General Counsel, Office of The General Counsel (Internationally recruited)

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is the only global intergovernmental organization exclusively devoted to promoting the rule of law to advance peace and sustainable development. IDLO works to enable governments and empower people to reform laws and strengthen institutions to promote peace, justice, sustainable development and economic opportunity.

With its Headquarters in Rome, Italy, a Branch Office in The Hague, and United Nations Liaison Offices in New York and Geneva, IDLO carries out policy advocacy, research and learning, as well as rule of law and justice programmes in countries through some 17 Country Offices operating in every region of the world.

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) is a dynamic generalist legal practice whose overarching aim is to advance and protect the legal interests of IDLO while mitigating risk, fostering accountability, and helping to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the organization and its governing bodies. OGC advises the entire organization on a diverse range of legal and ethical issues. Advice is provided to the Director-General and to senior managers and organizational committees, as well as to all departments, country offices, and teams.  Given the high legal and ethical standard against which a rule-of-law promotion organization is held, OGC plays a pivotal role in ensuring that IDLO is in full compliance with all applicable authorities.

 

The Position

Under the direct supervision of the Director-General, the General Counsel is responsible for leading and managing IDLO’s corporate legal affairs and for ensuring that the organization’s activities are carried out in accordance with its governing documents and relevant laws, regulations, rules, policies, and ethical standards. As the chief legal adviser to the organization, the General Counsel contributes to major organizational decisions and policies and advises on all legal aspects of the functions, structure, and activities of the organization. This includes drafting, negotiating, and interpreting international agreements and other legal documents; developing and interpreting IDLO’s regulations, rules, and policies; assessing, advising, and representing IDLO in disputes, arbitrations, and other internal and external proceedings; working collaboratively with in-house clients to solve problems, strategize, and mitigate risk; promoting legal and ethical compliance; and safeguarding IDLO’s overseas personnel, facilities, and operations by obtaining appropriate recognition of IDLO’s legal status and defending IDLO’s privileges and immunities.

The General Counsel effectively manages the Office of the General Counsel, oversees the work of its lawyers and personnel, and represents the organization with high level government and international organization officials and IDLO’s governance bodies.

In particular, the General Counsel will be expected to:

1. Advise and represent the organization on all legal matters, including governance, dispute resolution, privileges and immunities, and host country arrangements.

• Provide legal advice to the Director-General and governing bodies on legal matters relating to the functions, structure, and activities of the organization; agreements and other legal documents; international and other applicable law; and organizational regulations, rules, policies, and procedures;
• Represent and advance the organization’s interests in any administrative or legal proceeding, audit, investigation, or grievance lodged against IDLO and advise on the handling of any disciplinary matters, disputes, and related proceedings;
• Develop and negotiate Host Country Agreements or other instruments for the recognition of IDLO’s legal status and conferral of privileges and immunities.

2. Oversee and maintain an effective and high caliber internal legal capacity to support the provision of legal services covering all areas of IDLO operations.

• Provide in-house clients with legal opinions, strategic or interpretative advice, and proposed solutions to problems and on risk mitigation concerning the functions, structure, and activities of the organization;
• Effectively lead staff by providing clear direction, addressing staff development, and managing performance through ongoing dialogue and mentoring; motivate and support staff with a view to fostering a teamwork approach in meeting objectives and goals; address possible conflicts in a positive and constructive manner; encourage initiative and maintain effective working relationships within a multi-cultural setting;
• Develop and effectively implement an annual program of work and budget for OGC.

3. Promote a strong climate of lawful and ethical conduct including through the development and application of organizational regulations, rules, policies, and guidelines to govern institutional and program activities.

• Contribute to the development, revision, interpretation, and application of IDLO’s regulations, rules, policies, and guidelines;
• Draft, review, negotiate, interpret, and/or apply contracts, agreements, and other legal documents related to institutional and program matters, in cooperation with in-house clients.

4. Provide strategic guidance and representation as a member of the IDLO Senior Leadership Team.

• Support the development and implementation of partnerships with governments, international organizations, and other entities to promote IDLO’s interests;
• Build network of collaboration with the international legal community keeping abreast of developments regarding privileges and immunities and the status and governance of intergovernmental organizations;

 

Ideal Candidate Profile

Education and Work Experience

• Juris Doctor, LLM, or equivalent law degree with admission to practice law, regardless of jurisdiction, is required. A specialization in international law is highly desirable.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in relevant senior positions of increasing scope and responsibility, including leadership experience, ideally within an international and/or multilateral organization is required.
• Solid experience of handling corporate legal matters, including legal analysis, research and writing in a governmental or intergovernmental organization is essential.
• Proven ability to work in interdisciplinary and multicultural task teams/working groups across organizational boundaries, including with senior managers.
• Demonstrated experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences.

Languages

• Excellent written and verbal proficiency in English is required. Additional language/s would be highly desirable.

Specific knowledge, skills and behavioral competencies

• Sound leadership and management skills and competencies.
• Collaborative approach and excellent team-building capacities.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong commitment to gender equality, cultural diversity and inclusive approaches.
• Willingness to travel, including to countries in conflict situations, when necessary.
• Proficiency in all relevant technologies.
• Keen sense of ethics, integrity, and commitment to IDLO’s mandate and values.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

For this internationally professional recruited position, IDLO shall offer the selected candidate a Fixed Term contract of 36 months, with the possibility of extension.

IDLO shall offer a yearly basic salary of EUR 117.500 and a benefits package including provident fund contribution (14%), medical insurance, and leave entitlements in accordance with the IDLO Employee Regulations and Rules. Relocation and installation support are also available for internationally recruited employees.

Salaries and benefits paid by IDLO to employees are exempt from taxation in Italy. IDLO employees are responsible for compliance with income tax laws of their country of nationality or residence and/or of any other relevant fiscal jurisdiction.

IDLO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in all areas of its operations. We welcome applications of qualified and diverse candidates. IDLO is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance at all levels within its workforce. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for IDLO vacancies.

IDLO does not tolerate sexual exploitation or abuse; any kind of harassment, including harassment of a sexual nature; or discrimination. As such, IDLO will conduct careful reference and background checks of all selected candidates as part of its selection process.

 

DISCLAIMER 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the employee assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and in compliance with IDLO’s policy on personal data protection.

The Director-General of IDLO reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities or even to cancel the recruitment to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.