CIFOR-ICRAF
This position will provide support on the day-to-day Legal operations in the Region, tracking these matters daily in the projects dashboards and preparing the progress update. The timely completion of ticketing systems requests for the review and drafting of various agreements and legal matters.
Duties and responsibilities
- Execute
and implement the Contract Life Cycle Management (development, drafting,
review, negotiation, amendment and release, quality control and archiving) of
grants, subgrants, research collaboration, consultancy, vendor, lease, host
country, nondisclosure, and a wide variety of ad hoc agreements entered by
CIMMYT with its national and international (private and public) partners and service
providers, globally. - Support
Compliance Officer by managing and executing all aspects of case management,
including the entry, tracking, closure, and follow-up of cases. Ensure that all
necessary information is accurately obtained and thoroughly documented.
Supervise the entire case management process, including the development and
maintenance of dashboards and reports, to guarantee that complaints are
processed efficiently and accurately, adhering to the highest standards of
efficiency, accurateness, quality and timeliness. - Support
Compliance Officer in the implementation and monitoring of CIMMYT's global
compliance program, ensuring alignment with relevant policies, codes of
conduct, and internal communications. Contribute to the development and
delivery of training programs to enhance understanding and adherence to
compliance requirements across the organization. - Research
and analyze treaties, laws, regulations, policies, and procedures from a
variety of legal areas and jurisdictions where CIMMYT operates to ensure its
compliance; provide legal counsel and advice in diverse areas, including all
areas related to corporate, criminal, regulatory, labor, tax, administrative,
and litigation legislation; draft legal opinions, notes, letters, memoranda,
and other legal documents. - Ensure
proper follow-up of entrusted matters, tracking these in the provided
dashboards and KPI monitoring tools that will be used to prepare the progress
update to the relevant areas and the timely completion of service ticketing
systems requests for the review and drafting of various agreements and legal
matters. - Ensure
CIMMYT remains compliant with legal and regulatory requirements in the Region.
This includes offering legal support and expert advice on matters related to
privacy and data protection, research ethics, occupational health and safety,
phytosanitary standards, and environmental regulations. - Collaborate
with cross-functional teams and chapters to develop and implement policies and
procedures aimed at ensuring regulatory compliance and ethical practices in
CIMMYT's research and operational activities, advising CIMMYT on potential
impact and compliance strategies. - Provide
legal support for updating, developing, and implementing policies, procedures,
processes, and other operational changes necessary to comply with legal and
regulatory requirements. - Identify
and assess legal risks associated with CIMMYT activities and operations and
develop risk management strategies to mitigate legal liabilities and safeguard
the CIMMYT interest. - Provide
pragmatic and collaborative day-to-day legal advice to assist the business in
achieving its goals/objectives legally, compliantly, and ethically and support
higher-level legal counsel. - Maintain,
improve, implement, and monitor processes, procedures, guidelines, best
practices, and tools that allow the Department to provide accurate and timely
services. - Support
the corporate governance functions, issuance, and management of power of
attorney, drafting, formalizing minutes, and other CIMMYT Statutory
obligations. - Provide
legal support with respect to institutional compliance in the context of all
legislation arising from different legal frameworks. - Support
the Compliance Function, particularly for case management (entry, closing,
follow-up, etc.) in coordination with HR, ensuring that all of the information
required is obtained and properly documented, including filing the dashboards
and reports necessary to ensure complaints are processed in a timely manner. - Represent
CIMMYT before different Government Agencies. Represent the Legal Department and
CIMMYT before different authorities and forums. - Support
drafting, reviewing, implementing, communicating, and updating CIMMYT's legal
policies and procedures. - Prepare
educational materials for Staff and stakeholders to support institutional
research policies and procedures. Support the drafting, review, implementation,
communication, and update of CIMMYT's legal policies and procedures. Prepare
guides, training materials, and training on the Contract Life Cycle and tools
offered by the Legal Department. - Collaborate
with Finance and provide counsel regarding legal implications in connection to
new tax regulations. - Provide
legal advice on labor and employment-related policies, regional and local laws,
and regulations, conduct legal research, and advise on potential legal risks. - Perform
other related tasks within the job level as may be required by the supervisor.
Requirements
- The selected candidate must have a
Degree in Law and a master’s degree/LL.M - At least 8 years of proven experience
working in a similar position as in-house legal counsel; regulatory and
compliance functions is a plus. - Additional experience or knowledge in
areas related to agriculture research and development in the private and/or
public sectors is an advantage. - Ability to provide timely and
efficient legal and business advice at all organizational levels. - Demonstrated ability to manage a high
volume of matters at any given time, work well under pressure, successfully
handle and prioritize multiple competing assignments, and effectively manage
deadlines. - Excellent organizational, writing, and
communication skills, including the ability to communicate legal concepts in a
plain manner to lay (non-legal) stakeholders. - Enough computer skills (at a minimum:
Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat) and willingness to learn/master other
programs and software as necessary. - High ethical standards with a strong
commitment to maintain confidentiality and treat sensitive information with
discretion. - Detailed accuracy, acute sensitivity
to the importance of time urgency, exceptional anticipation skills, and an
enviable personal touch. Demonstrate consistent follow-up to ensure task
completion. Consistently operate with urgency while not losing sight of the
detail. - Excellent oral and written
communication skills to communicate precisely and professionally with internal
and external sources. - Proficiency in English and Spanish.
English will be tested, and candidates should score a minimum of C2 on CEFR. - Ability to maintain the highest level
of confidentiality and discretion. - The selected candidate must exhibit
the following competencies: Time Management, Flexibility/Adaptability, Customer
Orientation, Proactivity, Teamwork, Achievement Orientation, Problem-Solving,
and Multi-Cultural Awareness/Sensitivity.
Education, knowledge and experience
•The selected candidate must have a Degree in Law and a master’s degree/LL.M
•At least 8 years of proven experience working in a similar position as in-house legal counsel; regulatory and compliance functions is a plus.
•Additional experience or knowledge in areas related to agriculture research and development in the private and/or public sectors is an advantage.
•Ability to provide timely and efficient legal and business advice at all organizational levels.
•Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of matters at any given time, work well under pressure, successfully handle and prioritize multiple competing assignments, and effectively manage deadlines.
•Excellent organizational, writing, and communication skills, including the ability to communicate legal concepts in a plain manner to lay (non-legal) stakeholders.
•Enough computer skills (at a minimum: Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat) and willingness to learn/master other programs and software as necessary.
•High ethical standards with a strong commitment to maintain confidentiality and treat sensitive information with discretion.
•Detailed accuracy, acute sensitivity to the importance of time urgency, exceptional anticipation skills, and an enviable personal touch. Demonstrate consistent follow-up to ensure task completion. Consistently operate with urgency while not losing sight of the detail.
•Excellent oral and written communication skills to communicate precisely and professionally with internal and external sources.
•Proficiency in English and Spanish. English will be tested, and candidates should score a minimum of C2 on CEFR.
•Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality and discretion.
•The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Time Management, Flexibility/Adaptability, Customer Orientation, Proactivity, Teamwork, Achievement Orientation, Problem-Solving, and Multi-Cultural Awareness/Sensitivity.
Terms and conditions
•This is a Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) position and on competitive remuneration in local currency, commensurate with skills and experience.
•The appointment will be for a period of two (2) years, inclusive of a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
•The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya.