Legal Officer (Operations)
Job Description
Job Profile Requirements
Organizational Competencies:
Level 1:
Building relationships and partnerships – Builds and maintains effective working relationships
Communicating and negotiating – Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
Demonstrating leadership – Personal leadership and attitude to change
Focusing on clients – Focuses on clients
Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating – Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
Managing performance and developing staff –
Managing time, resources and information – Manages own time, information and resources effectively
Problem-solving and decision-making – Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
Strategic thinking and organizational development – Personal influence
Team working – Contributes effectively to the team
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 five years of progressively responsible professional experience in the analysis of legal documents, research on legal practices and precedents, and the application of legal principles and concepts needed to perform the assigned activities.
The professional experience must include at least two years at the international level in international organizations, financial institutions or international financial institutions.
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:
English and another IFAD official language (Arabic, French or Spanish) (4 – Excellent)
Desirable: Arabic, French, or Spanish (3 – Good)
Skills:
Procurement: Know-how in the application of the procurement policies, rules and regulations applicable to IFAD HQ and/or Country Programmes/Projects, including for complex individual cases
IFAD governance & mandate: In depth knowledge of IFAD`s governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work
Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions
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.)
Business acumen, private sector knowledge: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
Client orientation: Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions
Other Information
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.
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 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 assessment. 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.
