Position title: Lead Legal Counsel, Public Sector
Grade: PL-2
Grade: PL-2
Reference: ADB/010/80
Closing date: 06/07/2010
Objectives
The principal objective of the Legal Services Department is to protect the interests of the Bank. In this connection, the Department provides the legal services required by the entities constituting the Bank Group, and ensures that the Bank Group’s activities and operations are consistent with the respective constitutive and other legal instruments, as well as applicable law.
Duties and responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Division Manager, GECL.1, the incumbent will:
- Provide technical leadership to a cluster of counsel delivering legal support to the public sector operations of the Bank Group;
- Prepare standard documentation for public sector financing products;
- Ensure that the Division is appropriately linked to knowledge sharing networks and is fully apprised of good, innovative theory and practice in development law, and in this regard, will organize meetings and seminars to deepen the relevant technical capacity of the Division;
- Assist the Division Manager in coordination and quality control of the legal services provided by the Division in support of the public sector operations of the Bank;
- Lead in drafting public sector legal strategies, in co-operation with other Lead Counsel as assigned;
- Structure complex transactions in a manner that is consistent with the mandate, structure and policies of the Bank;
- Lead, as assigned, the negotiations of the terms of the financing with the representatives of the recipient and, if necessary to the success of the transaction, make appropriate revisions to the standard financing documentation to accommodate the operations of the recipient;
- Lead and coordinate, as assigned, the drafting or reviewing of financing documentation, including loan agreements, guarantee agreements, as well as other legal instruments necessary in the Bank’s public sector work;
- Liaise with other co-financiers, if any, as part of the legal due diligence and ensure that the Bank Group’s terms are appropriate;
- Carry out such other duties as may be assigned by the General Counsel and the Division Manager.
Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience
- At least a Master’s degree or its equivalent in Law, plus admission to the Bar of (or diploma to practice law ) in a member country; or a first university degree plus a relevant combination of academic qualification in Law (e.g. Juris Doctor (JD) plus admission to the Bar of (or diploma to practice law ) in a member country;
- Preferably at least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience, with an established international law firm, or an international financial institution with proven technical competence and experience in development law;
- Proven competence in Project Finance, International Finance, Corporate Law, Development and Public International Law;
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, team building, inter-personal, writing and analytical skills;
- Competence in the use of standard software applications;
- Ability to communicate and write effectively in English and/or French with good working knowledge of the other language.
Only applicants who fully meet the Bank’s requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit (preferably electronically, to: recruit@afdb.org) a fully completed Personal History Form (PHF), available from the Bank’s web site, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) indicating date of birth and nationality.
The President, ADB, reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level.
The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
