Principal Counsellor Governance  

Purpose of Job

Working under the supervision of the Associate Director, Governance, the Principal Counsellor will be responsible for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of country and regional economic governance programmes to help accelerate the transition process and strengthen the investment climate in the Bank’s Countries of Operation, with a particular focus on providing expert legal advice on institutional capacity building programmes. In addition, the Principal Counsellor will lead on the implementation of a high profile investment climate programme in Moldova financed by the EU, as well as developing the Bank’s economic governance portfolio across Central Europe and the Baltic states and in other relevant CoOs across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia as required.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

1)    Effectively manage Reform Support Team Programme in Moldova implemented by the EBRD on behalf of the EU.

•    Coordinate and manage all aspects of the EU-financed Reform Support Team Programme in Moldova, ensuring its smooth operation and alignment with EU and EBRD objectives.
•    Facilitate collaboration among various stakeholders, including government bodies, local authorities, partner organizations, and the EU, to ensure cohesive implementation and achievement of RST Programme goals.
•    Strategically allocate resources, both financial and human, to support the programme’s initiatives effectively and maximise their impact in Moldova.
•    Establish mechanisms to monitor and assess the programme’s performance, tracking key indicators and milestones to evaluate its success and identify areas for improvement.
•    Regularly report on the progress of the Reform Support Team Programme to the donor and relevant stakeholders regarding programme’s achievements and challenges.
•    Implement adaptive strategies to address emerging challenges or changing circumstances, maintaining flexibility in the programme implementation, while staying aligned with overarching goals.

2)    Identify, design and implement country and/or regional governance and investment climate programmes in coordination with other teams in CGPA and PSD and across the Bank (Banking, the Office of the Chief Economist, the Office of the Chief Compliance Officer, the Legal Transition Team, and Procurement), and with a range of external private and public sector stakeholders.

•    Analyse investment climate and governance challenges in the EBRD countries of operation and provide governance-related contributions to technical assistance projects, briefings, country diagnostics, country strategies and other relevant documents as required.
•    Carry out effective implementation of existing CGPA projects in relevant EBRD Countries of Operation, including leading on project administration, procurement and contracting arrangements and project reporting, liaising with internal and external stakeholders as required. 
•    Lead on the identification, development and effective implementation of new CGPA projects in relevant EBRD Countries of Operation, including the preparation of ToRs and budget and securing necessary internal approvals. 
•    Identify potential donors and mobilise funds to support relevant CGPA projects, in collaboration with the Donor Co-Financing team.
•    Take forward policy dialogue on investment climate issues in relevant EBRD Countries of Operation; participate in internal and external conferences and other events at the appropriate level; help establish and maintain close cooperation with internal and external colleagues working on investment climate and good governance in relevant EBRD Countries of Operation.
•    Other ad hoc responsibilities on request. 

3)    Provide legal advisory support to EBRD institutional capacity building programmes across Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia regions

•    Reviewing and analysing legal frameworks, regulations, and policies related to EBRD institutional capacity building programmes across EBRD countries of operation to identify potential legal risks, develop compliance strategies, and implement measures to mitigate these risks.
•    Providing guidance to ensure that EBRD institutional capacity building programmes in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia regions comply with local laws, regulations, and international legal standards.
•    Coordinating with the Office of the General Counsel on drafting, reviewing, and negotiating legal agreements related to EBRD programmes with donors as well as addressing any regulatory challenges arising with EBRD institutional capacity building programmes in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia regions. 
•    Continuously monitoring legal aspects of EBRD institutional capacity building programmes, carrying out periodic legal due diligence, and providing recommendations to ensure compliance and effectiveness with a view to pre-empt or address legal challenges promptly as well as refining EBRD strategies for existing and future institutional capacity building programmes.
•    Other ad hoc responsibilities on request.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications
•    At least one postgraduate degree in a relevant field, such as economics, politics, law, public policy or political economy.
•    A postgraduate degree in law.
•    Significant hands-on experience with project management and coordination of complex donor funded projects (including financial administration, procurement, internal and external reporting, stakeholder management and working with donors) related to policy development and reform implementation.
•    Hands-on policy experience in one or more EBRD recipient countries; experience working in other international organisations on economic governance and legal matters as well as in private sector is a plus.
•    Hands on experience providing legal advisory support on institutional capacity building in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia regions.
•    Excellent analytical skills and understanding of investment climate, political economy and economic governance challenges in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, particularly in Moldova, as well as experience in working to address them.
•    Experience managing projects in a multi-cultural environment and delivering results.
•    Ability to operate independently in political, diplomatic and business environments; diplomatic skills required for regular contact with senior national and international officials.
•    Excellent communication and report writing skills in English.
•    Strong partnership and team working skills.
•    Fluency in English and Russian is essential; knowledge of other languages, including Romanian, is an advantage.

What is it like to work at the EBRD?

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people’s lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in. 

The EBRD environment provides you with:

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in;
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity;
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital  transformation at the heart of what we do.

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.  As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.

Right to Work in the UK: Swiss nationals (and all other non-UK employees) can work in the UK without a Visa – working at the EBRD gives all employees “exempt status”. The Bank however encourages all non-UK employees to obtain an Exempt Vignette (EV) prior to relocating to the UK, as without an EV you may face more questions at Border Control and when required to show evidence of their exempt status when renting accommodation under the Right to Rent legislation. The application process may take 3 – 4 weeks approx. outside of the UK. 

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