Local Law Specialist

Local Law Specialist (Moldova)

This retainer contract offers the opportunity to provide vital legal advice on Moldovan law, focusing on project implementation, public works contracts, and engagement with local authorities. The key role is ensuring legal compliance and operational continuity in one of the most significant humanitarian and development contexts in Europe.

About UNOPS UEMCO

The UNOPS Ukraine and Eastern Europe MCO (UEMCO) operates in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, supporting urgent humanitarian needs while building pathways for recovery and development. In Ukraine, UEMCO delivers large-scale infrastructure, energy, housing, education, and mine action projects in partnership with UN agencies, international financial institutions, the European Union, and bilateral donors. Its agile portfolio responds to fast-evolving needs with strong procurement and implementation capacity. In Moldova, UEMCO supports justice sector reform and is exploring opportunities to expand its role across public sector modernization and infrastructure. In Poland, UEMCO works with government and private sector actors to strengthen ties with UN procurement and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, leveraging Poland’s EU experience to support Ukraine’s future accession and integration.

Role Purpose

At the request of the Project Manager, Moldova or Head of Support Services Ukraine, the Local Law Specialist will provide legal advice on issues of Moldovan law that may arise in the context of project implementation, as well as other legal support that does not fall under the purview of UNOPS Legal Group (see below).

Key Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice under Moldovan law during project implementation, as applicable, and other specific local law issues raised by local authorities;
• Assist the project office in engaging with local authorities, homeowners and homeowner associations / communal municipal entities, as well as with public buildings leadership (e.g. schools);
• Provide legal advice on any obstacles and risks under Moldovan law that could affect the implementation of contracts, as well as suggestions for possible remedial measures, such remedial measures being subject to legal clearance by UNOPS Legal Group, to the extent they affect the implementation of UNOPS contracts.
• Assist the project offices in drafting and reviewing contracts for construction works and its annexes, subject to legal clearance by UNOPS Legal Group, as required.

For each assignment, the incumbent is expected to provide the following deliverables in English:

• detailed reports on the findings of each legal research and analysis related to a specific project and its contracts for works and applicable contractual, statutory, and regulatory provisions
• a legal opinion on options for the most effective continuation of the project
• review legal agreements and if need be, provide templates of agreements with individual homeowners and homeowner associations / communal municipal entities, and public building leadership for the conduct of repair works

The responsibilities and tasks of the Local Law Specialist should be limited to providing necessary local law advice in the context of project implementation and the matters listed above. Any issue that relates to other legal matters shall be referred to the relevant legal advisors in UNOPS Legal Group, as appropriate, through the focal point appointed by UNOPS Legal Group.

Take note of the below matters which fall under the purview of UNOPS Legal Group, including but not limited to the following:

• Legal clearance and interpretation of engagements and any amendments thereof;
• Legal clearance of deviations to and interpretation of General Conditions in UNOPS grant agreements and procurement contracts, including works contracts;
• Legal advice related to disputes between UNOPS and external parties, including representation of UNOPS in legal proceedings;
• Other legal advice related to UNOPS’ operations that does not require local law advice;
• Legal advice related to UNOPS privileges and immunities and UNOPS’ status as a UN entity;
• Administrative law advice and personnel disputes.

In order to ensure compliance with applicable United Nations requirements and privileges and immunities, the final decision on legal issues relating to matters falling under the purview of UNOPS Legal Group as above described, shall rest with UNOPS Legal Group

Education & Experience

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Law or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required

Experience Requirements:

• Relevant experience is practising law in Moldova.
• Solid experience in providing legal and regulatory advisory services related to public works and public works contracts in Moldova.

Desired:

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

Key skills/competency

• Moldovan Law
• Legal Advice
• Project Implementation
• Public Works Contracts
• Local Authorities Engagement
• Legal Compliance
• Contract Drafting
• Legal Research
• Risk Assessment
• Humanitarian & Development Contexts