Job Description

2602215

Young Professional Officer (Legal)

Job Posting

: 28/Oct/2026

Closure Date

: 18/Nov/2026, 10:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: Legal Office, LEG

Job Type

: Staff position

Type of Requisition: Professional

Grade Level: P-1

Primary Location

: Italy-Rome

Duration: Fixed-term: two years with possibility of extension

Post Number: 2008771

CCOG Code: 1A21

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments._____________________________________________________________________________________________________• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture

• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization. FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through 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. Organizational SettingThe 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 position is located in the Development Law Branch (LEGN) of LEG which provides legal advisory services to governments on sustainable food and agriculture and utilization of natural resources (including land, water, fisheries and aquaculture, plants, animals, food, forestry, wildlife, environment and biodiversity), as well as general agricultural issues (institutions, trade, economic reform). LEGN conducts legal analyses and disseminates information on matters relevant to FAO's mandate and houses FAOLEX one of the world's largest database on laws concerning food, agriculture and natural resources.The position is located in the Legal Office (LEG) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.Reporting LinesThe Young Professional Officer (Legal) reports to the designated Legal Officer under the general supervision of the Senior Legal Officer (Chief, LEGN) and is under the overall guidance of the Legal Counsel.Technical FocusThe Young Professional Officer (Legal) will provide support in development law, including legal and institutional aspects of food and agriculture and natural resource management, in line with the Organization's Strategic Objectives.Key ResultsResearch, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of assigned projects, products and services.Key Functions• Analyses from a legal perspective relevant technical, social, economic, environmental, and technology information, data and/or statistics for input in various documents.
• Maintains records and updates databases and web pages.
• Provides technical support to various projects.
• Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars, etc.
• Participates in the organization and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.Specific Functions• Performs legal research and analysis, supports in the review and preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of multidisciplinary legal matters related to development law and the legal and institutional aspects of food, agriculture, and natural resource management.
• Supports the drafting of recommended texts of laws, regulations and other legal instruments, legal opinions, briefs, reports, correspondence, as well as studies, publications and other legal documents.
• Contributes to LEGN’s support of the work of relevant Strategic Programme Teams, Technical Units at FAO Headquarters and FAO Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between legal, policy and governance-related work in support of Members.
• Assists in the preparation of teaching materials and seminars, symposia, webinars and lectures.
• Assists with the management of publications and other communication materials, including web pages.
• Provides legal support in the delivery of legal activities, services and products pertaining to the Organization’s mandate in support of the FAO Strategic Objectives, Regional Initiatives, and related Delivery Mechanisms, including alignment with the Organization’s Policy on Gender Equality.______________________________________________________________________________________________________

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWINGMinimum Requirements• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law.

• One year of relevant experience in legal and institutional aspects of food and agriculture and/or natural resources including land, water, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, wildlife and/or environmental law.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).Competencies• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous ImprovementTechnical/Functional Skills• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in legal and institutional aspects of sustainable food and agriculture and utilization of natural resources (including land, water, fisheries and aquaculture, plants, animals, forestry, wildlife, environment and biodiversity), and related cross-sectoral issues such as climate change and gender equality, is an advantage.
• Ability to carry out legal research and analysis.
• Ability to write clear and concise reports. Experience in drafting legal texts is an advantage.
• Extent and relevance of experience or familiarity in implementation of international normative and voluntary instruments and best practice including through policy and legislation.
• Work experience, internship or training attachment with international organizations, government, academia or non-governmental organizations is considered a strong asset.
• Please note that candidates should be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.• The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative targeted for talented, qualified professionals who are mainly nationals of non- and under- represented countries. Priority consideration will be given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and developing countries in general, to start a career as an international civil servant with FAO.______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency. _________________________________________________________________FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency._________________________________________________________________ GENERAL INFORMATIONExtension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of fundsFAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. CONDITIONS OF SERVICEA competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp

Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

• 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; optional life insurance
• Disability protection FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________HOW TO APPLY • To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills

• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment 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 to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/cspFAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT