Chief Counsel, Legal Operations Policy

Chief Counsel, Legal Operations Policy

Job #:

req21664

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Legal

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:

3/22/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

World Bank Group. The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the world's largest sources of development assistance and global expertise for developing countries. WBG consists of five institutions that specialize in different aspects of development: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank: the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). For additional information, please visit http://www.worldbank.org

With twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity, the WBG works in more than 100 developing economies to improve living standards and to fight poverty. For each of its clients, the WBG works with government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to formulate assistance strategies. A network of offices worldwide delivers the programs in countries, liaises with governments and civil society, and works to increase understanding of development issues. The World Bank is owned by 189 member countries whose views and interests are represented by a Board of Governors and a Washington, DC-based Board of Directors. With more than 150 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data.

Legal Vice Presidency. In the context of the World Bank's broad development agenda, the Legal Vice Presidency (LEG), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel (SVP-GC), is responsible for providing legal advice and support to internal and external Bank clients on operational, advisory, financial, administration, and institutional matters.

Chief Counsel - Legal Operations Policy: Responsibilities and Accountabilities

The Chief Counsel, Legal Operations Policy (the Chief Counsel) oversees and manages the Legal Operations Policy unit of LEG (LEGOP). The Chief Counsel reports to the SVP-GC and works in close coordination with the Deputy General Counsel, Operations.

LEGOP provides advice and expertise on operational policies in support of the development, implementation, and application of operational policies, as well as provision of advisory and specialized legal services (including elaboration of global public goods), as described below. LEGOP works closely with Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS) and other corporate as well as operational units, as well as with LEG Management, and provides additional, topic-specific advice and assistance to country lawyers regarding operational policies and specialized legal advice as they relate to specific financing operations.

The Chief Counsel manages LEGOP and its staff in furtherance of its responsibilities. The Chief Counsel's duties and accountabilities include the following:

LEG support for Operational Policies

• Provide legal advice and support to, and collaborate with, OPCS on the design, implementation and interpretation of the Bank's mandate and operational policies closely coordinating with Chief Counsels of Regional units, LEGDF, LEGEN, LEGFI and LEGIA.

• Provide advice and support to the SVP-GC, Deputy General Counsel Operations, LEG Management and LEG staff on the interpretation and application of the Bank's operational policies as they relate to strategies, knowledge products and specific operations to support operational Chief Counsels and operational lawyers in the effective interpretation and application of operational policies in Bank operations, working in coordination with the Chief Counsels of other LEG units responsible for specific areas of law and policy, including LEGDF, LEGEN, LEGFI and LEGIA.

• Convene and consult regularly with LEG Management to exchange ideas regarding the strategies, priorities, pipelines, feedbacks, and systemic issues and [legal] risks facing concerns of client departments, member countries and other stakeholders to inform the organization, planning and work of LEGOP.

• Lead the work to design and implement legal and policy-based initiatives and other activities to modernize, simplify and harmonize the Bank's operational policy framework and documentation and contribute new or innovative approaches to policy and operational issues, including when responding to crises.

• Prepare, update, and modify the model forms for all Bank financing operations in coordination with LEG units responsible for specialized legal and policy aspects related to Bank financing; and ensure coordination of developments in model forms with LEG's contract management system.

Procurement

• Supports operational procurement as part of the fiduciary function set forth in the ADM for operational procurement matters under the Procurement Framework, as well as provides advisory services in connection with country procurement systems.

Advisory and Specialized Services

• Organize and oversee the cultivation, development, and deployment by LEGOP staff of special areas of expertise required in Bank Operations or corporate matters in areas with its expertise (e.g., public procurement, managing inter-institutional operational conflicts of interest, digital development (including data protection, cybersecurity and combatting cybercrime, and E-Commerce), resilience and crisis preparedness and response or other sectors or thematic areas).

Legal Risk Framework

• Oversee the design and implementation of a Legal Risk Methodology and Framework to identify and assess legal risk in the Bank and to develop systems and training to embed a risk-based approach in the delivery of legal services, and periodically report on these issues.

• Monitor operational legal risk for the General Counsel, Senior Management and the Board and participate in the Operational and Enterprise Risk Committees.

• Report on legal risks within LEG and to client departments through a variety of fora and means. Chair the Technical Risk Committee, charged with providing: (a) technical inputs to the content of the Legal Risk Framework, (b) inputs to the periodic review and rating of the legal risk management system and, (c) validating portfolio level legal risk ratings.

Knowledge and Systems

• Oversee and manage or support, as appropriate, a strategic approach to the collection, maintenance and accessibility of accumulated knowledge acquired by LEG Operations staff, including knowledge-capture and knowledge-sharing across LEG and beyond, working in close collaboration with the LEG Management Team.

• Collaborate and support staff training on Operational and Policy matters, working closely with the LEG Learning Committee and other Chief Counsels.

• Manage and support knowledge-sharing and thought-leadership by LEG staff on operations policy both internally within the World Bank Group and externally in publications, conferences and trainings and in coordination with other multilateral development banks and working in close coordination with the Lead Counsel Global Knowledge and Research.

• Devise and support systemic solutions for the delivery of legal services in operations such as contract lifecycle management tools and eSignature and other technologies to advance the effectiveness and efficiency of LEG.

• Promote the creation and dissemination of knowledge on operational policy issues such as toolkits for operational units on new and emerging issues.

• Promote the creation and dissemination of knowledge of the results and lessons learned from legal advisory services, in coordination with relevant Units within LEG.

Broader institutional role

• Represent LEG on relevant committees and at relevant meetings organized or chaired by the VP OPCS or other departments in coordination with relevant Units within LEG.

• Represent LEG and work in collaboration with relevant units within LEG in provision of institutional advice and legal representation to the Board's Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE).

• Provide legal support to the Independent Evaluation Group.

• Provide legal advice and support to the Global Practices, as appropriate.

• Engage with Executive Directors and the Corporate Secretariat from time to time, as needed.

• Consult and advise Senior Management and the Senior Management Team, Vice Presidents, and Directors of the Bank, as appropriate.

• Consult, advise and collaborate closely with OPCS, as appropriate.

• Consult and collaborate closely with the legal teams in International Finance Corporation (IFC) and The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency ("MIGA") on operations policy matters.

• Collaborate and consult with officials in Government, legal departments in other international financial institutions and multilateral development banks in relation to matters falling within the remit of the Chief Counsel, LEGOP, coordinating as needed with LEG Management and other Chiefs Counsel.

Other Responsibilities

• The Chief Counsel shall take on such other or different responsibilities and assume such reporting lines as may be designated from time to time by the Senior Vice President and General Counsel.

Selection Criteria

- At least 12 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience.

- Expertise and knowledge of World Bank Group and International Financial Institutions preferred; in-depth knowledge and experience with World Bank Group operations will be a strong advantage.

- Proven ability to provide leadership on a wide variety of Bank operational matters combined with a record of intellectual leadership and accomplishments that demonstrated an ability to provide senior management, internal and external clients with technically excellent, innovative, timely and practical advice and solutions to meet the needs of the Bank's strategic and operational priorities and particular transactions, and to resolve highly complex legal issues.

- Demonstrated strategic planning skills, in-depth understanding of legal and relevant Bank operational and other policies and risks, and capacity to guide development of policies and strategies.

- Exceptional people management skills and a demonstrated ability, and experience in, working with or leading a large team with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.

- Exceptional leadership skills, including leading transformative change, and highly developed coaching, mentoring and advisory skills, as well as the ability to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and experience across a large, diverse, and complex organization.

- Proven track record of building and supervising teams, achieving mutually supportive, a team-oriented mindset across a large unit, and creating an enabling work environment that delivers results.

- Proven ability to effectively work with colleagues and integrate the work of multiple business units covering diverse activities.

- Receptivity to feedback and constructive criticism; outstanding written and verbal communications skills.

Values,Leadership and Managerial Competencies

* Demonstrated commitment to the World Bank Core Values for WBG and a proven track record of fostering a strong and healthy culture of diversity, inclusion, teamwork, honesty, trust, openness, integrity, and accountability

* Demonstrated ability to be sensitive to issues around race, gender, ethnicity, inclusion, and intersectionality.

* Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire staff to perform and deliver for better results; help others achieve their fullest potential through coaching and mentorship and ensure that they are appropriately acknowledged for their accomplishments.

* Demonstrated commitment to the Bank's mission, and ability to work towards WBG's corporate targets for successful outcomes.

* A strong results-oriented mindset.

* Ability to take informed risks and make tough decisions in a timely and transparent manner resulting in transformative impact for clients.

World Bank Managerial Competencies.

Note: If the selected candidate is a currentWorld Bank Group Staff Member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/hewill retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. If the selectedcandidate is a current World Bank Group Staff Member with a Term appointmentthat expires later than the end date of this appointment, s/he will retain theduration of his/her current Term appointment.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.