Legal Policy and Legislation Adviser, Vanuatu Law Reform Commission – VAPJP At Palladium International

Company Overview:

About Palladium – Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.

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Project Overview and Role:

The Program
The Vanuatu Australia Policing and Justice Program (VAPJP) is a long-standing and integral part of Australia’s aid investments in Vanuatu, delivering policing and justice sector support. It has a hybrid modality and a joint management approach between Palladium, as Managing Contractor for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The program implements a ‘two-track’ strategy which involves pre-positioning resources to support the Government of Vanuatu (GoV) to respond to challenges to the maintenance of security and the rule of law; and building longer-term capability to provide the justice and policing services needed by communities. The program has a range of input modalities, including technical assistance, operational support and funding, training and professional development, community grants, infrastructure, and project delivery.

VAPJP entered its second 4-year phase (2021-2024) in January 2021. The implementation of VAPJP Phase Two is guided by a Design Update document.

The End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs) as articulated in the Design Update document[1] include:

1. Justice and policing agencies improve quality and reach of services to Vanuatu communities, particularly in their handling of cases involving women, children and youth.
2. Women, children and youth are increasingly accessing state policing, justice and community services.
3. Policing and Justice agencies maintain public security and the rule of law.

Purpose

Based in the VLRC, support provided by the Legal Policy and Legislation (LPL) Adviser is intended to achieve, but is not limited to, the following overarching role objectives:

1. To provide support to the VLRC for development of legal policy and drafting instructions through mentoring and capacity building of counterparts;
2. To assist VLRC to developing clear and informed legal policy;
3. To provide accurate and timely policy advice and legislative review to relevant stakeholders;
4. To assist VLRC to develop clear and concise legislative drafting instructions; and
5. To deliver targeted support to strengthen sustainable legal policy and legislation good practice at VLRC and other Justice agencies

The Legal Policy and Legislation (LPL) Adviser will ensure that all work carried out is done in a manner that maintains the Public Solicitor’s independence and does not risk any perceived or actual conflict-of-interest. Key functions for the position in support of the objectives above are as follows:

1. On a day-to-day basis, build the capacity of the Principal Policy Officer, Principal Research Officer, and Principal Drafting Instructions Officer through modelling best practice, mentoring and skills training;
2. Build the capacity of VLRC staff in relation to legal policy and legislation development specifically;
3. Support the VLRC to promote coordinated delivery of legal support activities;
4. Support VLRC staff to develop and deliver policy rationale and drafting instructions for the Juvenile Justice Act and other key Justice and Policing sector legal policy and legislation, with VLRC, Ministry and other agency heads’ input.
5. Support the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) legal office in reviewing key legal policy and legislation;
6. Enhance awareness and understanding amongst target audiences and users of legal policy and legal policy advice of the role and processes for legal policy development and how to best use policy advice, briefing materials and legislative reviews;
7. Maintain effective working relationships with VLRC staff, VLRC Principal Policy Officer, Principal Research Officer, Principal Drafting Instructions Officer and other Justice Agency heads as required.
8. Collaborate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team of VAPJP Advisers with the collective responsibility of achieving the program’s EOPOs by mutually reinforcing strategies developed by the program as well as participating in processes that facilitate this.

Required Qualifications:

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Key qualifications and experience required are as follows:

• A Law Degree and admission to practice in a relevant jurisdiction
• At least 10 years’ experience practice as a lawyer preferably in the area of criminal law, policy and legislation development
• Demonstrated experience in the development of legislation governance and policy preferably in the areas of the criminal law, child protection and juvenile justice
• Proven ability to build productive working relationships, particularly in a management setting, and work collaboratively and respectfully in a cross-cultural setting
• Understanding of and ability to design and implement capacity development training and skills transfer activities
• Experience in preparation and delivery of legal training to lawyers including legal training
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound professional judgement in sensitive situations
• Eligibility to obtain a Vanuatu visa
• Understanding of gender equity, disability and social inclusion in a legal environment
• Understanding of law and development issues
• Previous experience working in Melanesian culture (desirable)

Thinking Style

• Analytical and practical
• Personal Attributes
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Tact and negotiation skills
• Cultural sensitivity
• Integrity and transparency
• Commitment to skills transfer and effective capacity development
• Willingness to consult and work in a multi-disciplinary team

Language(s)

• English fluency essential; French desirable
• Willingness and firm commitment to learn Bislama and use in the workplace