Save the Children International
Legal Counsel
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Legal Counsel
Legal Counsel
Save the Children International
Save the Children International seeks a Legal Counsel to join our global Legal team, providing high-quality, strategic legal advice and support across our operations and 54 Country Offices.
About the Role
As a Senior Legal Counsel, your role involves collaborating with Save the Children’s international programme delivery teams to ensure legal compliance while driving impact.
Core Purpose
The Legal Counsel will advise Save the Children’s 5 Regions and Global Teams (including Transformation Delivery, HR, Procurement, and Finance) on:
- Legal risks associated with programming, procurement, awards, and finance.
- Global governance requirements.
- High-value, complex contracts with Governments, NGOs, and private partners.
- Humanitarian crises and organizational reforms.
This is a dynamic role involving cross-functional engagement, mentorship responsibilities, and agile working (including flexible hours during emergencies).
Key Responsibilities
Advisory & Strategic Support
- Provide timely, pragmatic legal opinions to Country Offices (option to serve as a Regional Legal Business Partner).
- Advise Global Teams and senior leadership on legal risk, governance, and cross-border compliance.
- Support corporate-wide legal matters, including:
- Scaling international programmes, particularly in humanitarian crises.
- Interpretations of internal legal frameworks.
- Collaboration with external legal advisors and stakeholders.
Contract Management & Negotiation
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts/agreements (e.g., partner frameworks, procurement agreements, sanctions compliance documents).
- Support Supply Chain and Transformation Delivery functions (e.g., managing high-value, complex commercial contracts).
- Ensure compliance with international law, fraud, sanctions, and anti-terrorism regulations.
Team Leadership & Professional Development
- Lead or mentor junior team members, fostering collaboration and training initiatives.
- Manage pro bono legal partnerships with firms.
- Develop risk-mitigation tools and training programmes.
Operational Responsibilities
- Maintain flexibility for emergency or crisis response (including unforeseen workload adjustments).
- Candidates with expertise in procurement or technology-led transformation projects may lead additional initiatives.
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Job Details
Position Specifications
- Reports To: Deputy General Counsel or a senior Legal Team member.
- Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible scheduling.
- Location: Any approved Save the Children office; GMT +/- 3-hour time zone required.
- Contract Type: Permanent position.
- Workers’ Rights: Must have the legal right to work in the assigned location.
- Languages: Proficiency in English. Knowledge of French, Arabic, or Spanish desirable.
- Management: 0 to 1 direct reports. Formal/informal team leadership required.
Check [SCI Careers](SCI Careers) for the full list of approved locations.
Principal Accountabilities
Advising & Engagement
✅ Deliver high-standard legal counsel to Country Offices and Global Teams. ✅ Serve as a Regional Legal Partner (if needed) and represent SCI on cross-border legal matters. ✅ Advise on legal frameworks for humanitarian crises, partnerships, and organisational changes. ✅ Interpret and apply legal and regulatory insights for SCI’s programmes.
Contractual & Compliance Oversight
✅ Draft, negotiate, and review contracts (partner agreements, procurement, goods/services contracts). ✅ Ensure alignment with SCI’s internal legal principles, including:
- Anti-corruption, sanctions, and anti-terrorism compliance.
- Fraud prevention measures (collaborating with the SCI Benitingah Compliance Team). ✅ Advise on data protection, intellectual property, and HR-specific legal matters.
Team Leadership & Development
✅ Mentor/supervise junior attorneys (informally/formally). ✅ Design and deliver training on legal risk management for SCI teams. ✅ Foster pro bono partnerships with external law firms.
Education & Experience
Essential
🔹 Post-qualification legal experience (~ mid-level) in:
- General corporate/commercial, charity, dispute resolution, or regulatory law. 🔹 Proven business partnering skills—align legal strategies with operational priorities. 🔹 Ability to prioritise tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment with high stakeholder demand. 🔹 Techno-legal adaptability—apply complex expertise to practical problem-solving. 🔹 Strong cross-cultural communication, especially with global stakeholders. 🔹 Colloquial fluency in English (protected interests). 🔹 Compassionate resilience—maintain calm under pressure during crises. 🔹 Alignment with Save the Children’s mission, values, and DEI commitments.
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Desirable
🌍 Experience in international development, NGOs, or UN organisations. 🔧 Qualifications/proficiency in:
- Employment, finance, data protection, and commercial dispute resolution. 🌐 Experience working in diverse jurisdictions and/or instructing international legal counsel. 🎓 Qualifications from Common Law systems (UK/EU), but non-Common law lawyers welcomed. 📚 Area-specific expertise (e.g., Supply Chain, procurement, technology-led transformation).
Culture & Benefits
Why Save the Children?
🌐 A global force for children, leveraging 25,000+ employees across 116 countries. ✨ Mission-driven with unwavering transparency and a drive toward Ambition for Children 2030. 🤝 Inclusive, collaborative culture, celebrating diversity, equity, and innovation.
Core Commitments
✔ Ethics & Safeguarding—all roles undergo rigorous background checks. ✔ DEI Leadership—we actively seek talent from underrepresented groups. ✔ Child Protection—every employee adheres to global safeguarding standards. ✔ Flexible & Creative Workspaces—hybrid/honisita trait flexibility to accommodate priorities. ✔ Purposeful Growth—everyone contributes to transformational change for children.
DEI Commitment
🔹 Save the Children is dedicated to diversity and sourcing talent that reflects at-risk communities. 🔹 Reasonable adjustments available at all application stages. 🔹 Unbiased evaluation of merit, skills, and cultural fit.
Application Process
🔎 Required Submission: CV + Cover Letter attached.
Key Milestones
- Early Application: Applications review on a rolling basis.
- Interview Stages:
- Two-stage competency-based interviews.
- Possible assessment/case study or third round.
- Pre-Employment: Selection requires background checks (CAIE/Code of Conduct).
📌 Disclaimer: Save the Children does not charge fees at any hiring step.
Full role specifications and application protocols available at [SCI Careers](SCI Careers).
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