Back Legal Counsel

Grade: IS - 4

Deadline: 10 October 2022 (11:59 PM KST)

Location: Songdo, Incheon, South Korea

Job Category: International

Salary: USD 114,600 net (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as appliable): Relocation, dependency, education assistance and home country travel)

The mission of the Green Climate Fund is to assist developing countries to respond to climate change while bringing prosperity to their people. Established in 2010, the GCF invests in transformational climate projects in the developing world. The Fund makes an ambitious contribution to global climate action and channels significant financial resources into developing countries to help build low-emission and climate-resilient societies. It is country-driven and undertakes actions that reflect the circumstances of each country concerned and its national aspirations. The GCF is a key enabler of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Since its establishment, the GCF has approved 200 projects in 141 countries and has committed USD 10 billion in climate finance. In addition, it has built up an extensive program to support developing countries to identify their needs, in particular, those who are most vulnerable to climate change impacts. The GCF’s diverse workforce is advancing its mission from its headquarters in South Korea. Our talented staff makes unique contributions to the Fund, enriching the institution through their combined expertise and professional commitment.

Position Objective

The Legal Counsel will be part of the Office of the General Counsel providing legal support to the entire Fund, primarily to the Fund’s Readiness Programme, on operational matters, specifically on the drafting, reviewing and negotiating of readiness and project preparation facility legal agreements and financing agreements; conducting legal due diligence in connection with readiness, project preparation facility and funding proposals; and preparing legal advice on the interpretation of statutes, contracts and other legal documents.

Duties and responsibilities

Purpose

• Review of readiness and project preparation facility proposals;

• Draft, review and negotiate legal documents and legal arrangements required by the Fund for its readiness operations, and ensure they are coherent with best practice and the legal framework of the Fund;

• Draft and review documents (policies, templates, instructions, guidelines) under the legal framework of the Fund especially as they relate to the Readiness Programme;

• Review of project funding proposals and legal documents required by the Fund for its operations, and ensure they are coherent with best practice and the legal framework of the Fund as well as negotiating these arrangements/agreements and other legal documents required by the Fund for its operations;

• Conduct and review legal due diligence in connection with the proposed funding structures;

• Participate in GCF’s Board meetings and other events and meetings of the GCF. This may include the preparation of relevant documentation, supervision of the work done by Associate Counsels, consultants and interns, and making presentations;

• Demonstrate solution-oriented behaviour and the ability to think critically and creatively so as to resolve complex issues which arise from time to time in the course of transactions; and

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

  Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Deputy General Counsel and the General Counsel, as relevant.

  Engagement

  • Provide legal assistance to the Readiness Working Group (RWG) or such other body or unit which performs the functions of the RWG;

  • Provide legal support to other divisions on matters relating to the operations of the Fund, primarily to the readiness operations;

  • Provide legal support and advice to Associate Counsels, consultants and interns within the Office of the General Counsel;

  • Keep abreast of developments in all relevant legal fields and particularly in relation to multilateral finance;

  • Liaise with other offices and departments within the GCF in order to assess and address their requirements, to advise on the drafting of legal documents;

  • Supervise and review the work performed by Associate Counsels, consultants and interns.

    Delivery

    • Collate information on key activities of the Readiness Program and maintain a database of such information;

    • Develop internal controls and procedures for the various activities of the Fund, primarily in relation to the Readiness Programme;

    • Timely delivery of review of readiness, project preparation facility and funding proposals and other legal documents necessary for the Fund’s legal and policy framework;

    • Thorough, accurate and timely delivery of due diligence reports;

    • Apply creative solutions to common issues which arises in transactions from time to time;

    • Keep the senior officers within the Office of General Counsel abreast of the latest trends/developments in multilateral finance; and

    • Provide sound and practical legal advice on the legal policy framework and advice regarding the operations of the Fund, primarily as they relate to the Readiness Programme.

      Required experience and qualifications*

      • Juris Doctor, LLB, or equivalent law degree (a higher degree in law is an advantage);
      • Qualification to practice law in at least one jurisdiction;
      • At least nine (9) years of relevant work experience practicing law related to public law, international organizations and/or in cross-border transactions involving debt and/or equity with a well-recognized law firm, an international financial institution and/or a development institution and at least six (6) years’ experience related to providing legal support to capacity development or project preparation in international or regional contexts;
      • Experience working on novel areas of law, or innovative and/or complex financial transactions is an advantage;
      • Solid legal drafting skills specifically of drafting financing, co-financing and grant agreements;
      • Experience developing, drafting and interpreting institutional policies is an advantage;
      • Experience liaising with, and advising, senior members of staff; experience advising management is an advantage;
      • Experience managing the work of lawyers and interns;
      • Experience in, or working with, developing countries;
      • Emotional intelligence and values-driven work ethic; and
      • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential for this position; knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

        *The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references. Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged.