As the Regional Legal Counsel, this in-house position delivers full-spectrum legal guidance to support all regional activities of CIMMYT. The role involves advising on contracts, legal transactions, risk evaluation, regulatory adherence, and other pertinent legal matters for the department. By ensuring robust legal protection across the region, the position strengthens the delivery of comprehensive legal services throughout CIMMYT’s regional operations.
Oversee the complete contract lifecycle management process, overseeing each stage from drafting and reviewing to negotiating, amending, ensuring quality control, and archiving legal agreements. This role involves managing a variety of instruments, including grants, contracts, NDAs, leases, and other relevant documents, across the designated region.
Deliver strategic legal guidance tailored to commercial objectives, spanning diverse jurisdictions and addressing corporate governance, regulatory compliance, employment law, taxation, administrative procedures, criminal law, and dispute resolution.
Assist in ensuring compliance and managing cases by overseeing tracking, documentation, and reporting processes, as well as facilitating the timely resolution and closure of cases through the utilization of dashboards and KPI tools.
Provide guidance to internal teams, including Research, Finance, HR, Procurement, and Operations, on routine legal issues to uphold compliance, reduce risks, and enhance operational effectiveness.
You will be responsible for supporting the execution and oversight of compliance initiatives, encompassing policy integration, training programs, and internal communications strategies, to ensure adherence to regulatory standards and organizational policies.
Act as the primary legal liaison between regional teams and Headquarters, maintaining uniform policy interpretation and enhancing the visibility of legal risks.
Conduct thorough research and analysis of relevant laws, treaties, and regulations, then prepare legal opinions, memoranda, and other documentation to ensure adherence across multiple jurisdictions.
Monitor all legal requests and service tickets, ensuring they are tracked and followed up on, and provide prompt updates while guaranteeing they are resolved by the designated deadlines.
Facilitate corporate governance functions by managing powers of attorney, preparing meeting minutes, and ensuring adherence to statutory compliance requirements.
Partner with diverse teams across the organization to design, refine, and execute policies and procedures that uphold regulatory standards and foster ethical conduct.
Offer strategic legal guidance to business operations and collaborate with senior counsel on intricate legal issues as needed.
You will act as the primary liaison for the Legal Department, interfacing with both internal teams and external parties to foster productive stakeholder relationships. This role involves representing the department’s interests in various forums while ensuring effective communication and alignment with key stakeholders.
Create training and educational resources to enhance understanding of institutional policies, procedures, and compliance requirements, ensuring organizational adherence and awareness.
The position necessitates a candidate with a minimum of five years of experience in a relevant field, proficiency in specific software tools, and a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, along with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities are required to effectively engage with team members and stakeholders. Familiarity with industry regulations and best practices is also expected, as is a commitment to continuous learning and professional development. Prior experience in a supervisory or leadership role would be advantageous.
A master’s degree or LL.M. is mandatory for consideration.
Minimum requirement includes eight (8) years of in-house legal experience in comparable positions, ideally within multijurisdictional or regional frameworks. Proficiency in regulatory and compliance-related issues is strongly preferred.
Proficiency in international non-profit, development, research, or agricultural research organizations is highly desirable.
Demonstrates in-depth expertise in local and regional regulatory frameworks, with proven capability to navigate and operate effectively within intricate, multi-jurisdictional legal landscapes.
Demonstrates a strong track record of delivering accurate, actionable legal guidance to stakeholders at every organizational level, effectively weighing legal considerations against operational priorities.
Skilled at overseeing large caseloads of legal matters while maintaining composure under tight deadlines, with a proven ability to prioritize tasks efficiently and deliver results on schedule.
Excellent organizational abilities, strong writing proficiency, and effective communication skills are required, with the capacity to distill complex legal concepts into accessible language for non-legal stakeholders.
Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat, with a strong aptitude for mastering new software applications and systems.
Maintaining rigorous ethical standards alongside exceptional confidentiality and discretion is essential.
A meticulous approach to tasks, a proactive sense of urgency, and a commitment to delivering precise outcomes with thorough and consistent follow-up are essential.
Proven ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with both internal teams and external partners to facilitate collaboration and achieve organizational objectives.
Fluent English proficiency, equivalent to a C2 level, is required and will be evaluated.
Required is the ability to uphold high standards of confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment at all times.
Proven abilities in managing time efficiently, adapting to changing circumstances, collaborating effectively within teams, prioritizing customer needs, taking initiative, resolving issues, and demonstrating sensitivity to multicultural contexts are essential.
Qualifications
MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
8 years
