Adjudication and Case Processing Assistant (Asistente de Adjudicación y Tramitación de casos)

UNDP • Panama City, FL

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in the fight to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated and lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP works in over 170 countries and territories, providing assistance to develop policies, leadership and partnership skills, institutional capacities and resilience building, fostering sustainable human development. In Panama, it works at the national, municipal, and regional levels. UNDP is part of the United Nations Agencies, Funds, and Programs in Panama, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The Strategic Government Plan 2025-2029 and the programmatic frameworks of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Panama (UNSDCF) 2026-2030 and the UNDP Country Programme 2026-2030 prioritize inclusive economic growth and a sustainable environment, fostering well-being and equity in the population, and promoting inclusive, effective, and responsible governance systems. In this way, the project in the Indio River basin is positioned as an innovative and replicable model for integrating land registry, human development, and environmental sustainability in territories of high strategic importance for Panama. In its role as a development partner and facilitator for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we provide technical assistance to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs as catalysts for ensuring that all people live better lives in harmony with the planet. Programmatically, UNDP Panama is organized into 3 Clusters and 1 Portfolio: the Cluster for Environment, Climate Change, and Risk Management for Sustainable Development; the Cluster for Social Inclusion and Equity; and that of Governance, Peace, and Human Rights. The portfolio is for social cohesion for Panama. In the area of Environment, Climate Change, and Risk Management (where the other clusters and portfolio converge), integrated watershed management is one of the tools to achieve the best or optimal allocation of water use/human activities and territory to ensure long-term water resources, ecosystem health, and prosperity for people. The ACP, with strategic partners and inter-institutional coordination, will promote the development of initiatives to improve people's quality of life through efficient water management in the Indio River watershed, which in turn will strengthen the Panama Canal's lake system, fostering benefits for local communities, translated into promoting sustainable human development for socioeconomic and environmental co-management. Progress in structural transformations must be made from what the communities themselves have recognized as successful and of high value, which is the assurance of land rights through a land registry and titling program in the territories within this watershed, so that the people who live there have legal certainty of their lands and that this right serves not only to empower men and especially women, but as a catalyst to improve their living conditions. With the integration of the Indio River Basin into the Panama Canal Basin, an integral approach to territorial management is continued, which includes the land registry and titling program, similar to that developed in the CHCP, where more than 12,080 titles have been issued since 2006. In this framework, the ProDoc of the Indio River Land Registry and Titling Project was approved, whose objective is to address the lack of legal certainty over land, a situation that increases the vulnerability of communities and limits their investment and participation opportunities in the sustainable management of the territory. The ACP is promoting a land registry and titling project in the Indio River Basin to strengthen land legal security and promote sustainable development. In addition to titling, the initiative includes training, strengthening local governance, and responsible land use. The objective is to advance in the regularization of untitled areas and complete the processes initiated between 2017 and 2019, also supporting the conceptual design of a future multipurpose reservoir and other integral projects in the basin. For its execution, a technical unit is required to carry out field surveys, process regularization resolutions, manage pending files, update the land registry, and develop new titling processes in additional areas of the basin. Project Objective: To carry out cadastral surveys in approximately 60,000 hectares as part of the territorial regularization process in the Indio River Basin and manage the issuance of corresponding property titles, as well as participate in the technical verification of measurements and boundaries of the properties required in the land acquisition processes for the resettlement of the Indio River Lake Project, ensuring transversally the implementation of actions that guarantee the effective participation and inclusion of women as property owners. 1. The land registry and titling project estimates: 2. Cadastral survey of approximately 60,000 hectares. 3. Registration with the Public Registry of approximately 2,600 properties. 4. Rectification of measurements and boundaries of approximately 5,000 hectares. The incumbent performs other functions within their functional profile that are considered necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Requirements

• Complete secondary education is required.
• University degree (complete Bachelor's degree) in Law and Political Science, with suitability issued by the Supreme Court of Justice, will be given due consideration, but is not a requirement.
• Minimum of five (5) years (with complete secondary education) or two (2) years (with a Technical or complete Bachelor's degree) of proven professional experience in handling legal, administrative, or judicial procedures, in procedures before the Public Registry, Notaries, and the National Land Administration Authority (ANATI).
• Competent experience in using Microsoft 365 tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Zoom, and other office equipment and applications.
• Experience in preparing structured technical reports in chronological order that accurately describe the legal situation of the case.
• Experience in document management, including review, organization, and analysis of files.
• Experience in public service, providing understandable guidance, respectful treatment, and confidential handling of information.
• Fluency in Spanish is required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in land titling procedures, including understanding requirements and processes before competent land adjudication entities.
• Experience in interpreting survey plans and other related technical documents.
• Experience in organizing and managing inventories of files or cadastral documentation.
• Experience in submitting and managing procedures before the Public Registry.

Responsibilities

• Application of cadastral regulations and documentary organization: Application of the Legal and Institutional Framework - Law 24 of June 2006, Law 59 of October 8, 2010, Law 80 of December 31, 2009, Law 38 of 2000, Law 21 on Land Use, the Manual establishing the single titling procedure and other regulations issued by the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning (MIVIOT), Ministry of Health (MINSA), and Ministry of Environment (MI AMBIENTE). Examine legal information to determine adjudicable or non-adjudicable areas or lands in accordance with current regulations. Provide guidance and support to the team in the correct use of current forms for Mass Regularization and Titling.
• Support in legal analysis and follow-up of files: Review and analyze files that present legal actions, verifying that they have the required legal documentation and managing the corresponding legal process according to mass titling regulations. Timely identify files that present announcements of conflicts, disagreements, complaints, or petitions, and carry out the corresponding management for their proper resolution, in accordance with the procedure established in current regulations. Organize files, prepare the report and cover letter, and verify that they contain the required documentation and information for their submission to the competent authority. Follow up on procedures submitted to the competent authority, periodically verifying the progress of the process for which they were sent, keeping the follow-up database updated and reporting any novelty to their supervisor (associate). Prepare reports or memos on legal situations identified in the files, once they have been processed in the field. Support the field team in reviewing registry and cadastral background information to determine the legal status of the property and prepare the respective reports.
• Support in Management with Public Institutions: Support the Adjudication and Case Processing Associate in advising or accompanying public institutions on mass titling regulations and procedures related to the project: Community Boards, Justice and Peace Houses, Municipalities, ANATI, MIDA, and MiAmbiente. Support the Adjudication and Case Processing Associate in following up on registration procedures with the Public Registry.
• Knowledge Management and other complementary activities: Support the creation and exchange of knowledge relevant to the assigned project. Respond to inquiries from the project work team on issues related to the application of regulations governing land registry and titling. Support public exhibition and title deed delivery activities. Support the project in meetings, diligences, and activities related to the land registry and titling process when assigned. Support in attending to and orienting beneficiaries on mass titling procedures and processes.

Benefits

• Expenses for extraordinary mobilization and lodging derived exclusively from field activities will be covered by the project, in accordance with planning and established procedures.
• The Program will cover expenses for mobilization, lodging, and food, in accordance with the activities and requirements of the Project, if necessary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED