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Associate Legal Officer, Legal Officer or Senior Legal Officer

9:49:00 PM

Verification Research, Training and Information Centre

London, United Kingdom


The National Implementation Measures (NIM) Programme:

VERTIC’s NIM Programme advises States on national implementation of the obligations in certain chemical, biological, nuclear and other radioactive (CBRN) weapons-related international legal instruments: the Biological Weapons Convention (“BWC”); the Chemical Weapons Convention (“CWC”); the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (“CPPNM”) (as amended), the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (“ICSANT”), the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and other instruments for the security of nuclear and other radioactive (“RN”) material; as well as UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) (“UNSCR 1540”).
The NIM Programme also provides cost-free legislative assistance to interested States for the implementation of certain CBRN treaties and related legal instruments. This includes reviewing and commenting on existing draft legislation or providing assistance in the drafting of new legislation during workshops in capitals.
The NIM Programme is currently working on projects to provide legislative assistance across CBRN treaties and related legal instruments in different regions, under funding contracts with the governments of Canada (Global Partnership Program), United Kingdom (Strategic Programme Fund) and United States (Department of State’s Biosecurity Engagement Program and Chemical Security Engagement Program) as well as the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence. We also provide legislative assistance concerning implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and the EU Action on the BWC in coordination with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs.

The posts:

VERTIC wishes to make up to two appointments to its NIM Programme at either the Associate Legal Officer, Legal Officer or Senior Legal Office grade, depending on the post-holder’s qualifications, skills and experience.
The post-holders will conduct legislative drafting assistance and provide advice to interested States for implementation of the BWC, CWC, certain instruments to secure nuclear and other radioactive material (listed above) and UNSCR 1540 in their domestic legal frameworks.

Such assistance and advice includes:

  • Providing technical legislative assistance to States in the drafting of new legislation during workshops in capitals;
  • Reviewing and commenting on existing draft legislation;
  • Providing assistance to States in drafting UNSCR 1540 national action plans;
  • Supplying examples of legislation in force;
  • Providing examples of different approaches to CBRN regulation;
  • Raising awareness of obligations under the BWC, the CWC and certain legal instruments to secure nuclear 
and other radioactive material;
  • Carrying out comprehensive analysis (legislation surveys) of a State’s existing laws and regulations for implementation of the BWC, CWC, certain legal instruments to secure nuclear and other radioactive material and the related provisions of UNSCR 1540, to identify potential gaps and areas requiring strengthening, using VERTIC’s survey templates;
  • Preparing legislative drafting tools for governments’ information and use; and
  • Providing assistance to States on adhering to the BWC, CWC, CPPNM amendment and ICSANT;
  • Training in biological, chemical, radioactive and nuclear weapons law will be provided, as appropriate.
In addition, one post-holder will help co-ordinate VERTIC’s work on a two-year European Union CBRN Centres of Excellence (CoE) Project (“Prerequisites to strengthening CBRN national legal frameworks”). VERTIC leads an implementing consortium with two partner agencies and has responsibility for overall project management, coordination and communication, as well as providing technical expertise to the five project country work packages.
Comprehensive information about VERTIC’s NIM Programme is available at www.vertic.org > Programmes >> NIM.
Fluency in English is essential. Fluency in another language among Arabic, French or Spanish is highly desirable.
The post-holder will work primarily in VERTIC’s London office but will also be required to travel extensively within and outside the United Kingdom to undertake certain duties. VERTIC’s office is located at 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT (nearest tube: Old Street).
For an informal discussion of the post please contact Angela Woodward via email.
Salary: The appointment will be made, dependent on relevant qualifications, skills and experience, within the following grades:
Associate Legal Officer £20,400 - £28,300 per annum;
Legal Officer £26,100 - £40,800 per annum; or
Senior Legal Officer £32,900 - £51,600 per annum.
Post duration: Indefinite.
Probationary period: Six months.

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