Senior Counsel

Senior Counsel

Job #:

req23588

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Legal

Grade:

GG

Term Duration:

3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:

8/14/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

Description

The Legal Vice Presidency (LEG) of the IBRD, under the Senior VicePresident and Group General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal supportto internal and external World Bank clients on operational, advisory andcorporate matters.

The Institutional Administration Practice Group (LEGIA) provides a wide rangeof legal advice to internal clients throughout the World Bank Group. LEGIA isresponsible for managing the Bank's external litigation worldwide, ensuring theprotection of the Bank's privileges and immunities. LEGIA also represents theWorld Bank management in internal employment litigation before the World Bank'sAdministrative Tribunal by preparing written pleadings and, when necessary,participating in oral proceedings that can include oral arguments of points oflaw, as well as evidentiary proceedings involving the examination of witnesses.

LEGIA provides legal advice on a variety of matters throughout the Bank and,with respect to some matters, also to IFC, MIGA and ICSID. LEGIA also advisesthe World Bank management on ethics and employment matters, includingcompliance with the Staff Rules and Principles of Staff Employment as well asalternative dispute resolution mechanisms. LEGIA acts as counsel to the Boardof Directors, including on personnel and administration matters, primarilythrough the Board's Human Resources Committee and the Committee on Governanceand Administrative Matters. LEGIA also advises the World Bank Group's Strategy,Performance, and Administration Unit, including on procurement matters. Itadvises the GCS Department on real estate as well as other matters. It acts ascounsel to the Bank's Office of External and Corporate Relations, as well asother Bank units on a variety of intellectual property issues, includingtrademark infringement, trademark registration, and copyright, as well asemerging social media issues. LEGIA also advises the Bank's Human ResourcesVice Presidency on the formulation of employment, compensation and benefitspolicies and the application of those policies to specific cases.

The selected candidate will report to the Chief Counsel, LEGIA.

Roles & Responsibility:

The Senior Counsel will work under the general supervision of the ChiefCounsel, with day-to-day guidance provided by one or more Lead Counsels workingin the same practice specialties.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Senior Counsel will be expected to perform the following tasks:

• Work as a lawyer in the Institutional Administration Practice Group, whichprovides legal advice and services throughout the World Bank Group, includingfor the Regional Vice Presidencies, the HR Vice Presidency, the ITS VicePresidency, the Integrity Vice Presidency, the GCS Department, the ECR VicePresidency, the Office of Ethics and Business Conduct; the Strategy,Performance, and Administration Department, as well as to IFC, MIGA and ICSIDregarding institutional administration areas.

• Be able to independently draft and revise pleadings and submissions to theBank's Administrative Tribunal

• Work independently and effectively with tact and diplomacy to forge consensuson establishment agreements, both among World Bank Group entities and withgovernment counterparts.

• Independently handle one or more of the various practice areas of the unit,including corporate sanctions, human resources, tax, Pension Plan-related legaladvice, management of national court litigation and commercial arbitration, andcorporate procurement contract review, inlight of international organization immunities and status.

• Maintain good client relations through a demonstrated ability to resolvedifferences across boundaries, find common ground, and understand the needs andconcerns not only of the World Bank as an institution but also of the variousunits within the Bank, as well as of third parties.

• Handle independently and professionally a diverse variety of other projects,as necessary, relating to transactions, policy issues, and miscellaneousmatters coming to the unit, as requested by the Chief Deputy General Counsel.

• Provide expert legal advice to the Bank's Pension Plan and Retirement Funds.

• Perform ad-hoc assignments as requested by the Chief Deputy General Counsel.

Selection Criteria

Required Education/Experience:

• Graduate or Post-graduate degree in law: All applicants must haveobtained a (post-) graduate degree in law - J.D, L.L.M., PhD. orequivalent, and must be qualified to practice law in at least onejurisdiction.

• A minimum of eight years of legal-related work experience, at the time ofapplication, is required

Required Competencies:

• Adversarial Proceedings

Possesses demonstrated ability to engage in adversarial proceedings, includingdrafting of written advocacy before courts or other adjudicatory bodies, andcross examination; review of commercial contract provisions. Somelitigation experience is highly desirable. Experience managing externallitigation also a plus.

• Independence

Carries out complex work with due care independently, preparing accuratedocuments and reports, ensuring that pertinent facts and arguments are fairlypresented. Interprets information in an objective manner, exercisingprofessional skepticism when required. Respects confidentiality of informationand work.

• Professional Maturity

Understands the institutional context of assignments, and respects others andthe reasons for their behavior. Takes the time to clarify others' points ofview so that progress can be made particularly in situations of stress orconflict. Respects different points of view, especially in a multiculturalenvironment, is never condescending or arrogant.

• Legal Reasoning

Demonstrated skill in legal reasoning, including breaking down problems intotheir component parts, and issue spotting. Articulates the implications ofsituations in a step by step way. Remains objective when reviewing problems orsituations to understand the issues. Makes sure he/she collects and verifiesfacts before reaching a conclusion. Can simplify complex fact patternsand is able to explain them to others.

• Legal Research, Drafting, and Communication

Independently drafts documents (e.g., legal agreements, contracts, policydocuments, and novel documents and instruments) as assigned with limitedsupervision. Conducts research as necessary. Is aware of the need for precisionand focus on accuracy and quality. Demonstrates a writing style that is clearand precise.

• Legal Negotiation

Is able to negotiate independently. Is aware of the need to be diplomatic whenworking with others particularly when the issues are complex; uses goodjudgment in interactions with clients. Makes sure s/he has all the necessaryinformation and data available to enter meaningful negotiations. Workseffectively with some supervision on straightforward negotiations.

• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries

Collaborates across organizational boundaries, internally and externallywith a sense of mutuality and respect. Consistently engages others inopen dialogue, brings out any conflicting viewpoints and incorporatesviewpoints into solutions, giving credit where credit is due. Leveragesexpertise of all team members to ensure successful outcomes. Makeschoices and sets priorities with a WBG corporate perspective in mind.

• Effective Time Management

Manages competing demands effectively, prioritizes work demands, managesmultiple competing demands on a consistent basis, without becoming frustratedor overwhelmed.

• Delivery of Results for Clients

Develops and implements solutions that show understanding of how clientsand/or own work achieves results that are financially, environmentally andsocially sustainable. Shares new insights based on in-depth understandingof the client and recommends solutions for current and future needs ofclients. Holds self and team accountable for risk management andoutcomes.

Other Selection Criteria:

• Experience in human resources benefits, tax, ERISAand Pension Plan issues is highly desirable,

• Experience advising on governance issues in International organizations,including advising Board members, is desirable,

• Languages: Fluency in English (oral and written) is essential. A goodcommand of Spanish or French would be a strong advantage in the recruitment process.

• Nationality: Applicants must be citizens of a member country of theWorld Bank to be eligible and satisfy all other hiring conditions related toemployment at the World Bank.

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.