Senior Legal Researcher

Job Title: Senior Legal Researcher

Job Objective:
Carry out Legal Studies section activities of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Sector (IACS) within UAE Accountability Authority (UAEAA) including but not limited to conducting comprehensive research on the reports received from Information Collection department and setting criteria to classify the level/type of violation, crime and embezzled funds in order to propose an optimal refund plan, ensuring all activities are conducted in compliance with the established policies and procedures of Integrity and Anti-Corruption sector.

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

Strategy and Planning:

• Contribute to the development, implementation, and update of the section related policy, procedures manual, delegation of authority, systems user manuals and standard forms, and ensure alignment with UAEAA's overall policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and update of the sections strategic, budget and procurement, and operational plans ensuring alignment with the department and sector strategy and objectives, and UAEAA's mission and vision.
• Assist in the development of the section Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and ensure to meet individual KPIs to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Operations:

• Implement the Legal Support action plan and prepare report.
• Draft and review the contracts, work manuals, in-house policies, systems and operational/investigative procedures to ensure alignment with applicable laws of UAE and Anti-Corruption Standards.
• Prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) pertaining to various functional responsibilities of Anti-Corruption as required.
• Monitor and review the latest development of applicable laws, rules and regulations in order to keep the relevant SOPs up-to-date; and to inform the Directorate and officers of any such development without delay.
• Monitor the introduction of any new applicable laws, rules or regulations; update the relevant SOPs and bring them to the attention of the management.
• Coordinate the update of in-house policies and operational/investigative procedures, and SOPs pursuant to any revised work practices or procedures.
• Implement the quality management practices within IACS in coordination with the management as required.
• Review the reports of the IACS's departments on the effectiveness of the regulating legislation and the recommendations for continuous improvement and to ensure alignment with Anti-Corruption Standards and applicable laws of UAE.
• Conduct legal research of the reported violations and draft the required recommendations.
• Conduct a comprehensive review of the quality of the reports received in terms of the type of violation, crime, embezzled amount and the pre-defined criteria to classify the violation, and submit results for review.
• Conduct legal research to facilitate the work of Anti-Corruption within UAE Accountability Authority (UAEAA).
• Develop the standard for reporting violation and process of recovering public money and deterring violators.
• Implement the mechanism for recovering public funds stipulated in the Anti-Corruption Procedures Regulation.
• Implement the mechanism for rewarding whistleblowers and the like stipulated in the Guide to Rewarding Whistleblowers and Witnesses.
• Carry out inventory and record the data of the embezzled public money and the money that can be recovered in the Public Funds Register.
• Prepare memorandum of the legal opinion including the financial statements regarding the recovered money, to be submitted to the secretariat of the Recovered Funds Committee.
• Organize and facilitate periodic business meetings when presenting a settlement or seizing funds in order to decide on refunding funds in the public treasury and rewarding whistleblowers, and submit the recommendations of the public money recovery and whistleblowing committees to the director general of the sector.
• Conduct periodic and unannounced inspections of the work of the Information Collection Department in terms of record keeping, technical evaluation of administrative investigation work, and prepare reports on violation reports files.
• Carry out the tasks of the Preventive Protection Unit to protect whistleblowers and witnesses as and when required.

Talent Management And Development:

• Ensure completion of required trainings and certification programs in order to keep current with job requirements and ensure continuous performance improvements.
• Obtain timely performance review assessments for midyear and annual performance review and ensure to meet the set KPIs.
• Keep current with updated information relevant to the role to ensure standard performance level is achieved.
• Contribute to knowledge dissemination/sharing to build internal capabilities of the team and maximize their effective performance.
• Contribute to the development of UAE National employees in line with the objectives of the Authority and its Emiratization strategy.

Corporate:

• Ensure adherence and compliance with all UAEAA corporate policies, procedures and guidelines (HR, IT, Procurement, Finance, Health and Safety, etc.).
• Prepare section's related correspondence such as e-mails, memos, and letters to ensure professionalism, completeness and accuracy of information.
• Retain, document, preserve, and archive section's related physical and electronic records in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Respond to any section related queries and provide required support to relevant UAEAA's organizational units and employees as and when required.
• Utilize relevant technologies used within UAEAA in order to optimize work efficiency.
• Demonstrate compliance with UAEAA's values, Code of Business Conduct and ethics at all times to support the establishment of a value driven culture within the Authority.
• Contribute to the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.
• Contribute to the preparation and submission of timely and accurate statements and reports to meet department requirements, and quality standards.
• Co-operate in the implementation of the relevant health and safety legislation, policies and procedures, in the performance of duties.

General:

• The level of performance should reflect the academic qualification, type of courses in the field of specialization, employee job level, and the level of productivity.
• The academic and professional certificates required and approved by UAEAA should be acquired within the period specified and based on the employee's Individual Development Plan.
• Perform the task and responsibilities independently unless an approval or directive was obtained to delegate the task to other employees in case of incapability to perform the tasks and responsibilities.
• Ensure teamwork, collaboration, and dedication in performing duties.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field, preferably in Law School.
• 4 - 6 years of relevant experience in investigative or legal work.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English.