Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)

Legal Counsel

Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: London • United Kingdom

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Salary

💰 £63,790 per year

Job Level

Junior

About the role

  • As a legal expert, provide up-to-date, professional advice to the Sector Teams, on a variety of matters relating to programme issues, legal and regulatory concerns, programme governance issues, conflicts of interest, commercial contracts and consultancy contracts., to support the development of initiatives.
  • Advising on appropriate legal structures for programmes, including work with external counsel and other stakeholders where appropriate.
  • Leading the contract drafting and negotiations process with CIFF’s grantee organisations in children’s development and climate change, as well as related service activities (monitoring and evaluation contracts, consultants) and commercial transactions.
  • Advising and supporting on governance and programme management issues, particularly project approval processes (including our grant management software).
  • Managing CIFF’s suite of standard contract templates and where relevant and as needed updating them to reflect business need or changes to laws.
  • Provide input to any specific legal strategies that are developed as part of projects or more generally as party of CIFF’s strategy and business plan.
  • Closely collaborating with the Head of Programme Governance to review legal compliance and risk on programmes and designing appropriate legal structures for programmes, including work with external counsel where appropriate.
  • Closely collaborating with the respective Director leading Legal Risk & Compliance on matters related to compliance and risk
  • Take the lead, when required, on corporate, cross-cutting initiatives and projects, as required by the Executive Team, General Counsel or other stakeholders.
  • Supporting due diligence on CIFF’s proposed grantees.
  • As a recognised legal expert, provide advice and specialist guidance to colleagues (within and beyond the Legal team) to deepen the skills, capability and professionalism of the organisation.
  • Conducting staff training sessions, developing know-how and streamlining processes, ensuring that everyone in the organisation is kept informed of regulatory and compliance matters that affect their work but may also enable more efficient programme design and delivery.
  • Developing and maintaining relationships with CIFF’s law firms across the world and staying updated on changes to laws / legal development effecting CIFF and its work.
  • Developing knowledge sharing relationships with CIFF’s key partners, including grantees and co-funders.
  • Participating in cross-organisation groups and committees on behalf of the Legal team.
  • Assisting the General Counsel from time to time on arrangements related to CIFF’s financial endowment and investment management relationships.
  • Keeping abreast of legal developments and issues that could be relevant to CIFF and its work by horizon scanning, maintaining information gathering network relationships and channels to deepen professional knowledge and skills.
  • Providing added value, commercial and legal advice on relevant aspects of programme design and delivery.
  • Providing advice and support to sector teams in the context of relationships with partners and other stakeholders to ensure they remain effective and collaborative.
  • Ensuring compliance with Charity Commission audit and financial best practice.
  • Review the processes and procedures in place across the Legal team, to identify and implement improved ways of working that increase operational effectiveness and efficiency.

Requirements

  • UK qualified solicitor
  • UK and/or US not-for-profit sector experience desirable
  • Strong personal motivation to work in the not-for-profit sector and interest in international development
  • Ability to think critically and analytically to draw sound conclusions in the context of complex programmes.
  • Ability to provide commercial and technically accurate advice.
  • Experience of working with SMEs and transaction management in a corporate, funds or financing law context desirable would also be of value
  • Good understanding of effective governance models and risk management frameworks
  • Ability to work unsupervised and under pressure
  • Willing to adapt to changing priorities, and flexible enough to respond to the demands of a growing organisation
  • Possess strong interpersonal skills and work well as a team player
  • A flexible and friendly attitude with the willingness to learn and enjoys working in a high achieving environment
  • Excellent English written and oral communication skills
  • Excellent attention to detail essential
Benefits
  • Annual leave - 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service to a maximum of 30 days.
  • Bonus - CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
  • Training allowance
  • Wellbeing allowance
  • Life insurance
  • Medical insurance
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
contract draftingnegotiationlegal compliancerisk managementdue diligenceprogramme governancecommercial contractsconsultancy contractstransaction managementregulatory compliance
Soft Skills
critical thinkinganalytical skillsinterpersonal skillsteam playerflexibilityadaptabilityattention to detailcommunication skillsmotivationcollaboration
Certifications
UK qualified solicitor