K26241- Regional Legal Counsel, Africa (Locally Recruited)

CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow's problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.

For more information, visit cimmyt.org.

The Regional Legal Counsel is an in-house lawyer who provides comprehensive legal support for all CIMMYT operations in the region. This position advises on contracts, legal transactions, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and all other matters relevant to the department. The role ensures effective legal coverage across the region and contributes to the delivery of legal services throughout CIMMYT’s regional operations.

• Execute and coordinate end-to-end contract lifecycle management, including drafting, review, negotiation, amendment, quality control, and archiving of legal agreements such as grants, contracts, NDAs, leases, and other instruments across the Region.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice across multiple jurisdictions, covering corporate, regulatory, labor, tax, administrative, criminal, and litigation matters.
• Support compliance and case management activities, including tracking, documentation, reporting, and timely closure of cases using dashboards and KPI tools.
• Advise internal departments (Research, Finance, HR, Procurement, and Operations) on day-to-day legal matters to ensure compliance, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency.
• Participate in the implementation and monitoring of compliance programs, including policy alignment, training activities, and internal communications.
• Act as a legal focal point between regional teams and Headquarters, ensuring consistency in policy interpretation and visibility of legal risks.
• Research and analyze applicable laws, treaties, and regulations; draft legal opinions, memoranda, and other legal documents to ensure compliance across jurisdictions.
• Ensure monitoring and follow-up of legal requests and service tickets, providing timely updates and ensuring on-time completion.
• Support corporate governance activities, including powers of attorney, minutes, and statutory compliance obligations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement policies and procedures that ensure regulatory compliance and ethical practices.
• Provide strategic legal support to business operations and assist senior counsel on complex matters when required.
• Represent the Legal Department in internal and external forums and support stakeholder engagement.
• Develop and deliver training and educational materials to support institutional policies, procedures, and compliance awareness.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or LL.M. is required.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience as in-house legal counsel in similar roles, preferably in multijurisdictional or regional environments. Experience in regulatory and compliance matters is highly desirable.
• Experience in international non-profit, development, research, or agricultural research organizations is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of regional legal frameworks and ability to work across complex multi-jurisdictional environments.
• Proven ability to provide practical and timely legal advice across all levels of the organization, balancing legal risk with operational needs.
• Strong experience managing high volumes of legal matters under pressure, prioritizing effectively and meeting tight deadlines.
• Excellent organizational, writing, and communication skills, with ability to translate legal concepts into clear language for non-legal audiences.
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat) and willingness to learn new systems.
• High ethical standards with strong confidentiality and discretion.
• Strong attention to detail, sense of urgency, and ability to deliver accurate results with consistent follow-up.
• Excellent communication skills for effective interaction with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in English (C2 level required and assessed).
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and professional discretion.
• Demonstrated competencies in time management, adaptability, teamwork, customer orientation, proactivity, problem-solving, and multicultural awareness.

Benefits

The position is for an initial fixed-term contract of 12 months, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package, with a range of benefits including health insurance.

This position is recruited locally. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the duty station country at the time of application. CIMMYT does not provide visa sponsorship or work permit support for locally recruited staff roles.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.