Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel

SPC – Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Suva, Fiji

The role – Legal Counsel will play a key role in maintaining the integrity of SPC’s governance framework and SPC’s internal legal functions through provision of advice on employee relations, contracts, funding arrangements, matters of international law and other legal issues. The Legal Counsel plays a critical role in improving and embedding SPC’s internal regulatory framework, working collaboratively with SPC staff members in all SPC locations to help achieve SPC’s strategic objectives, implement operational policies and manage organisational change.

The key responsibilities of the role include

Research and Advice

• Provide specialised legal advice, both written and oral, to all SPC divisions on SPC’s internal governance and legal framework.
• Prepare and review memoranda, instruments, contracts, templates and other legal documents.
• Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, briefs, reports and correspondence.
• Handle a wide range of issues relating to international law, international administrative law and the relationship between international and domestic law as it impacts SPC’s operations.

Policy, Guideline, Contract Development and Review

• Contribute to mitigating SPC’s legal risk through continued development and improvement of policies, guidelines, templates and processes.
• Contribute to components of the review, design and updating of SPC governance documents, policies and guidelines.

Outreach, Education and Training

• Provide outreach, education and training and raises awareness of SPC’s governance framework, legal obligations and responsibilities to SPC staff and members.
• Mitigate SPC’s legal risk through education and training.
• Contribute to the development and presentation of training on governance and legal issues, processes and policies to multi-level audiences across SPC.

Collaborative Working

• Build strong collaborative relationships internally throughout SPC and with external stakeholders. Participates in the development of “One OMD for one SPC”.
• Participate actively in a collaborative and supportive environment within the Governance and Legal Affairs Team and across SPC.
• For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in law.
• Meets the professional requirements to practice law in one (1) or more jurisdictions of an SPC member country or territory, or similar legal system.

Technical expertise

• Demonstrable experience and understanding of legal issues facing inter-governmental agencies.
• At least 5-6 years PQE in providing legal advice on legal, governance, and organizational issues.
• Experience in a development organization.
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills.
• Excellent legal analytical skills.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in the legal systems of the member countries and territories of SPC.

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with a working knowledge of French being an advantage.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.

Apply Now