Senior Counsel (Institutional)

Grade: IS-5
Deadline: 23 March 2025 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 145,000 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable)): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

Introduction
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. The GCF has a portfolio of 286 projects across 133 countries, with a total commitment of USD 15.9 billion to date.

In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 

GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.

 
You will be able to quickly scan and analyze complex, competing issues and lead significant sized teams to find solutions in evolving contexts, across multiple geographic locations. 

You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.

You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.

You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people. 
 

Position Objective
Office of the General Counsel (OGC) advises the Board, the Executive Director and all operations and administrative departments of GCF, as well as the independent units, on legal matters. Its purpose is to support GCF in achieving its mission as set out in the Governing Instrument and to deliver on its Strategic Plan, in a manner consistent with GCF’s legal framework while recognizing its considerable risk appetite, in order to support developing countries.

OGC provides practical, solution-oriented, and timely legal advice in order to maximize the impact of GCF interventions and safeguard the rights and interests of GCF, taking into account GCF’s unique role as a catalyzer for climate action 

OGC is led by the General Counsel, and three Associate General Counsels, who together make up the OGC management team. 

The Senior Counsel will assist the Associate General Counsel – Institutional in coordinating the legal work related to the institutional matters of the Fund. This includes legal advice and support on GCF’s governance framework, human resources matters, intellectual property, privileges and immunities, policies, instructions, guidelines as well as draft board decisions.  The Senior Counsel will also play an integral role in mediation, arbitration and litigation. S/he will provide legal advice and support relating to the drafting, reviewing and negotiating of agreements in non-project and operational matters in with which the fund is engaged.

Purpose 

• Assist the Associate General Counsel – Institutional in coordinating the work of the institutional team regarding administrative legal matters, including matters related to GCF’s Governing Instrument, procedural rules, human resources, intellectual property, and procurement;
• Assist the Associate General Counsel - Institutional in negotiating international agreements, including those relating to GCF’s privileges and immunities, as well as all contractual arrangements with counterparties that do not involve project or grant activities. This includes memoranda of understanding, and other general cooperation agreements;
• Creatively resolve complex issues which arise from time to time in the course of institutional governance; 
• Keep abreast of developments in the legal field especially in relation to international administrative law; and
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Associate General Counsel - Institutional and the General Counsel.

Engagement

• Provide legal support to other teams and departments on matters relating to institutional reforms and governance issues affecting GCF; 
• Coordinate, under the supervision of the Associate General Counsel - Institutional, the work of Counsels, consultants and interns within the institutional team of the Office of the General Counsel;
• Provide legal support and advice to Counsels, consultants and interns within the institutional team of the Office of the General Counsel;
• Participate in GCF’s Board meetings and other GCF events and meetings. This may involve: the preparation and review of relevant documentation; supervision of the work done by Counsels, consultants and interns; and making presentations to internal and external bodies;
• Liaise with other offices and departments within the GCF in order to assess and address their requirements, and advise on legal issues and documents.

Delivery

• Timely and thorough review of agreements relating to the institutional matters affecting GCF’s operations;
• Applying creative solutions to common issues which arise in GCF institutional matters from time to time;
• Sound and practical legal advice on the institutional and administrative operations of GCF within the context of its regulatory framework;
• Effective supervision of the work product in respect of officers under his/her charge.

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law. A first level university degree in law in combination with the required work experience plus two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree; 
• Qualification to practice law in at least one jurisdiction;
• At least 11 years of relevant work experience practicing public international law, including international administrative law and/or international civil servant law with a well-recognized law firm, an international organization, government, and/or a development institution;
• Experience working and advising on employment relations, dispute resolution, litigation, organizational governance, administrative law, contract law, sanctions, data privacy and intellectual property law; additional experience working on novel and/or innovative areas of law, an advantage;
• Solid legal drafting skills – experience in drafting rules, regulations, policies and guidelines within the context of an internal governance framework;
• Experience liaising with, and advising, senior members of staff; experience advising management is an advantage;
• Experience managing the work of lawyers and interns is an advantage;
• Experience in, or working with, developing countries; and
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential for this position; knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.
   

The closing date for application is 23 March 2025. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

*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 to apply.