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Senior Legal Officer , Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)

CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY SECRETARIAT

DETAILS OF THE POST OF

SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER

LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Agreement

Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified nationals of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and Associate Members of the Caribbean Community to fill the abovementioned position in the Caribbean Community Secretariat with assigned duty station in Guyana.

2. FUNCTIONS OF THE POST 

This position is required to assist in the management and execution of all legal matters relating to the 10th EDF CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and Economic Integration Programme (EIP) in the Office of the General Counsel. 

3. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 

Candidates should possess at least a LLM or Postgraduate Degree in International Law, International Relations or Government and Admission to the Bar of a CARICOM Member State plus five (5) years’ post qualification relevant in a similar position. 

The experience/environment should ideally be from any one or a combination of the following: 
• International organisation 
• Legal Department of the Foreign Service or other Ministry of a Member State 
• Legal Firm/organisation 

Candidates should also have specialised and on the job training and working knowledge in:
• Provisions of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the EU rules and regulations (10th EDF grant agreement) and international and bilateral trade Agreements entered into by Member States of CARICOM. 

Work experience with these Instruments will be an asset:
• Drafting of documents and legal texts 
• Supervising professional and support staff, and working in teams 
• Proficiency in the use of computers 

3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Under the direction of the Assistant General Counsel, the Senior Legal Officer will be required to: 

(a) ASSIST in the management and execution of all legal matters relating to the 10th EDF CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and Economic Integration Programme (EIP) within the Office of the General Counsel including the provision of legal advice to the Organs, Bodies and Institutions of the Community; to the Secretariat in carrying out legal activities related to its functioning under the Programme; and to Member States through appropriate channels of communication so as to monitor progress, follow-up and assist in the implementation of decisions and recommendations of the Organs, Bodies and Institutions of the Community;
(b) RESPONSIBLE for activities under the 10th EDF CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and Economic Integration Programme (EIP) within the Work Programme in the following subject areas: 
(i) The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); 
(ii) Trade and Economic Matters and all issues relating thereto; 
(iii) Government Procurement; 
(iv) E-Commerce; 
(v) Right of Establishment; 
(vi) Contingent Rights; 
(vii) Preparation of Contracts for the engagement of Consultants; 
(viii) Preparation of Staff Contracts under the 10th EDF; 
(ix) Assisting in the dissemination of legal information; 
(x) Providing Legal Opinions in relation to the Guidelines and Procedures Manual of the CARICOM Secretariat; 
(xi) Assisting in the servicing of the Legal Affairs Committee Meeting of CARICOM; 
(c) APPLY legal knowledge and experience to DEVELOP and COORDINATE new institutional arrangements, HARMONISE laws within the Community and PROVIDE a variety of legal services as may be required by the Organs, Bodies, Institutions and Associate Institutions of the Community and to External Agencies; and 
(d) PERFORM any other duties assigned by the Assistant General Counsel or his or her designate from time to time. 

5. EMOLUMENTS AND BENEFITS 

An attractive remuneration package will be offered. 

6. EDUCATION GRANT 

The officer shall be eligible for the payment of an education grant in respect of children (including step children and legally-adopted children) who require reasonable education facilities that are not available at the assigned duty station or whose education the officer would not want to disrupt in relocating to take up this appointment. 

The grant shall apply to children under the age of twenty-three years and shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of the cost of tuition (including text books), room and board up to a maximum total of EC$16,200.00 per year per child for a maximum of two children at any one time. The grant is payable for a maximum of five years. 

7. SETTLEMENT GRANT 

On assumption of duty in Guyana, the officer shall be paid a settlement grant in respect of the staff member, his or her spouse and each eligible child or other approved dependent. The number of dependents eligible for Settlement Grant shall not exceed six (6) persons. 

8. RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT 

Appointment may be on contract or on secondment from a Public Service or a statutory body of a Member State or approved regional organisation. It will be subject to such regulations, rules, orders and instructions as exist and as may be introduced from time to time in respect of service with the Secretariat. 

An officer recruited from outside the assigned duty station, on first appointment, will be provided economy class air passages by the most direct route for the officer, spouse and children (provided they are below the age of eighteen years, unmarried and dependent on the officer) and for such other dependents as may be approved by the Secretary-General, provided that the number of children and other dependents does not exceed six (6) in all. 

In addition to passages, the officer will be granted the following transportation allowances:
(i) ocean freight charges, including insurance, for shipping personal and household effects to Guyana, not exceeding 1250 cubic feet, plus a motor car (if the officer already owns one); 
(ii) the cost of transporting baggage, personal and household effects from the home of the officer to the place of embarkation and from the port of disembarkation to the place of residence in Guyana; and 
(iii) the cost of packing and crating personal and household effects. 

9. LEAVE 

The officer will be eligible for the grant of vacation leave at the rate of thirty-five working days a year and a leave grant after every twelve months of service in respect of the officer, spouse and up to two dependent children. 

10. PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES 

The officer will be granted the privileges and immunities extended to officials of the Caribbean Community in accordance with Article 8 of the Community’s Headquarters Agreement with the Government of Guyana. 

11. GROUP HEALTH AND LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE 

The officer will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s group health and group life and accident insurance schemes. With respect to the health scheme, the officer will contribute fifty per cent of the premium. The life and accident insurance scheme is non-contributory. 

12. SUPERANNUATION 

An officer on contract shall, subject to his/her services being satisfactory and having completed at least six (6) months of the contractual term of employment be eligible for the payment of a gratuity. The gratuity shall be at the rate of twenty per cent of the officer’s basic salary, calculated for each day of completed service and shall be payable at the end of the officer’s contractual period (including for this purpose any period of extension or approved leave). Where the appointment is on secondment, the Secretariat will pay to the officer’s substantive employer, over the period of secondment, a contribution not exceeding twenty-five per cent of the pensionable salary normally payable to the officer by that employer so as to maintain the pensionable status of the officer in the substantive employment. 

13. APPLICATIONS 

Applications in English Language with full curriculum vitae details, including nationality, date of birth, work experience, educational qualifications, summary of professional skills and/or expertise, language proficiency, list of professional publications, coordinates (including email addresses) of three referees (at least two of whom must be familiar with the applicant’s work), and other relevant information, should be addressed to: 

The Executive Director, Human Resource Management, 
Caribbean Community Secretariat, 
Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana
and sent by email to applnhrm@caricom.org 

14. Applicants must complete the Profile Summary Form included with the website notices. 

15. The deadline for the submission of applications is 11 August 2013.