The Regional Legal Counsel serves as an in-house legal advisor, offering full-spectrum legal guidance to support all operational activities of CIMMYT within the designated region. The position involves providing counsel on contract negotiations, legal transactions, risk evaluation, regulatory adherence, and other pertinent legal matters. This role is responsible for maintaining robust legal oversight across the region and plays a key part in ensuring the efficient delivery of legal services throughout CIMMYT’s regional operations.
Execute the full scope of contract lifecycle management from initiation to completion, overseeing drafting, review, negotiation, amendment, quality assurance, and secure archiving of legal agreements—including grants, contracts, NDAs, leases, and other instruments—on a regional basis.
Deliver strategic, commercially-focused legal guidance spanning various jurisdictions, encompassing corporate, regulatory, labor, tax, administrative, criminal, and litigation issues.
Support compliance and case management functions by maintaining precise tracking, thorough documentation, and accurate reporting, ensuring cases are resolved promptly through the use of dashboards and KPI tools, ultimately facilitating timely case closure.
Provide guidance to internal departments—including Research, Finance, HR, Procurement, and Operations—on routine legal issues to uphold compliance, minimize risks, and enhance operational effectiveness.
Engage in the development, execution, and oversight of compliance initiatives, encompassing policy integration, educational programs, and internal outreach efforts.
Serve as the primary legal liaison between regional offices and Headquarters, maintaining uniform policy interpretation and ensuring transparency regarding potential legal risks.
Conduct comprehensive examinations of relevant statutes, international accords, and regulatory frameworks, then prepare authoritative legal opinions, memoranda, and documentation to verify adherence across multiple jurisdictions.
Monitor and follow up on legal requests and service tickets diligently, delivering prompt updates and guaranteeing timely completion to meet deadlines and maintain efficiency.
Facilitate corporate governance functions by preparing and managing powers of attorney, maintaining accurate meeting minutes, and ensuring adherence to statutory compliance requirements.
Partner with diverse teams across the organization to design and execute policies and procedures that uphold regulatory standards and maintain ethical integrity.
Deliver strategic legal guidance to business operations and collaborate with senior counsel on intricate matters as needed.
Serve as a liaison for the Legal Department in both internal and external settings while facilitating and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders.
Design and instruct training programs and educational resources to ensure institutional policies, procedures, and compliance standards are clearly understood and adhered to by all staff.
Requirements
A master’s degree or LL.M. is mandatory for this position.
A minimum of eight years of professional experience as in-house legal counsel in comparable positions, ideally within multijurisdictional or regional frameworks, is required. Demonstrated expertise in regulatory and compliance-related matters is strongly preferred.
Proficiency in international non-profit, development, research, or agricultural research organizations is beneficial.
Proficient in navigating diverse regional legal frameworks and adept at operating within intricate, multi-jurisdictional settings.
Proven ability to provide practical and timely legal advice across all levels of the organization, balancing legal risk with operational needs.
Proven track record in overseeing substantial caseloads in fast-paced legal environments, skillfully balancing competing priorities while consistently delivering results within stringent time constraints.
Demonstrated proficiency in organization, writing, and communication, with a talent for simplifying complex legal terminology into accessible language tailored for non-legal stakeholders.
Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat, with a strong aptitude for mastering new software systems and technologies.
Maintaining unwavering ethical standards, coupled with a firm commitment to confidentiality and discretion, is essential.
Demonstrates meticulous attention to detail, maintains a proactive sense of urgency, and consistently produces precise results with thorough follow-up.
Strong interpersonal and communication abilities are essential for facilitating productive engagements with stakeholders both within and outside the organization.
Fluency in English at a C2 level is mandatory and will be evaluated.
Demonstrates unwavering commitment to safeguarding sensitive information and exercising sound professional judgment in all interactions.
Proven proficiency in time management, adaptability, teamwork, customer orientation, proactivity, problem-solving, and multicultural awareness.
Qualifications
MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
8 years
