The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, is an international non-governmental organization that promotes children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries

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Legal Counsel (Maternity Cover)

Job TypeFull Time

QualificationBA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA

Experience5 years

LocationNairobi

Job FieldLaw / Legal

Principal Accountabilities

Delivering high quality and professional advice and support to SCI Country Offices and Global Teams on a diverse range of legal issues, including:

• Acting as the Legal Business Partner to SCI Country Offices in the West and Central Africa region (and/or other regions), providing timely, pragmatic and solutions-oriented legal support.
• Advising Global Teams and senior stakeholders on matters of global scope or implication, including on legal risk and governance-related matters;
• Advising on the legal aspects of scaling up programming operations, in particular, in a humanitarian crisis;
• Advising on issues arising under Save the Children’s own internal framework;
• Managing advice from and relationships with SCI’s external legal advisors and helping SCI stakeholders to interpret and apply such advice;
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of contracts (including partnership agreements, goods and services contracts, and other legal frameworks with Governments, multi-lateral agencies, United Nations agencies, private sector and other NGOs), including providing advice and legal support to other Global Teams Business Partners, Country Office and Global Teams stakeholders and wider Save the Children constituents;
• Identifying opportunities for training and new legal tools to manage and mitigate organisational risk, developing and delivering such training and tools;
• Lead legal team initiatives, for example relating to managing and fostering pro bono law firm relationships, identifying training and mentoring opportunities within the legal team;
• Advising on legal compliance areas such as fraud, sanctions and anti-terrorism, either working in conjunction with SCI’s legal compliance team or independently (as required and as appropriate); and
• Undertake line management if required (formal or informal) and/or mentoring of more junior members of the team.

Experience and Skills

Essential

• Post-qualification experience gained in a reputable private practice or in-house legal team in one or more of the following areas of law: general corporate/commercial, charity/not-for profit, dispute resolution, regulatory.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong prioritisation skills.
• Ability to work independently, requesting support where needed and using initiative to tackle new areas of law with confidence.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate with people at all levels and across different cultures.
• Calm disposition, constructive approach and positive outlook, particularly when working under pressure.
• Team player, with a full appreciation of the value of collaboration.
• Commitment to the mission, vision and values of Save the Children.

Desirable

• Proficiency in French (written and spoken).
• Experience in one or more of the following areas of law: employment, finance, data protection, intellectual property or dispute resolution.
• Experience operating in a range of jurisdictions, including instructing overseas counsel.
• Experience in the international development / humanitarian and/or charity sectors.

Education and Qualifications

• UK or common law qualified lawyer or barrister
• 5+ years PQE

• Acting as the Legal Business Partner to SCI Country Offices in the West and Central Africa region (and/or other regions), providing timely, pragmatic and solutions-oriented legal support.
• Advising Global Teams and senior stakeholders on matters of global scope or implication, including on legal risk and governance-related matters;
• Advising on the legal aspects of scaling up programming operations, in particular, in a humanitarian crisis;
• Advising on issues arising under Save the Children’s own internal framework;
• Managing advice from and relationships with SCI’s external legal advisors and helping SCI stakeholders to interpret and apply such advice;
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of contracts (including partnership agreements, goods and services contracts, and other legal frameworks with Governments, multi-lateral agencies, United Nations agencies, private sector and other NGOs), including providing advice and legal support to other Global Teams Business Partners, Country Office and Global Teams stakeholders and wider Save the Children constituents;
• Identifying opportunities for training and new legal tools to manage and mitigate organisational risk, developing and delivering such training and tools;
• Lead legal team initiatives, for example relating to managing and fostering pro bono law firm relationships, identifying training and mentoring opportunities within the legal team;
• Advising on legal compliance areas such as fraud, sanctions and anti-terrorism, either working in conjunction with SCI’s legal compliance team or independently (as required and as appropriate); and
• Undertake line management if required (formal or informal) and/or mentoring of more junior members of the team.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong prioritisation skills.
• Ability to work independently, requesting support where needed and using initiative to tackle new areas of law with confidence.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate with people at all levels and across different cultures.
• Calm disposition, constructive approach and positive outlook, particularly when working under pressure.
• Team player, with a full appreciation of the value of collaboration.
• Commitment to the mission, vision and values of Save the Children.
• Proficiency in French (written and spoken).
• Experience in one or more of the following areas of law: employment, finance, data protection, intellectual property or dispute resolution.
• Experience operating in a range of jurisdictions, including instructing overseas counsel.
• Experience in the international development / humanitarian and/or charity sectors.

• UK or common law qualified lawyer or barrister
• 5+ years PQE
• Post-qualification experience gained in a reputable private practice or in-house legal team in one or more of the following areas of law: general corporate/commercial, charity/not-for profit, dispute resolution, regulatory.