Job Title : Senior Legal Officer (Private Sector)

ID : 35513

Location : ROME

Date of issue : 04/27/2026

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 05/25/2026

Organizational Unit : Office of General Counsel

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Regular

Assignment Duration : 2 Years

Grade : P-4

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Office of Legal and Governance (OLG) leads IFAD's governance dialogue with Members and provides strategic leadership and authoritative advice at the institutional level on all aspects of IFAD's work. In this manner, OLG guides the Fund's high-level strategic, corporate and operational policy discussions and decisions, protecting the institution and maximizing the impact of IFAD's investments. OLG is led by the Chief Legal and Governance Officer (CLGO) and is comprised of two divisions: the Office of the General Counsel (LEG) and the Office of the Secretary (SEC).

LEG provides guidance and advice to IFAD's Management and Governing Bodies on all legal aspects of IFAD's operations and administration as IFAD strives to mobilize resources for, as well as to design and implement, agricultural development and projects in its Member States. The office ensures that IFAD complies with the Agreement Establishing IFAD, Rules and Procedures of the Governing Bodies and other relevant laws and obligations and proposes new legal frameworks, instruments, and guidance that will help the organization meet new challenges with respect to designing and implementing IFAD's program of work, resource mobilization and capacity to respond to global events.

Job Role

The incumbent is accountable for the provision of high-quality legal advice and services in general legal matters and, more specifically, in areas of legal specialization relevant to the Fund's activities, to the CLGO, the DGC, divisional teams and other divisions and clients. They contribute to the development and application of IFAD's legal framework underpinning its corporate, institutional and operational activities, both technical and supervisory. Working assignments are carried out with a high degree of independence and require sound professional judgment, with regular interaction with internal and external partners. The incumbent advises and supports LEG and divisions in the achievement of programme goals and objectives through legal research and analysis, and through the application of relevant legal instruments and departmental documentation.

Specifically, the incumbent's tasks will include advice in the legal area related to private sector/non sovereign operations including loans, co-financing agreements, blended finance, guarantees, risk-sharing arrangements and equity.

Key Functions and Results

1. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS: Conducts and/or reviews research on a wide range of legal issues relating to the functions, structure, governance, and activities of the Fund, including matters of a complex and sensitive nature. Provides interpretation and drafting of legal instruments, including amendments to IFAD's basic texts, treaties, constitutions, statutes, and IFAD policies, rules, and regulations, ensuring consistency with the Agreement Establishing IFAD. The incumbent also participates in meetings with IFAD Management, at the request of the CLGO and/or DGC, where discussions are held related to the development of new products, internal policies and procedures, and model documents.

2. LEGAL ADVICE AND OPINIONS: Provides legal advice on complex issues relating to the functions, structure, and activities of the Fund. Working closely with internal clients, analyses and supports the development of creative and pragmatic solutions within the applicable legal framework to facilitate the work of the Fund. Provides legal advice to internal committees and bodies, as well as detailed legal analyses and briefing memoranda for the CLGO and DGC.

3. LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS: Prepares and reviews drafts of legal instruments and documents, such as agreements, contracts, internal rules and regulations, pleadings in litigation, and other legal materials related to IFAD's activities, including communications with Member States, the design of new products, and other institutional or operational matters, as applicable. Assists in the establishment and maintenance of a clear and transparent legal and regulatory framework for IFAD's activities and in drafting policies and procedures.

4. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: Contributes to the sharing of legal knowledge and precedents in LEG relating to IFAD's legal framework through providing technical support to more junior Legal Officers and interns, and by ensuring that legal advice and instruments prepared are readily available for use by colleagues through appropriate filing and database entry. Seeks to identify best practices for use by the Office. Provides training to various stakeholders on substantive legal topics. Represents the supervisor in outreach to, and knowledge sharing with, UN entities, other international financial institutions (IFIs), and relevant institutions to share best practices, promote efficiency, and broaden the reach of IFAD's work.

5. REPRESENTATION: To the extent authorized by the President or the CLGO, negotiates agreements on behalf of the Fund. Liaises with counterparts in other organizations and, as appropriate, with representatives of Member States. Representation may also include preparing briefs and other documents for international or intergovernmental bodies and standard-setting entities.

6. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of assigned IFAD resources, including a team of legal officers and administrative support staff whom the incumbent directly supervises. Among other functions, the incumbent may be required to select, manage, and supervise outside counsel.

Key Performance Indicators

The incumbent is recognized in their field both within and outside the Fund, and the impact of the work performed is considered specialized. The incumbent supports the development of new approaches that directly influence the approach, structure, and content of legal analyses and studies in matters of a sensitive or unprecedented nature, as well as the official interpretation of legal instruments. The incumbent performs other related duties as assigned by the CLGO and/or the DGC, which may include legal work across IFAD's activities, including litigation, as applicable.

Working Relationships

Representational functions of the incumbent include, where delegated by the CLGO or the DGC, participating in the negotiation of agreements and contracts; presenting IFAD's position in meetings with other international financial institutions, UN organizations and agencies, and working groups; and liaising with external parties. Such functions may also include, when duly authorized, representing the Fund in the strategic review of sensitive and complex legal matters, including submissions, opinions, or pleadings, and, as applicable, in proceedings or engagements before appeals bodies, administrative tribunals, arbitration panels, or other judicial, quasi-judicial, or oversight bodies; negotiating complex legal instruments (including contracts, international agreements, high-level corporate advice, sanctions matters, and related instruments); and engaging with external counterparts, as appropriate. The incumbent also represents LEG on internal committees and at interdepartmental meetings.

Work relationships are established and maintained with senior-level counterparts to resolve complex issues and to develop legal advice and interpretations. In a consultative and advisory capacity, the incumbent provides expert advice on the Fund's policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

  • Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
  • Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
  • Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
  • Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture
  • Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
  • Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
  • Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
  • Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
  • Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
  • Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

  • Level - A first level university degree in law or another relevant field (e.g., LL.B.).
  • An advanced university degree in law (e.g., LL.M. or J.D., or equivalent) is highly desirable and considered an asset.
  • Areas - Relevant fields include, but are not limited to, international law, administrative law, commercial or economic law or other related disciplines.

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php

(*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD's Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

Experience:

  • At least eight years of progressively more responsible professional experience working in International Organizations, financial institutions, or International Financial Institutions.
  • Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
  • Application of theoretical legal knowledge to problems and situations of national and international legislation, as well as substantive experience relevant to the functions of a multi-cultural organization.

Certifications:

  • A recognized qualification to practice law in at least one jurisdiction of a Member State (civil or common law).
  • This may include, depending on the jurisdiction, bar admission, state legal examinations, regulated legal traineeships, or licensing by a competent national authority.
  • The Organization reserves the right to assess the equivalence of legal qualifications obtained under different national systems.

Languages:

  • Required English (4 - Excellent)
  • Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 - Good)

Skills:

  • Development finance: Know-how in debt, lending terms, financial policies including pricing, concessionality and resource allocation
  • Advocacy: Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD's vision to external actors
  • IFAD governance & mandate: In depth knowledge of IFAD`s governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work
  • Resource mobilization: Know-how in resource mobilization strategies (including marketing and communication) for IFI, international public bodies and within the UN
  • UN and IFI documentation & processes: Knowledge of the relevant policies, rules, regulations and guidelines on document processing and distribution within the UN and other IFIs
  • Project coordination: Identification of key-priorities, ability to work with others, coordinate and structure work to meet deadlines and adjustment of workplan/resource allocation when needed, identification and management of project-related risks
  • Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.)
  • Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions
  • Legal Research, interpretation and analysis: Know-how to conduct in-depth legal research (on a wide range of institutional, corporate, operations, finance and investment issues related to the functions, structure, investments and operations of the Fund) and to analyse and interpret legal instruments (e.g. as treaties, constitutions, statutes, rules and regulations and other legal materials on institutional, corporate, operations, finance and investment issues relevant to IFAD's work)
  • Legal advice: Know-how in advising on all issues relating to functions, structures and activities of the Fund, including legal and technical aspects of the design and implementation of corporate, institutional, lending, grant and investment-related matters; Ability to advise internal committees and bodies on substantive and procedural matters relating to the activities and operations of the Fund.
  • Legal drafting: Know-how in drafting legal instruments including financing agreements, policy frameworks (including principles and guidelines), internal rules and regulations and other materials governing the activities of IFAD; drafting of briefs and other documents for submission to international standard-setting entities, internal appeals bodies and external judicial bodies.
  • Risk management (e.g. reputational): Know-how in identifying and assessing of potential legal, reputational, ethical risks and liabilities in relation to the Fund's activities; contributing strongly to the division as second line of defence function; demonstrating ability to manage these risks by advising senior management on contingency and mitigation strategies.
  • Topical expertise - Legal: Legal expertise relevant to specific role (e.g. in international administrative law, public international law in the operational area of IFAD and on the privileges and immunities of international organizations, etc.)
  • Performance management: Know-how in managing performance so that staff supervised deliver on the agreed objectives and meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD. Is proficient in establishing clear performance goals (operational and behavioural) and learning plans as well as in evaluating the performance of staff against the set goals.
  • Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
  • Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
  • Written communication: Clear, succinct and convincing written communication in the language needed for specific role; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language (e.g. for drafting of position papers, briefings, etc.)

Other Information

Representatives or alternate representatives of Member States on the IFAD Executive Board, Governors or alternate governors to the IFAD Governing Council and other Member States Permanent Representatives and their Alternates to IFAD (collectively ''IFAD Member States Representatives'') who apply for or take up any type of employment with IFAD may do so only after a twelve-month period has elapsed after the effective date of cessation of their IFAD Member States Representatives responsibilities as established in the notification of termination of functions communicated through the official channels.

IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org

In accordance with IFADs provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFADs remuneration package, please visit IFADs compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements. See here.

In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.

Long-listed candidates will be required to participate in a pre-screening interview. Short-listed candidates will be required to participate in a technical and competency-based interview and may be required to take a written test and/or to deliver a presentation.

Non-selected candidates who have been shortlisted, interviewed and found suitable in this competitive selection process may be included in IFAD's appointable roster and considered for future positions in the same job family and grade level, in line with IFAD's applicable provisions. Candidates included in the appointable roster will be notified by IFAD.

If you encounter technical issues while submitting your application, please email erecruit@ifad.org with a screenshot and a brief description of the issue.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.