Senior Legal Counsel

Job Purpose

The Legal Corporate Transactions Section (LCTS) is one of the two Sections of the Legal Finance & Administrative Division (LFAD).

The Senior Legal Counsel will work on legal corporate related matters, including corporate procurement activities of the IsDB, and all internal administrative legal issues of IsDB. The Senior Legal Counsel will proactively identify legal risks related to corporate transactions and administrative activities and provide legal advice in the best interest of IsDB. The Senior Legal Counsel will be responsible for carrying out a wide range of relatively complex legal assignments and providing senior level legal expertise and advice (considering relevant policies, guidelines, and regulations) to support LCTS/LFAD in the performance of its role and mandate, according to the prevailing Organizational Manual of the Bank (as may be changed from time time), which broadly includes the provision of legal advisory services and support in connection with:
1- Preparation, review, and negotiation of diverse institutional affairs-related legal documentation (agreements, contracts, and instruments) of IsDB and IsDBi.

2- Support in all human resource matters including recruitment, administration of staff benefits, and contract negotiations.

3- Every institutional procurement activity of the Bank, including real state property, procurement of various services necessary for the administration of the Bank, procurement of IT hardware and software, and other capital investment activities.

4- Drafting, review, and implementation of all legal agreements related to the activities of the management of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Project for Utilization of Hadi and ADAHI, and similar programs, and facilitating responsive action to changing circumstances.

Key Accountabilities
**Legal Services Provision (Based on Senior Level Input and Expertise)**:

- Advise on the implementation and/or interpretation of administrative/corporate instruments, including among others Corporate Procurement Policy and Guidelines, Presidential instructions, staff pension policies, Staff Regulations, Rules, etc.
- Advise on issues related to the privileges, immunities, and exemptions of the IsDB with respect to the corporate contracts and activities.
- Negotiate, draft, review and prepare corporate contracts, IT contracts, real-estate lease agreements, sales contracts, NDAs, MOUs, and any other similar legal instruments and provide a legal opinion on their implementation.
- Draft agreements and ancillary documents and negotiate them with external stakeholders in various jurisdictions.
- Provide full legal support to the internal units of the Bank including IsDB regional offices, Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBi) and the Trust and Special Funds managed by IsDB and facilitate responsive action to changing circumstances.
- Participate in the conceptualization and development of the corporate legal policies, procedures and programs and provide counsel and guidance on legal matters and on legal implications of all matters related thereto.
- Ensure that the Bank complies with host country Agreements, applicable laws and regulations in different jurisdictions and keep abreast of legislative changes that may affect the Bank.
- Provide legal expertise, research, and knowledge services, and guidance relating to relevant areas of expertise.
- Coordinate and follow-up on the work of external legal counsels engaged to provide legal services to the Bank in legal matters related to corporate and administrative activities.
- Any other legal services/tasks that may be required in respect of the functions and role of the Section/Division.

**Operational Excellence & Knowledge Share**:

- Keeps abreast with the latest developments, regulations and leading practices in the field and propose necessary improvements.
- Propose and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance of the related operations.
- legal expertise, research, and knowledge services, and guidance relating to relevant areas of expertise.
- Support in the preparation and submission of periodic reports as per management requirements.

Academic and professional qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in law.
- Admissibility to the bar (or diploma to practice law) of a Member Country or any other jurisdiction acceptable to IsDB.
- Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in law firm or in-house experience in similar role.
- Expertise in contract law, civil procedures, Corporate Law, and Public and Private International Law.
- Master's degree / PhD in relevant field is preferred.

Skills & Necessary Knowledge
- Legal advisory
- Legal drafting and contracting
- Legal service delivery
- Regional Law and Shariah Compliance Norms
- Negotiation skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Crisis management
- People management
- Analytical thinking
- Problem solving
- Attention to detail
- MS Office skills.