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GSFS Haiti-Deputy Legal Advisor-P4-Port au Prince, Haiti
Port au Prince, HaitiPosition Title: Deputy Legal Advisor in the Office of the Special Representative
Receiving Agency: Gang Suppression Force Secretariat Haiti
P Level: P4
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 18 months (Until Sep, 2027)
Language: French and English fluency required. Familiarity with Haitian Creole an asset.
Background
On 30 September 2025, the United Nations Security Council authorized, in resolution 2793 (UNSCR 2793), Member States to transition the deployed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months. The GSF mandate includes multiple tasks, including to conduct intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.
The United Nations Secretary-General is authorized to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide comprehensive logistical and operational support to the GSF and to the Haitian National police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces on any joint operations with the GSF. UNSOH will also provide technical support, through voluntary funding contributions, to the Organization of American States (OAS) SECURE-Haiti project and will provide standard United Nations mission support services to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH)
The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) has the role of providing, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the GSF as appropriate. The SGP is overall responsible for (a) securing voluntary financial contributions for GSF personnel costs reimbursements; (b) facilitating force (military and police) generation; and (c) providing high level strategic representation and coordination for the GSF.
The SGP shall appoint a Special Representative (SR) who, as in-country head of the GSF, will report to the SGP and provide strategic oversight, representation and coordination for the GSF. The SGP appointed GSF Force Commander shall report to the SR and is responsible for operational command and day-to-day operational decision-making for the uniformed components of the GSF.
The SR is supported by an Office of the SR (the civilian component of the GSF)
Career Experience
The Deputy Legal Adviser shall have: a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in the practice of law, including legal analysis, research and writing or related field; at least two years of professional experience serving in a legal advisory capacity in an international organisation, preferably in a peacekeeping, stabilisation or security field operation, is required. Experience in litigation in an international or domestic judicial system is desirable. Previous experience working in Haiti is desirable. An advanced university degree (LLM, Masters’ or equivalent) in public international law is required. A first degree in law (LLB, JD) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience in the practice of international law may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Languages
Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Fluency in Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is an advantage.
Responsibilities of the Deputy Legal Adviser
The Deputy Legal Adviser reports to the Senior Legal Adviser and is based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Deputy Legal Adviser supports the Senior Legal Adviser to fulfill his/her responsibilities on all legal issues affecting the GSF mandate and activities, including public international, private and administrative law matters, as well as issues of constitutional and other national law as they affect the mission or the mandate. In particular:
• Assists in the preparation of or provides legal opinions and advice on a wide range of legal issues affecting the GSF mandate and activities, including public international, private and administrative law matters, and in particular on the identification, interpretation and application of constitutional and other national laws, legislative instruments, court procedures and local legal protocols and practices as they affect the GSF in the performance of its activities.
• Provides or assists in the provision of substantive advice on: the interpretation of the GSF mandate, legal status, members and assets, including in areas such as privileges and immunities and Status of Forces/Status of Liquidation Entity Agreements; on legal aspects of the entity’s operational activities, including its rules of engagement and directives on the use of force and related guidelines, matters relating to international law, including international human rights law, international criminal law, as appropriate; on administrative, personnel and contractual matters, including issues relating to the accountability of personnel, procurement matters, third party claims, as well as legal questions involving the interpretation or application of SGP, GSF or UN regulations and rules.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation and review of draft agreements, institutional and operational modalities, contracts, legal submissions and other legal documents and assists and participates in negotiations for the settlement of claims and disputes.
• Assists and supports the Senior Legal Advisor in establishing and maintaining effective coordination and working relations with national authorities, including Government representatives, local tribunals, public entities and agencies; and participates at meetings, discussions and negotiations with such local entities and individuals as required.
• Participates at meetings and discussions with other GSF sections/units, UNSOH and/or BINUH, and may participate in administrative committees, including in relation to the procurement process, claims and property management, and on ad hoc working groups, task forces and training activities, as assigned by the Senior Legal Advisor or the CoS.
• Conducts legal research and analysis using multiple research sources, translates and interprets local laws and legal documents, as required, and prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions, studies, briefs, background papers, notes to file, minutes of meetings, reports, and correspondence.
The Deputy Legal Adviser shall during GSF start-up and thereafter be responsible for the following tasks:
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.
Receiving Agency: Gang Suppression Force Secretariat Haiti
P Level: P4
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 18 months (Until Sep, 2027)
Language: French and English fluency required. Familiarity with Haitian Creole an asset.
Background
On 30 September 2025, the United Nations Security Council authorized, in resolution 2793 (UNSCR 2793), Member States to transition the deployed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months. The GSF mandate includes multiple tasks, including to conduct intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.
The United Nations Secretary-General is authorized to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide comprehensive logistical and operational support to the GSF and to the Haitian National police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces on any joint operations with the GSF. UNSOH will also provide technical support, through voluntary funding contributions, to the Organization of American States (OAS) SECURE-Haiti project and will provide standard United Nations mission support services to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH)
The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) has the role of providing, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the GSF as appropriate. The SGP is overall responsible for (a) securing voluntary financial contributions for GSF personnel costs reimbursements; (b) facilitating force (military and police) generation; and (c) providing high level strategic representation and coordination for the GSF.
The SGP shall appoint a Special Representative (SR) who, as in-country head of the GSF, will report to the SGP and provide strategic oversight, representation and coordination for the GSF. The SGP appointed GSF Force Commander shall report to the SR and is responsible for operational command and day-to-day operational decision-making for the uniformed components of the GSF.
The SR is supported by an Office of the SR (the civilian component of the GSF)
Career Experience
The Deputy Legal Adviser shall have: a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in the practice of law, including legal analysis, research and writing or related field; at least two years of professional experience serving in a legal advisory capacity in an international organisation, preferably in a peacekeeping, stabilisation or security field operation, is required. Experience in litigation in an international or domestic judicial system is desirable. Previous experience working in Haiti is desirable. An advanced university degree (LLM, Masters’ or equivalent) in public international law is required. A first degree in law (LLB, JD) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience in the practice of international law may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Languages
Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Fluency in Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is an advantage.
Responsibilities of the Deputy Legal Adviser
The Deputy Legal Adviser reports to the Senior Legal Adviser and is based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Deputy Legal Adviser supports the Senior Legal Adviser to fulfill his/her responsibilities on all legal issues affecting the GSF mandate and activities, including public international, private and administrative law matters, as well as issues of constitutional and other national law as they affect the mission or the mandate. In particular:
• Assists in the preparation of or provides legal opinions and advice on a wide range of legal issues affecting the GSF mandate and activities, including public international, private and administrative law matters, and in particular on the identification, interpretation and application of constitutional and other national laws, legislative instruments, court procedures and local legal protocols and practices as they affect the GSF in the performance of its activities.
• Provides or assists in the provision of substantive advice on: the interpretation of the GSF mandate, legal status, members and assets, including in areas such as privileges and immunities and Status of Forces/Status of Liquidation Entity Agreements; on legal aspects of the entity’s operational activities, including its rules of engagement and directives on the use of force and related guidelines, matters relating to international law, including international human rights law, international criminal law, as appropriate; on administrative, personnel and contractual matters, including issues relating to the accountability of personnel, procurement matters, third party claims, as well as legal questions involving the interpretation or application of SGP, GSF or UN regulations and rules.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation and review of draft agreements, institutional and operational modalities, contracts, legal submissions and other legal documents and assists and participates in negotiations for the settlement of claims and disputes.
• Assists and supports the Senior Legal Advisor in establishing and maintaining effective coordination and working relations with national authorities, including Government representatives, local tribunals, public entities and agencies; and participates at meetings, discussions and negotiations with such local entities and individuals as required.
• Participates at meetings and discussions with other GSF sections/units, UNSOH and/or BINUH, and may participate in administrative committees, including in relation to the procurement process, claims and property management, and on ad hoc working groups, task forces and training activities, as assigned by the Senior Legal Advisor or the CoS.
• Conducts legal research and analysis using multiple research sources, translates and interprets local laws and legal documents, as required, and prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions, studies, briefs, background papers, notes to file, minutes of meetings, reports, and correspondence.
The Deputy Legal Adviser shall during GSF start-up and thereafter be responsible for the following tasks:
- Perform tasks as directed by the Senior Legal Adviser.
- Act as the officer-in-charge, Legal Adviser Team, in absence of the Senior Legal Adviser from the GSF area of responsibility.
- In coordination with the Senior Legal Adviser, develop own work plan for his/her approval.
- Supervise and oversee the day-to-day tasks of the Legal Officer.
- Ensure handover notes are produced by Legal Adviser Team staff members to ensure institutional knowledge is passed from outgoing to incoming staff.
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.