Senior Legal Officer at icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health

Overall Purpose of the Job

The Senior Legal Officer will be responsible for providing legal advice, opinions, and drafting legal documents on legal matters involving the Centre. He/she will supervise legal officers and participate in the coordination of the administrative day-to-day activities of the unit.

Specific Duties

•  Plan, organize, and prepare the work program of the Legal Services Unit.
•  Prepare and/or review legal opinions, documents such as project and collaborative agreements, Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), Confidentiality Agreements, Letter of Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), and other contracts with various stakeholders.
•  Represent the Centre on a wide range of legal issues and decisions involving, inter alia, project implementations, privileges and immunities, and the interpretation of different laws and policies.
•  Supervise and conduct research and analysis on legal matters pertinent to the Centre’s operations.
•  Ability to liaise with external lawyers and advisors and develop legal strategies, review court filings, and provide support throughout a litigation process as and when required.
•  Conduct legal research and analysis to provide accurate and timely advice on complex legal issues related to the administration, interpretation, and enforcement of laws pertaining to the operations of the Centre.
•  Review systems, policies, and procedures and make appropriate recommendations to improve productivity and quality service.
•  Extensive review of legal documents for proposed funding and collaborations, such as grant agreements, research agreements, and memoranda of understanding for completeness and accuracy.
•  Participate in and/or supervise the review of existing legislation, rules, and regulations pertaining to the Centre and recommend/formulate appropriate amendments.
•  Work closely with other units such as Human Resources, Finance, Facilities, Security, IT, and Procurement to address legal issues and provide guidance that aligns with the Centre's goals.
•  Protect the Centre’s Intellectual Property Rights including trademarks, copyrights, and patents against infringement.
•  Protect the Centre’s real estate and land holdings against encroachment.
•  Supervises legal officers and other staff providing legal support work.
•  Assign and review the work of legal officers while providing training, advice, guidance, and direction on legal matters.
•  Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  A bachelor’s degree in law from a recognised University.
•  A Post-graduate diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law.
•  Admitted to practice as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid practicing certificate.
•  A master’s degree in law is an added advantage.
•  At least eight (8) years post admission to the Bar experience in a busy law firm, not-for-profit, or an international organization with three (3) years of supervision, and management of teams.
•  International experience in a multicultural setting is an added advantage.
•  Knowledge of the Laws of Kenya and the practice of international laws.
•  Knowledge of the laws and regulations pertinent to international research organisations.
•  Knowledge of legal drafting principles and practices.
•  Knowledge of legal research skills and techniques.
•  Knowledge of court procedures and practices and of rules of evidence.
•  Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
•  Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
•  Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.

Other Desirable Attributes

•  The ability to exercise sound judgment and tackle legal issues is essential.
•  Ability to analyze intricate legal scenarios, interpret laws, and provide precise and actionable advice.
•  Ability to assess legal risks associated with various business activities.
•  Ability to interpret and respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
•  Ability to produce consistently high-quality work in an intensely pressurized office environment.
•  Strong ability to provide high-level support in project/program delivery.
•  Ability to review intellectual property claims to safeguard original scientific work.
•  Skills in negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
•  Ability to maintain high standards of integrity and confidentiality of privileged information.
•  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees.
•  Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners.
•  Proficiency in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and agreements.
•  Strong ethical principles to navigate complex legal and ethical challenges.
•  Understanding of data privacy laws and cybersecurity considerations, especially in the digital age.

Reporting
This position reports to the Chief Legal Officer