Project Coordinator (Legal Expert, Terrorism Prevention) at United Nations

Job Summary
Special Notice:

• This is a project post. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
• Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
• Abuja is classified as a C and a family duty station.

Organisation Setting and Reporting:

• The position is located at the UNODC Country Office in Nigeria (CONIG). The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the UNODC Country Representative of Nigeria and the substantive guidance of the Chief, Implementation Support Section II (ISS-II), Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB), Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA) at UNODC Headquarters, Vienna. In addition, the incumbent will coordinate all aspects of work closely with a designated Programme Officer (Terrorism Prevention) in charge of the Nigeria programme in ISS-II/TPB/DTA.

Responsibilities
As a member of the project team (consisting of staff based both in the field and at UNODC headquarters) the focus of the job is to provide field-level project coordination and expert capacity building support on legal and international judicial cooperation aspects of counter-terrorism.Within assigned authority, the Project Coordinator (Legal Expert, Terrorism Prevention) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Project management and coordination: Serve as team leader for the project team and carry out lead responsibility for overall project implementation, coordination and related management functions (including monitoring and reporting) especially at the field level, drawing on the primary support of the Programme Officer (Terrorism Prevention) based in TPB/Vienna and in close coordination with the designated Programme Officer (Terrorism Prevention) in charge of the Nigeria programme in ISS-II/TPB. This will involve, among other tasks, the following in particular:
• Represent the project at the national level at relevant forums and especially vis-à-vis the lead Nigerian authorities and entities;
• Ensure and provide for on-going coordination and information flow with the European Union Delegation in Abuja;
• Take the lead for ensuring effective ongoing liaison and coordination with the project’s other multiple stakeholders, including the numerous national stakeholder entities;
• Ensure effective coordination and management of the project within CONIG and with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Nigeria country offices of other United Nations system entities, International Financial Institutions and other relevant actors;
• Coordinate and prepare a variety of written outputs that relate to the implementation of the project, such as background papers, progress reports, evaluation reports, mission reports, briefings and presentations; identify problems and issues to be addressed and initiate corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; ensure follow-up actions;
• Manage and provide guidance for financial management, monitoring and overall project administration.
• Capacity building support for international cooperation in criminal matters related to terrorism: Carry out lead responsibility for the refinement and delivery of outputs and achievement of results and outcomes of the project pertaining to capacity building for national officials responsible for international cooperation in criminal matters: provide substantive expertise, assess capacity building needs and lead the conceptualization, design and implementation of activities.
• Capacity building support for strengthened knowledge of and enhancements to the national legal regime against terrorism: Carry out lead responsibility for the refinement and delivery of outputs and achievement of results and outcomes of the project pertaining to capacity building for the judiciary: provide substantive expertise, assess capacity building needs and lead the conceptualization, design and implementation of activities.
• National ownership of criminal justice aspects of terrorism prevention: Carry out lead responsibility for the refinement and delivery of outputs and achievement of results and outcomes of the project pertaining to national ownership of criminal justice aspects of terrorism prevention: provide substantive expertise, assess assistance needs and lead the conceptualization, design and implementation of activities.
• Technical publications: Provide expert inputs for the preparation of technical tools, substantive publications and training tools materials pertaining to rule of law-based criminal justice responses to terrorism.
• Substantive input for the whole project: Provide expert input other legal and criminal justice aspects for relevant project activities and the project as a whole.
• Carry out other work related tasks as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Has expertise in legal, legislative and international cooperation in criminal matters (extradition and mutual legal assistance) aspects of serious crimes, such as terrorism and transnational organized crime.
• Has expertise in training and other capacity building initiatives in these areas. Has knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches, policies and practices in terrorism prevention, crime prevention and criminal justice reform.
• Has expertise in project development, implementation and management.
• Has knowledge of the mandates of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and of the major initiatives of the international community in terrorism prevention.
• Sound analytical skills and ability to identify problems and contribute to problem-solving.
• Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Client Orientation:

• Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with all relevant stakeholders.
• Clearly identifies their needs for developing and implementing legal, policy and other responses related to terrorism issues.
• Ensures continuous dialogue with the stakeholders monitoring the relevant developments and undertaking the necessary adjustments; meets timeline for delivery of technical assistance and other services and products.
• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Teamwork:

• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working conditions in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environments. Proven cross-cultural and gender sensitivity, as well as managerial abilities.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

• An advanced University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent) preferably in Criminal Law, International Law or General Law or in a closely related field is required.
• Specialization in legal and related aspects of terrorism prevention and their international dimensions is highly desirable.
• A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of relevant progressively responsible experience in legal and criminal justice aspects of terrorism prevention or closely related other crime prevention and criminal justice matters is required.
• Experience in programme or project development, coordination and management is required.
• Experience in technical assistance delivery and its coordination is required. Work experience at the national and international levels with a focus on West Africa is highly desirable.

Languages:

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English, i.e. oral and written proficiency, is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment:

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.