Associate General Counsel

Role Title:  Associate General Counsel

Contract Type: Regular

Reporting To: Legal Division Director, Program Advisory

Program/Department/Unit Name: Office of General Counsel

Location: Nairobi

Team Name: Program Advisory

Role Purpose

The Associate General Counsel is the first point of contact for the Programs teams within OGC and brings in other subject matter expert divisions within OGC as needed. It provides advice on local laws, enabling consistency across Programs as well as local calibration of risk tolerance. 

Key responsibilities

As Associate General Counsel you will:

• Act as a strategic partner to enable effective planning to maximize impact and realize strategy within regulatory framework and organization-wide policies/standards/processes including understanding the work of the assigned Programs and identifying, and anticipating where possible, legal needs 
• Coordinate delivery of legal and regulatory support to the Programs in collaboration with other OGC divisions and/or external counsel when needed and coordinating advice as appropriate to ensure it is fit for the organization
• Provide legal advice and counsel to the Programs including but not limited to advocacy, grant-making and contracting.
• Undertake, if assigned, legal work related to corporate transactions (including services agreements, consultancies, leases, software agreements, vendor agreements, and financial transactions), and general non-profit corporate advice.
• Ensure compliance with applicable local jurisdictional requirements governing inter alia NGO activities, foreign funding, lobbying, transparency requirements, regulated periods and defamation Monitor/understand the Programs' contexts, strategic priorities, challenges and issues, local legal and political changes, to facilitate the OGC's offering of support priorities/enhancements for the coming period
• Facilitate contextualization of organization-wide organizational standards/processes/policies and risk tolerance; Engage and instruct external counsel when needed and co-ordinate advice as appropriate to ensure it is fit for the organization

People Responsibilities (Total Team/DRs)  

None

Key internal relationships

Program teams

Key external relationships

External counsel providing advice in local jurisdictions where OSF operates

The ideal candidate

• Law degree or equivalent from an accredited university (law school)
• Admission to practice law in the Open Society global office location in which you would be based
• A minimum post-qualification experience of 5 years at a law firm and/or in-house, including experience with acting as a generalist legal counsel, interacting both with common law and civil law systems
• Experience and record of accomplishments with drafting and negotiating in matters requiring keen attention to detail with excellent follow-through  
• Experience with providing legal advice on a range of matters including one or more of the following: advocacy, grant making (international or US), corporate transactions (including services agreements, consultancies, leases, software agreements, vendor agreements and financial transactions), general non-profit corporate advice (including establishment of entities and governance), intellectual property, defamation and data protection issues  
• Experience engaging and instructing external counsel when needed and coordinating advice as appropriate to ensure it is fit for the organization
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (verbal and written) legal and strategic advice with stakeholders who are not lawyers including in a virtual environment 
•  A practical, business-oriented approach to problem-solving, tempered by an appreciation for legal complexity and risk
• Demonstrated ability to apply creative thinking, strong judgment and analytical skills, combined with a record of integrity, professional discretion and the ability to work under pressure, prioritize and handle sensitive/confidential matters
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, with experience managing inter and intra organizational relationships in complex organizational environments

What we offer

• Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts. 

• Excellent benefits and perks to promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance, including: 

• Generous time off and flexible work arrangements. 

• Employer-paid health insurance and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required). 

• Exceptional retirement savings plan (non-contributory for employees) and life insurance. 

• Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and much more. 

• A commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact. 

Who we are 

Open Society Foundations aim to establish vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their citizens. Our operating model organizes grantmaking around specific, time-limited projects, developed alongside support for established partners, enabling us to respond swiftly to emerging needs. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideals and practice; and advancing equity in governance systems. 

Guided by our founder's values and the belief in the art of the possible, we engage directly with global entities, individuals, and policymakers through grants, advocacy, impact investing, and strategic human rights litigation to drive positive change. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to rights, equity, and justice, inspiring every action we take. 

Additional information

Open Society Foundations is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively seek applications from talented individuals across all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences. Each candidate is evaluated solely on their unique qualifications without regard to race, age, sex, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, or any other legally protected characteristics. 

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. 

Competitive rates of pay apply.

Open Society Foundations is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues and communities that our mission serves. Candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities and communities are encouraged to apply.   

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.