General Counsel (Legal Advisor)

General Counsel

Permanent, Full Time – 40 hours per week

Location – Remote working, UK based, with occasional travel to UK offices and international programmes

Salary – circa £75,000 depending upon experience

Job Level – 4.1

About The HALO Trust

HALO is the leading global NGO addressing the impact and drivers of conflict in 28 countries and territories, with over 11,500 staff. Most of our staff are local employees and include a growing number of women. Our primary duty is to serve people affected by conflict, clearing landmines and the explosive remnants of war that threaten lives and livelihoods long after fighting has finished.

We make land safe where war has ended, while also assisting those affected by active conflict and endemic violence. HALO addresses human suffering caused by armed violence in some of the world’s most fragile places, securing weapons and ammunition and working with both state and community actors to reduce the prevalence of armed violence.

About the role:

HALO is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced organisation lawyer who will be responsible for providing a range of legal services to The HALO Trust, including legal, risk and governance advice to the Chief Executive, Management Team, and the Board of Trustees, as well as supporting our leadership team in considering and drafting contracts, compliance, procurement matters and general legal advice.

The role requires managing a varied and demanding workload, running multiple projects, drawing on colleagues within and outside of HALO. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the individual will play a key role in supporting the company’s operations, ensuring HALO is well placed to pursue its ambitious plans for growth, and maintaining, strengthening our legal frameworks, including systems and controls.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide professional and robust advice and/or solutions to complex and wide-ranging legal, risk and governance matters as they arise (labour law, partnerships, international operating, corporate finance).
• Act as the lead and/or providing assistance to the senior leadership team in relation to contracts litigation, disputes and claims.
• Collaborate with management to devise efficient defence strategies.
• Research and evaluate different risk factors regarding business decisions and operations.
• Provide advice and manage complaints, litigation and legal issues on the establishment and maintenance of contracts.
• Apply effective risk management techniques and offer proactive advice on possible legal issues including pre-contract and post-contract projects where necessary
• Communicate and negotiate with external parties (regulators, external counsel, public authority etc.), creating relations of trust.
• Draft and solidify agreements, contracts and other legal documents to ensure the company’s full legal rights.
• Develop, implement and keep up to date Legal and Risk Management policies, procedures, practices and Risk Registers, in association with best practice ensuring compliance with organisational governance guidance.
• Support and maintain up-to-date databases and other electronic contract filing systems.
• Provide clarification on legal language or specifications to HALO.
• Act as company secretary to the HALO UK and US Boards.

 

General

• Uphold HALO’s core values and standards, promoting its ethos and mission statement
• Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all HALO policies and procedures and keep informed of HALO activities
• Maintain a motivated and effective working environment within the directorate

Who we’re looking for:

Essential:

• Qualified lawyer with a minimum of 5 years of post-qualification experience
• Strong background in corporate law, with knowledge of contract law, corporate governance, and compliance
• Experience in advising on legal matters within an international organisation
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts clearly and concisely
• Attention to detail and the ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks effectively
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Commitment to the mission and values of The HALO Trust
• Flexibility to travel globally to any of HALO’s worldwide programmes as required

 

Desirable:

• Experience in managing external legal counsel is preferred
• International experience within the INGO sector preferred

Benefits of working at HALO:

• Salary circa £75,000 depending upon experience
• Annual Leave: 28 days (3 to be used at Christmas) plus 8 statutory holidays
• Non-contributory life assurance (3 x salary)
• Private medical health cover
• Pension contributions matched by HALO up to 5%
• Emergency medical insurance when travelling overseas
• Flexible working policy

Please submit a CV (2-3 pages) and a cover letter (no more than 1 page) outlining how your experience matches the key skills and competencies required by 7th February 2024. We reserve the right to amend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.

The HALO Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

 

The HALO Trust is committed to a culture that is both diverse and inclusive and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

 

The HALO Trust is committed to ensuring that it provides a safe and trusted environment which safeguards and promotes the welfare and well-being of anyone who comes into contact with, or is part of, the Charity, with a zero-tolerance approach to behaviours which challenge this.