[Paid] Senior Legal Officer (Head, Development Law Service) at Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy [Grade P-5, Fixed-Term Two Years]

• Position: Senior Legal Officer (Head, Development Law Service)
• Vacancy number: 2601569
• Post number: 0426563
• CCOG code: 1G01
• Organizational unit: LEG (Legal Office)
• Job type: Staff position, Professional requisition
• Grade level: P-5
• Primary location: Italy, Rome (FAO headquarters)
• Duration: Fixed-term of two years, with possibility of extension
• Job posting date: 24 July 2026
• Closure date: 24 August 2026 (Rome time)

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.

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 nutrition, trade and technology. The position is located in LEGN at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

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

The technical focus of the role covers public international law, natural resources and development law, environmental law, comparative legislation and regulation, and legislative drafting.

The key result expected of the post is 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.

• Manage 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, and providing guidance, supervision and quality control of work outputs and clearance of the development law work of the Organization.
• Manage the resources of the Service in close collaboration with the Legal Counsel and Deputy Legal Counsel, including managing allocated financial resources, leading resource mobilization efforts, and providing leadership to its personnel in managing and implementing the work programme, ensuring an appropriate framework for impact assessment of its work.
• Ensure the Service delivers high-quality outputs which are clear, objective and based on sound technical legal analysis in a timely and efficient manner.
• Coordinate and foster exchange of experience and knowledge on development law issues and on modalities for delivery of the work programme within the Service.
• Foster innovation and the use of new technologies to enhance the work of the Service and its efficiency, and identify legislative and other solutions to assist Members to address new and emerging challenges in the fields of food, agriculture and nutrition.
• Oversee 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.
• Provide high-level advice and consultancy services to managers and staff in FAO as well as to Members on development law and international law issues, and supervise development law work undertaken by other units of FAO.
• Contribute as part of the management team of LEG in planning and evaluating the work programme of the Legal Office.
• Represent the Organization in multilateral fora dealing with development law and other issues of relevance to FAO and its mandate.
• Foster teamwork and communication among personnel in the Service and across organizational boundaries, and perform other related duties as required.

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law.
• Ten years of legal experience relevant to the functions of the post, 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, that is Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish.

• 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, and 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 assessment 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, and 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, and field experience in the provision of legal advisory assistance in that area.

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

FAO staff are expected to adhere to the FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All, and Integrity and Transparency.

FAO offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. The vacancy does not state a salary figure and refers applicants to the published information on United Nations salaries, allowances and benefits. Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include the following.

• 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 and optional life insurance
• Disability protection

Extension of fixed-term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds. Appointment is subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.

• Visit the FAO recruitment website and complete your online profile. FAO strongly recommends that the profile is accurate and complete and includes employment records, academic qualifications and language skills.
• Attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.
• Once the profile is complete, apply to vacancy 2601569 and submit the application.
• FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), maintained by the International Association of Universities and UNESCO, and aligned 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.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered, and only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered.
• Applications are screened on the information provided in the online profile. FAO encourages applicants to submit well before the deadline.
• Applicants who need help or have queries can create a one-time registration with FAO's client support team.

FAO is committed to workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture. Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-represented and under-represented Members, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks.