Opportunity for Legal Specialist at PAHO/WHO – Washington D.C. (Deadline: 2 December 2025)

About the Organisation

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), plays a central role in advancing public health, strengthening national health systems, and supporting cross-border cooperation. The Office of the Legal Counsel (LEG) provides legal advice across PAHO’s Governing Bodies, technical units, and country offices. The department handles international and administrative law matters, drafts agreements, reviews policies, supports dispute resolution, and represents the Organisation in judicial and quasi-judicial forums.

Eligibility

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

A university degree in Law or a related discipline (advanced degree preferred).
At least five years of combined national and international legal experience, ideally in contracts, torts, mercantile, IP, or administrative law.
Strong understanding of civil or common law systems.
Excellent analytical, drafting, and research skills.
Very good knowledge of English or Spanish, with working knowledge of the other; Portuguese is an asset.
Ability to use current IT tools, including Microsoft Office and ERP systems.
Experience in a UN system or an international organisation is desirable.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Legal Specialist will support the Office of the Legal Counsel in:

Preparing draft legal opinions for country offices, regional entities, and centres.
Providing legal and policy support to administrative areas, including HR, procurement, and general services.
Drafting and reviewing legal documents, administrative contracts, and agreements.
Assisting with briefs and documentation for internal appeals and external tribunals.
Conducting due diligence and risk assessments of non-State actors.
Reviewing legal aspects of proposals, agreements, correspondence, and technical cooperation initiatives.
Supporting PAHO’s technical programs, the Revolving Fund for vaccines, and public health supply mechanisms.
Managing filings and processes related to intellectual property and commercial rights.
Conducting legal research, preparing reports, and maintaining case files and legal materials.