Description:

Position Summary:
The General Counsel serves as a legal advisor to the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) providing both strategic and operational legal support to the Board and management across IFDC's global operations. The role requires balancing Board-level advisory responsibilities with timely legal guidance to internal functions.

The position operates with a high degree of independence, including direct access to the Board Chair and Audit & Risk Committee (ARC) Chair for sensitive matters.

Responsibilities:
Board Governance & Advisory

Serve as legal advisor to the Board on governance, compliance, and fiduciary matters;
Conduct research on emerging legal issues and advising the Board accordingly;
Participate in Board meetings and provide legal perspectives on strategic issues;
Ensure appropriate balance between Board-related support and broader organizational legal needs.

Legal Advisory & Contract Management

Provide accurate, timely and practical legal counsel to management on a variety of topics, including corporate governance, compliance, risk management, and employment law;
Prepare, review, advise and negotiate a wide range of commercial documents including contracts, agreements, and partnerships;
Analyze and review contracts to ensure alignment with organizational interests;
Interpret and recommend updates to constitutive documents, policies, and internal frameworks.

Compliance, Risk & Global Legal Oversight

Ensure IFDC complies with statutory and regulatory requirements across all operating jurisdictions;
Monitor adherence to applicable laws and regulations, including corporate governance and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) related requirement;
Identify potential legal risks and develop strategies to mitigate them including advising on Directors' and officers' insurance and other risk management policies;
Plan and implement statutory annual legal and governance audits to ensure compliance with relevant statutory requirements;
Provide legal oversight across multiple jurisdictions, particularly in Africa and Asia, reflecting the organization's operational footprint;
Support legal matters in francophone jurisdictions where applicable.

Litigation & External Counsel Management

Develop legal strategies aimed at solving disputes, controversies and litigation;
Represent IFDC in litigation and various legal matters either personally or through instructions to law firms engaged for that purpose;
Liaise with external lawyers and regulatory bodies/agencies on compliance related issues;
Oversee litigation including managing external legal counsel and controlling legal costs;
Optimize engagement with external counsel across jurisdictions. Recognizing IFDC does not rely on a single global law firm.

Policy, Training & Internal Enablement

Assist in drafting and reviewing internal policies to ensure they comply with legal standards and best practices;
Educate board members and staff on legal issues and compliance requirements to ensure awareness of their responsibilities;
Support compliance training and awareness initiatives across the organization;
Contribute to strengthening governance processes and internal compliance mechanisms.

Requirements:

Academic Qualifications
University degree in Law or a closely related field;
Master's degree in law or business administration or any other relevant field is considered as an added advantage;
Minimum of 7 years' post admission experience in legal services, with at least 3 years in a senior management role.

Professional qualifications:

Must be a licensed attorney and member in good standing of a recognized bar association;
Strong background in international legal frameworks, including familiarity with the regulatory and policy environments in multiple jurisdictions, particularly across Africa and Asia;
Experience working with NGOs and in international contexts is a strong asset;
Familiarity with U.S. legal and regulatory frameworks is a strong asset (not mandatory);
Proficiency in both English and French preferred.

Professional Membership
Membership in the Law Society of the relevant jurisdiction.

Key Skills

Excellent drafting skills and negotiation skills;
In-depth understanding of corporate governance and compliance issues;
Ability to clearly identify and convey legal issues and risks;
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills;
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, follow through and meet statutory and other deadlines;
Ability to constitute, lead and motivate teams for optimal productivity;
Exceptional analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills;
Ability to operate independently while engaging effectively with senior leadership and the Board.

Reporting and Work Relationships
This position will report to the president and CEO.

Location:
This is a national recruitment with a duty station in Alabama.