Business Unit: Legal Affairs.

Location of Assignment: The role will be home based with expected travel to the CGIAR System Organization Headquarters in Montpellier, France.

Duration: Full-time / Start Date: 15 February 2024 – End Date: 31 December 2024.

About CGIAR

CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food-secure future. CGIAR is composed of various international organizations – 15 CGIAR Research Centers and the CGIAR System Organization. In what can be characterized as a highly dynamic operating environment, the System Organization plays a key stewardship role in its support to CGIAR’s multi-faceted governance structure, serving also as the lead contracting partner for the disbursement of substantial multilateral financial resources to CGIAR’s research Centers.

Requirements

Objective and Scope of Work:

CGIAR’s next business cycle will be 2025-2027. It is anticipated that a new financial model to support the CGIAR research portfolio for this next business cycle will be adopted in the 2nd quarter of 2024, and will require changes to the current CGIAR funding-related legal agreements as well as the development of new legal agreements and other legal documentation.

A drafting group representing various CGIAR stakeholders (including funders) will be formed to develop the required legal agreements, agreement templates and other legal documentation, in a way that reflects:

(1) the new financial model,

(2) any other changes made to the governance, operational, financial and programmatic model of CGIAR since the last agreements were concluded, and

(3) any other recommended improvements.

The drafting group’s specific tasks are as follows:

(1) Develop ‘ready-for-review’ new templates and other related documents

(2) Develop a consultation plan to guide the review and consultation process

(3) Liaise to gather input, process input, refine drafts with relevant stakeholders, including:

· Relevant Global Groups (e.g., Business Operations and Finance, Grants and Contracts, Resource Mobilization, Legal, Governance, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Ethics)

· Senior Leadership Team

· Board Chairs Network, working through the Common Secretariat

· System Board

(4) Prepare final drafts for approval by the governance bodies.

The expected deliverables of the drafting group are the following:

(1) A roadmap with planning, steps, and approval of the new templates, and

(2) Approved new agreement templates and agreements.

Responsibilities:

Under the general supervision of the Director, Legal Affairs, System Organization, and strategic oversight of CGIAR’s Global General Counsel, the Senior Legal Advisor’s key duties will include the following:

• Lead or actively participate in the drafting group, ensuring that all of its tasks and deliverables, as described above, are met in a timely manner in accordance with the agreed timetable,
• Draft high-quality legal documents and communications,
• Develop training materials in connection with the new templates, and
• Perform other duties as required and/or as may be assigned.

Qualification Skills & Experience (IC or Project Team):

Essential:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in law
• At least ten (10) years of professional experience in handling matters relating to the legal aspects of, and issues arising from, financial transactions, including drafting and negotiating agreements
• Excellent drafting skills, particularly legal agreements
• Excellent organizational and collaboration skills
• Political and cultural sensitivity
• Fluency in English, both written and oral.

Desired:

• Experience working with/in international organizations and/or international financial institutions
• Experience drafting and negotiating financing agreements with different types of donors and beneficiaries (e.g., governments, private sector including foundations, international organizations, civil society organizations, etc.)

Benefits

CGIAR willmake necessary travel arrangements.

CGIAR is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-colour, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary, collegial working environment, with a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and flexible working arrangements. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.