited for candidates with experience in international law and legal advisory within institutional and administrative contexts. This is a one-year contract position with possible extension.
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What you will do
- Provide legal advice on UNEP's corporate and institutional matters, including interpretation of UN legal frameworks.
- Conduct legal research and prepare legal documents such as opinions, briefs, and reports.
- Draft, review, and assist in negotiating legal instruments including agreements and contracts with various entities.
- Offer legal advice on procurement, intellectual property, and partnership matters.
- Support administrative and internal justice matters, including personnel disputes and representation before UN tribunals.
- Advise on issues related to sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and internal oversight investigations.
- Guide junior staff and interns, analyse data for reporting, and perform other related duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Hold an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in international law or related field, or a first-level degree plus two additional years of experience.
- Have at least five years of progressively responsible legal experience including legal analysis, research, and writing.
- Experience in administrative law, human resources, and staff management legal advice is required.
- Experience in representing the organization in personnel matters before management evaluation and UN Dispute Tribunal is required.
- Experience in drafting and negotiating various legal agreements with UN entities and partners is required.
- Experience in legal matters related to investigations by oversight bodies is desirable.
- Experience advising on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse cases is desirable.
- Experience in fraud, corruption, accountability, misconduct, and compliance legal support is desirable.
- Experience advising on partnerships with the private sector and intellectual property matters is desirable.
- Experience in data analytics or related fields is desirable.
- English language proficiency at UN Level III in reading, writing, listening, and speaking is required.
How to apply
Apply on the employer's application page. The closing date for applications is Friday, 6 November 2026.