Legal Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is a collaborative initiative involving CARE, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, and Plan International, Inc. These organizations are exploring a deeper strategic collaboration known as the Impact Alliance, aimed at increasing impact, efficiency, and local leadership in global assistance. The collaboration is a response to significant shifts in global funding and aims to prototype new ways of working together. Each organization brings its expertise to the table, with a focus on shared procurement and support services, participant feedback tools, and a coordinated approach to working with local partners. The organizations involved have a strong commitment to humanitarian work and operate in multiple countries, leveraging their collective resources and knowledge to enhance their effectiveness in delivering aid and support.

Job Overview:
The Legal Consultant will serve as a vital legal advisor to the in-house counsel of the Impact Alliance organizations. This position is designed to support legal efforts in identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex multi-jurisdictional legal issues that arise from collaborative opportunities among the four organizations. The role requires a strategic thinker with exceptional coordination skills, capable of navigating the intricate legal landscape of multi-organizational partnerships while balancing innovation with compliance. The consultant will work under the joint direction of each organization’s General Counsel or delegate, providing advice and support on a range of legal, regulatory, compliance, or governance matters that arise during Alliance operations. The legal issues addressed may span multiple jurisdictions, including the U.S. and the U.K., necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the legal frameworks in both regions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Consultant will undertake a variety of activities, including:

• Legal Strategy and Advisory: Provide strategic legal counsel on the structure of the Alliance, governance frameworks, dispute resolution mechanisms, and legal risk mitigation strategies across all collaborative opportunities.
• Data Governance, Privacy, and Technology: Develop frameworks for data governance and privacy compliance, ensuring effective information sharing, and structure legal frameworks for AI, digital tools, and emerging technology innovations.
• Intellectual Property & Data Protection: Create intellectual property frameworks and agreements for jointly developed tools and innovations, ensuring a balance between IP protection, data protection, and the imperative of humanitarian knowledge-sharing.
• Procurement: Advise on joint procurement collaborations, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and structuring vendor agreements for collaborative initiatives. Draft and negotiate inter-organizational and vendor agreements that support multi-organization use cases.
• Outside Counsel Management: Identify needs for specialized external expertise, coordinate external legal support, and serve as the primary liaison between Alliance leadership and external counsel.
• Cross-Organizational Coordination: Build relationships and coordinate with legal teams across all four organizations, facilitate legal alignment while respecting independence, develop standardized templates, and provide legal training to program staff. The Consultant will also be responsible for delivering agreed-upon outputs, which may include meeting summaries, agreement templates, and written legal advice and memos.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and active bar membership, or qualification as a solicitor or barrister in England. Candidates should have a minimum of 7-10 years of legal experience, particularly in nonprofit or international development work. Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit governance, partnership structures, financing mechanisms, and donor compliance frameworks is essential. Experience advising on cross-jurisdictional legal issues, including laws and regulations applicable to nonprofit or charitable entities in both the U.S. and the U.K., is also required. Candidates should possess proven experience with data privacy, intellectual property, and technology-related legal issues, along with strong drafting, project management, and cross-functional coordination skills. The ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder legal projects and provide practical, solutions-oriented advice is crucial. A strategic thinker with a collaborative and innovative approach to building consensus across diverse stakeholders is preferred.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and have an active bar membership or be qualified as a solicitor or barrister in England. This educational background is essential for understanding the legal frameworks and regulations that govern nonprofit and international development work, particularly in the context of multi-jurisdictional legal issues.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7-10 years of legal experience, with a strong emphasis on nonprofit or international development work. Candidates should have a proven track record of advising on complex legal issues, particularly those that span multiple jurisdictions, and should be familiar with the legal challenges faced by nonprofit organizations in both the U.S. and the U.K.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is essential given the nature of the work and the jurisdictions involved. Additional language skills may be beneficial, particularly in contexts where the organizations operate in non-English speaking regions, but English remains the primary language for communication and documentation.

Additional Notes:
The position is part-time and requires immediate availability. The timeframe for deliverables will be agreed upon with the Consultant. The Consultant will report to the General Counsels or their delegates of the Impact Alliance organizations, with contracting, payment, and coordination managed through Mercy Corps’ Legal Department, supervised by Mercy Corps’ General Counsel. The role emphasizes collaboration and engagement with the Impact Alliance Project Manager and stakeholders, highlighting the importance of teamwork and effective communication in achieving the objectives of the Alliance.