Principal Legal Officer Job Summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned legal professional to join our team as a Principal Legal Officer.
The successful candidate will be responsible for providing high-quality legal services to staff, including senior managers, on all legal issues related to corporate and commercial matters, contracts, and relations with industry and other stakeholders.
The role requires the ability to conduct high-level negotiations, draft complex agreements, and provide expert legal advice on policy development and enhancement.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in commercial and contractual law, with a minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in practicing law in an international organization.
They will also possess excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively to both internal and external stakeholders.
In addition to their technical expertise, the successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership skills, with the ability to manage a team and coordinate workload effectively.
Responsibilities
* Provide authoritative legal services to WHO staff on all legal issues relating to corporate and commercial matters, contracts, and relations with industry and other relevant stakeholders.
* Conduct high-level negotiations with pharmaceutical and other companies, as well as other relevant stakeholders, on a wide range of issues.
* Draft complex tailor-made agreements which effectively respond to the Organization's needs, contribute to the achievement of its objectives, protect its interests, and avoid exposure to liabilities.
* Provide expert legal advice to WHO senior management on the development and further enhancement of relevant WHO policies.
* Promote the awareness and understanding of WHO senior management and technical staff as well as external parties regarding commercial and contractual legal and policy matters.
* Oversee the drafting and negotiation of relevant agreements with governments, financial institutions and other stakeholders, pertaining to funding to and from the Organization.
* Manage a team of commercial lawyers to the highest degree of professional excellence.
* Coordinate the CCM workload in order to ensure appropriate distribution of work.
* Manage CCM's financial resources and promote the availability of sufficient financial resources so as to allow CCM to be adequately staffed for a smooth, effective and timely response to its workload.
* Protect the Organization's legal interests in specific areas, such as the use of WHO's name and emblem, and general legal questions confronting international organizations.
* Represent the Organization in relevant arbitration proceedings in the corporate, commercial and contractual arena.
Requirements
* An advanced level university degree in law (Masters or equivalent).
* Study or specialization in commercial and contractual law.
* A course in or study of public international law and / or the law of international organizations.
* A professional legal qualification, such as having passed a national bar exam.
* A minimum of 15 years of progressive professional experience in practicing commercial / contractual law in an international organization.
* Proven track record and experience in advising on the legal aspects of, and drafting and negotiating complex contracts and / or other legal documents for, product research and development, intellectual property rights, licensing, confidentiality of data and information, the donation and distribution of, and equitable access to, health related products, financing mechanisms, the hosting and governance of multi-stakeholder partnerships, networks and other collaborative arrangements, and other matters covered by LEG / CCM's area of work.
* Demonstrated experience in actively engaging with senior leaders on complex and strategic matters and develop innovative legal solutions.
* Experience in managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in developing and establishing policies and strategies.
* Proven experience in the presentation and communication of legal considerations to non-lawyers in a practical and solution oriented manner.
Skills
* Ability to provide legal advice and expertise to external stakeholders on commercial and contractual matters.
* Strong communication skills, including the ability to present legally authoritative and complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
* Demonstrated ability to actively engage with senior leaders on complex and strategic matters and develop innovative solutions.
* Excellent skills in analysing and organizing facts, legal and policy considerations and in presenting clear, convincing, politically and practically sensible advice, services and support.
* Ability to coordinate, direct and manage the work of a team with a high degree of independence.
* Ability to provide sound judgement necessary to evaluate risks / benefits / opportunities to WHO, and to protect WHO's interests and avoid costly errors.
* Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
* Teamwork
* Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
* Communication
* Producing results
* Moving forward in a changing environment
* Creating an empowering and motivating environment