UNICEF is seeking a Legal Consultant for a four-month consultancy based in New York or remote with no travel required. Apply by 13 September 2026.
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About UNICEF
UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights and help them reach their full potential.
The organization works across a wide range of areas, including child protection, education, health, nutrition, gender equality, social policy, water and sanitation, adolescent development and other areas that support children and communities worldwide.
UNICEF is committed to promoting the rights of every child and creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where professionals can contribute their skills to meaningful global work.
Opportunity Overview
UNICEF is looking for a qualified Legal Consultant to support its Legal Office in regularizing and strengthening its institutional treaty records.
Job Title: Legal Consultant
Job Number: 595418
Job Location: New York, United States / Remote
Travel: No travel required
Contract Duration: 4 months
Organization: UNICEF
Closing Date: 13 September 2026
The consultancy will focus on the management, review and retrieval of important legal instruments, including host country agreements, basic cooperation agreements, exchanges of letters and other treaty-related documents governing UNICEF’s privileges, immunities and operational presence around the world.
A 2025 Legal Office review identified legal instruments that require registration with the United Nations Treaty Section, as well as agreements for which UNICEF currently holds only limited published versions and needs to obtain complete versions for its institutional records.
The successful consultant will support efforts to locate missing documents, assess whether entry-into-force requirements have been met and initiate treaty registration processes where appropriate.
Key Responsibilities
As the Legal Consultant, you will support UNICEF’s work on treaty and legal records management.
Your responsibilities may include:
- Reviewing UNICEF’s institutional records relating to international agreements and treaty instruments.
- Identifying agreements and other instruments requiring registration with the United Nations Treaty Section.
- Researching and sourcing missing full versions of agreements and related legal documents.
- Assessing documentary evidence to determine whether entry-into-force requirements have been satisfied.
- Supporting the initiation of treaty registration processes where possible.
- Maintaining accurate trackers, databases and records-management systems.
- Identifying missing information and gaps within historical legal records.
- Coordinating with stakeholders and institutions across different jurisdictions and time zones.
- Supporting the organization and preservation of official legal and treaty documentation.
Minimum Requirements
Education and Relevant Background
Applicants should have relevant experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Legal records management.
- Institutional archives.
- International agreements.
- Governance documentation.
- Information management.
- Research.
- Review and retrieval of official records.
Experience working within the United Nations system, international organizations, government institutions or comparable multilateral environments is desirable.
Work Experience
Applicants must have at least three years of experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Treaty practice.
- Treaty registration.
- Legal records management.
Required Skills
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
- Strong document review, research and analytical skills.
- Experience maintaining trackers, databases or records-management systems.
- The ability to assess documentary evidence and identify missing information.
- Strong organizational and coordination skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- The ability to work with multiple stakeholders across jurisdictions and time zones.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
- Experience using document management tools.
Language Requirements
Fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of French and Spanish is desirable.
Desirable Experience
UNICEF is particularly interested in candidates with experience in:
- The United Nations system.
- International organizations or multilateral institutions.
- Government treaty offices.
- Archives and registries.
- Institutional record-keeping functions.
- International agreements and treaty practice.
- Treaty registration and related institutional processes.
- Historical legal records.
- Official archives.
- Treaty collections.
UNICEF Core Values
Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate UNICEF’s core values of:
- Care
- Respect
- Integrity
- Trust
- Accountability
- Sustainability
Documents Required
Qualified candidates should submit the required documents through the UNICEF online recruitment portal.
Applications should include:
- An up-to-date TMS profile.
- A current curriculum vitae (CV).
- A cover letter.
- A separate financial proposal using the required template.
Applicants should carefully review the Terms of Reference and financial proposal requirements before submitting their applications.
Important Information for Applicants
UNICEF is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and encourages applications from qualified candidates of different nationalities and backgrounds, including persons with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals.
Reasonable accommodation may be available throughout the recruitment process for candidates with disabilities.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy toward conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
Selected candidates will undergo reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.
UNICEF does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants should also be aware that UNICEF will not request bank account information during the recruitment and selection process.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their application through the official UNICEF recruitment portal before the closing date.
Please note: The deadline is listed as 13 September 2026, Eastern Daylight Time. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid last-minute technical difficulties.
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