Background Information - Job-specific
Global Pulse is an innovation initiative in the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General. Our focus is harnessing new digital data to help the public sector understand more expediently how communities are coping with the impacts of global crises. To this end, Global Pulse is developing a 21st Century approach to impact monitoring, building social software for evidence-based decision making, and establishing a network of “Pulse Labs” to mainstream the use of real-time data analysis into development policy.
Global Pulse is starting their first Pulse Labs in Jakarta and Kampala in partnership with the Governments of Indonesia and Uganda. These labs will function as open innovation spaces where policy experts together with UN development practitioners and other partners can experiment with new types of data and emerging technologies and evaluate their potential to enhance both public policy decision-making and community resilience.
Pulse Labs
Pulse Labs are national facilities established to support the public sector by developing analytical and technological capacity for harnessing real-time data to strengthen social protection. Central to the Pulse Labs mission is the development of sustainable “dual-use” systems that simultaneously provide value directly to vulnerable communities while also generating real-time information to help the public sector understand quickly how populations are being affected, respond with agile, targeted policy interventions, and generate evidence for advocacy at the global level.
Functional Responsibilities
Main responsibilities of the privacy and legal assistant intern are: to support and assist a supervising legal specialist in work related to legal and administrative logistics, research and drafting related to privacy and data protection matters. This internship is an exciting opportunity to learn and participate in a rapidly developing field of digital privacy and data protection. The work will entail assistance in research and development of ethical and legal frameworks for responsible uses of various types of data (social media, mobile, financial, postal, radio etc.) for development and humanitarian action. It also provides an excellent chance to learn practical legal basics of public private sector partnership negotiation and drafting.
These responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Conduct legal research, review, comparison and analysis of the legal and regulatory frameworks that exist for privacy and data protection on relevant country level and internationally with specific focus on the access, retention, use and re-use of digital data (including both online user-generated content and consumer data collected by the private sector, such as metadata). Perform scoping of other areas required for legal representation of Global Pulse’s tasks.
- At times assist with some contractual documents, their review, summary; draft of background papers relevant to a particular contract/agreement such as case summaries, contract briefs, legal memoranda.
- Prepare and fill in various forms, including those covering issues of privacy in project management; prepare reports for and from relevant meetings, conferences.
- Organize and prepare written outputs e.g. draft background papers, section of reports, studies, inputs to publications on various topics, including on privacy and data protection issues.
- Help with media scanning by surfacing sensitive issues and debates around the use of big data in a particular country context or/and internationally. Review of data privacy initiatives, update on the development of existing standards and best practices in the area of privacy and data protection (including short descriptions, focus areas, list of main actors, issues, contacts etc.).
- Help in producing accurate, comprehensive documentation, including by reviewing draft documents for any inconsistencies or inaccuracies.
- Assist with various administrative tasks, such as keeping databases organized by establishing and organizing files; inputting information into file database; taking notes, documenting actions.
- Perform other administrative duties as may be required.
Competencies:
- Excellent research, reporting, writing, legal administration skills, organization, planning, attention to detail, confidentiality, dependability.
- Ability to work under pressure in a fast paced environment and under tight deadlines is required.
- Strong familiarity with privacy and data protection laws, including leading regulatory approaches, best practices and industry standards.
- Knowledge of past and current issues related to digital privacy and data protection, in particular those related to the use of big data for research, issues currently discussed in relation to the Internet of Things, Big data ethical frameworks.
- Familiarity and understanding of the issues related to privacy and human rights with an emphasis on existing international frameworks is strongly preferred.
- Willingness and readiness to work on administrative tasks and basic logistics related to work of a legal specialist (e.g. organizing and updating legal databases, drafting task charts, correspondence etc.) is required.
- Familiarity with International Law concepts, knowledge of the UN system, rules and procedures is an asset.
- Shows pride in work; persistent when faced with difficult problems or challenges; does not mind and can work in an open-space office environment; motivated by professional rather than personal concerns.
- Knowledge of data security concepts, protocols or technical experience in the field is an asset.
- Knowledge of Intellectual Property laws and licensing concepts is an asset.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education:
Education:
- Currently enrolled in a law degree, (Bachelor in Law, Juris Doctor Master in Law or equivalent, Post Doctoral) or have completed it within the last 2 years.
- Any other degree may be considered if studies included privacy or data protection related disciplines.
Experience:
- Basic experience in preparing various legal documents, including drafting of legal memoranda, preparation and review of standard contract provisions.
- Experience of working as a legal assistant or paralegal is an asset.
- Any additional technical or legal training or certification in privacy and data protection or big data analytics is an asset.
Language(s):
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
- Knowledge of any other UN official language is an asset.
HOW TO APPLY:
To view the full vacancy and apply online, please visit the UNOPS site athttps://gprs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=9104. Applications will only be accepted through the UNOPS Global Personnel Recruitment System.
