Regional Legal Counsel – CIMMYT at World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Overview

About our organization: CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. For more information, visit: cimmyt.org CIMMYT is hosted by World Agroforestry (ICRAF), a member of the CGIAR that is headquartered on United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya. We invite you to learn more about CIMMYT and World Agroforestry by accessing our web sites: www.cimmyt.org and www.worldagroforestry.org CIMMYT is looking for a: Regional Legal Counsel The Regional Legal Counsel is an in-house lawyer who provides comprehensive legal support for all CIMMYT operations in the region. This position advises on contracts, legal transactions, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and all other legal matters relevant to the department. The role ensures effective legal coverage across the region and contributes to the delivery of legal services throughout CIMMYT’s regional operations.

Duties and responsibilities

• Lead contract drafting, review, negotiation, and administration for grants, research agreements, procurement, leases, NDAs, Host Country Agreements, and related legal instruments to ensure legal soundness and timely operational support.
• Provide practical legal advice across multiple jurisdictions on corporate, regulatory, employment, tax, administrative, dispute, and other legal matters to support sound and compliant decision-making.
• Lead regional compliance support, including investigations, case management, reporting, and training, to strengthen adherence to internal policies and external legal requirements.
• Support regional departments and country operations with day-to-day legal guidance to enable compliant, risk-aware, and efficient implementation of institutional activities.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks, including data privacy, research ethics, health and safety, environmental, and other emerging compliance requirements, to protect CIMMYT’s interests.
• Coordinate with Headquarters and regional stakeholders on governance, policy interpretation, and institutional legal matters to ensure consistency and alignment across the region.
• Conduct legal research, prepare legal opinions and related documents, and improve legal tools and workflows to strengthen service delivery across the region.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Law (LL.M.) or related advanced legal qualification.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience as in-house legal counsel or in a comparable legal role, preferably supporting regional or multi-jurisdictional operations.
• Strong experience in contracts, legal advisory, regulatory compliance, and risk management; experience in international non-profit, development, research, or agricultural research organizations is an advantage.