Senior Counsel (Private Sector)

Grade: IS-5
Deadline: 26 April 2024 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 145,000 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

Introduction
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. By the end of 2023, GCF had a portfolio of 243 projects in 129 countries, committing a total of USD 13.5 billion to date. 

In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 

GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.  

You will be able to quickly scan and analyze complex, competing issues and lead significant sized teams to find solutions in evolving contexts, across multiple geographic locations. 

You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.

You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.

You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people. 

Position Objective

The Senior Counsel will assist the General Counsel and the Associate General Counsel (Private Sector), as the case may be, in coordinating the legal work related to operational matters of the Fund, will provide legal advice and support relating to the drafting, reviewing and negotiating of financing agreements; will conduct legal due diligence in connection with funding proposals; represent OGC internally and externally as required and prepare legal advice on the interpretation of statutes, contracts and other legal documents.

Purpose 

• Assist the General Counsel and the Associate General Counsel (Private Sector), as the case may be, in the coordination of the work of the private sector projects practice group of the Office of the General Counsel in providing legal advice and support relating to operational matters and documents;

• Deliver and manage legal aspects of the more advanced and complex funding proposals and legal documents required by the Fund for its operations, and ensure these are coherent with best practice and the legal framework of the Fund, and draft as well as negotiate financing agreements and other legal documents required by the Fund for its operations;

• Conduct and review legal due diligence in connection with proposed funding structures;

• Be solution-oriented and have the ability to creatively resolve complex issues which arise from time to time in the course of transactions;

• Keep abreast of developments in the legal field especially in relation to multilateral finance and publicly-funded international financial institutions (IFIs); and,

• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Associate General Counsel and the General Counsel.

Engagement

• Provide legal support to other divisions on matters relating to the operations of the Fund;

• Although the Associate General Counsel will have primary responsibility for providing legal support and advice to Legal Counsels, Associate Counsels, consultants and interns within the Office of the General Counsel, the Senior Counsel will be expected to provide knowledge and guidance on transactional matters within OGC;

• Participate in GCF’s Board meetings and other events and meetings of the GCF, when required. This may include the preparation and review of relevant documentation, supervision of the work done by consultants and interns, and making presentations; and,

• Liaise with other offices and departments within the GCF to assess and address their requirements, to lead on the drafting of legal documents.

Delivery

• Timely delivery of review and legal assessment of funding proposals and drafting of legal documents necessary for the Fund’s legal and policy framework;

• Thorough, accurate and timely delivery of due diligence reports;

• Applying creative solutions to issues which arise in transactions from time to time;

• Keeping senior officers and colleagues within the Office of General Counsel and within the Fund abreast of the latest trends/developments in multilateral finance and IFIs; and,

• Providing sound and practical legal advice on the legal policy framework and advice regarding the operations of the Fund.

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

• Juris Doctor, LLM, or equivalent law degree (a higher degree in law is an advantage); or a Bachelor’s degree plus additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.

•  Qualification to practice law in at least one jurisdiction;

• At least 11 years of relevant work experience practicing law in cross-border transactions involving project finance, debt and/or equity finance, structured finance, guarantees, banking with a well-recognized law firm, an international financial institution and/or a development finance institution;

• Experience working on novel areas of law, or innovative and/or complex financial transactions is an advantage;

• Excellent legal drafting skills specifically of drafting financing agreements;

• Experience liaising with, and advising, senior members of staff; experience advising management is an advantage;

• Experience managing the work of external legal consultants and interns;

• Experience in, or working with, developing countries;

• Emotional intelligence and values-driven work ethic; and,

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential for this position; knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

The closing date for application is 26 April 2024. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

*The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references. 

Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply.