Legal Officer (Operations)

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 General Counsel (GC) 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 post is at the full working level in the field of general legal services and plays an important role in supporting the legal framework of IFAD's operations. At this level the incumbent requires a complete, in-depth knowledge of the technical concepts and tools of the legal profession. They have the capacity to adapt approaches and models to meet emerging needs and to ensure the continuing relevance of LEG to the Fund and external partners.

The assigned work is accomplished mainly independently where precedent and/or practice exist, and any complex and/or sensitive issues are brought to the attention to the General Counsel (GC), a Deputy General Counsel (DGC), and a Senior Legal Officer.

Key Functions and Results

1. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS: Conducts research and analysis, and prepares studies, reports and correspondence on legal issues concerning the operations of the Fund. Provides interpretation of legal instruments, such as treaties, constitutions, statutes, rules and regulations, and other legal materials relevant to IFAD's work.

2. LEGAL ADVICE AND OPINIONS: Provides legal advice and opinions on issues concerning the operations and mandate of IFAD, and assists departments, divisions and units of IFAD on all legal matters, including advice on legal aspects of the design and implementation of projects and/or administrative law matters. Provides legal advice to internal committees and interdepartmental meetings, as well as assistance in resolving procedural and substantive issues at meetings.

3. LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS: Prepares, and reviews drafts of, legal instruments, contracts and agreements; internal rules and regulations; and other legal materials related to IFAD's operations. Performs other related duties as assigned by the GC and/or DGC, which may include legal work related to institutional, operations, financial, impact investments, corporate and administrative matters.

4. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: Shares the results of legal research and analysis with colleagues in LEG, and ensures that legal opinions and instruments prepared are readily available for use by colleagues through proper entry in the legal files and/or database of the Office, as appropriate.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of assigned IFAD resources, including, as applicable, staff supervised.

Key Performance Indicators

From the perspective of a seasoned professional, the impact of the work performed has a direct effect on the professionalism of the incumbent and the overall reputation of LEG for high quality work in terms of both substantive depth and adaptive relevance to emerging issues and changing client needs. The impact of actions at this level goes beyond the division. The incumbent follows established procedures but has the ability to make proposals to enhance procedures and systems. Decisions are made on the interpretation of legal texts and the presentation of alternative courses of action to the GC and/or the DGC and the Senior Legal Officer or other requesters of legal advice. Proposals are made concerning the content and approach of research studies, and improvements to agreements, administrative policies and procedures.

Working Relationships

Representational functions of the incumbent include participating in the negotiation of financing agreements and contracts, consulting with counterparts in other organizations related to IFAD's operations, and presenting IFAD's position in interagency meetings and working groups. The incumbent may also be asked to work on administrative law issues and negotiate contracts and/or agreements with relevant counterparts or provide assistance in legal pleadings. The incumbent also represents LEG at interdepartmental meetings.

Work relationships are established and maintained with counterparts, both inside the Fund and in government agencies and other international organizations, to discuss and provide interpretation of legal texts and to render advice and assistance in resolving procedural and substantive matters. Exchange of information typically requires proactivity to clearly establish the policy, positions or practices of the Fund.

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.

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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.

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