African Development Bank Group New Career Opportunity

Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth. In order to sharply focus the objectives of the Ten Year Strategy (2013 – 2022) and ensure greater developmental impact, five major areas, all of which will accelerate the Bank Group’s delivery and results impact for Africa, have been identified for scaling up, namely; energy, agro-business, industrialization, integration and improving the quality of life for the people of Africa. The Bank is building a senior management team that will lead the successful implementation of this vision.

Job Title: General Counsel & Director
Location: Côte d’Ivoire
Grade: EL4
Position N°: 50092338
Reference: ADB/18/192

The Complex:

• The President, plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the day-to-day business of the Bank (AfDB) and the African Development Fund (ADF), as well as manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the ADB and the ADF. The President supervises several Departments and Units including the Office of the President ; Independent Development Evaluation Department (BDEV); Integrity and Anti-Corruption Office (PIAC); Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (BCRM); Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board (BSAB); Administrative Tribunal (BATR); Office of the Auditor General (PAGL); Group Risk Management Directorate (PGRM);  General Counsel and Legal Services Department (PGCL); Communication and External Relations Department (PCER); Staff Integrity and Ethics Office (PETH) and Office of the Secretary General & General Secretariat (PSEG).

The Hiring Department:

• The General Counsel and Legal Services Department (PGCL) delivers legal advice and services to the statutory organs of the Bank Group: Boards of the Bank Group, to Senior Management, to Directorate General Hubs and more generally to the whole Bank. PGCL also protects the interest of the Bank from legal liability and, as necessary, provides legal defense in cases filed against or brought by the Bank.

The Position:

• The General Counsel and Director, Legal Services Department, reports directly to the President and is the principal legal adviser of the President and the Boards of Governors and Directors. The General Counsel represents the Bank in all litigation before internal adjudication machinery and in cases of outside arbitral and judicial proceedings.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The General Counsel will be responsible for the following functions:

• As the principal legal advisor of the governance bodies of the Bank and its Management, provide legal support and services to the Boards of Governors and Boards of Directors and Management of the Bank Group.
• Drafting all legal instruments for the governance of the Bank Group, to ensure conformity with constitutive agreements, rules and regulations of the Bank Group entities, as well as to enhance the pace of implementation of their decisions
• Ensuring that the policies of the Bank Group conform to sound legal principles in line with the best practices of other international financial institutions.
• Representing the Bank Group in negotiations with member states, other international organizations and, representing and defending the Bank Group in arbitral and judicial proceedings.
• Leading, planning, directing, managing and coordinating the work of the Legal Services Department to ensure responsiveness, effectiveness and high-level delivery on all legal matters, and also advance strategic directions of the Bank.
• The incumbent will drive a performance-based contract system in the Department to ensure accountability and high level productivity.
• Directing and managing all activities related to providing advice and assistance to all organizational units of the Bank on legal aspects of institutional, financial, operational and administrative matters.
• Establishing and maintaining contacts with the legal profession outside the Bank and arranging for the Bank Group to obtain the best legal advice and services, as needed.

Selection Criteria:

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

The prospective candidates are expected to have:

• Holds at least a Master’s Degree in private or public law, international law, commercial law or corporate law.
• Admitted to the Bar Association of a member country of the African Development Bank.
• Have a minimum of 15 years of experience in legal practice, with extensive experience in structuring and negotiation of transactions across multiple sectors and countries, 8 years of which must be at a senior management level.
• Extensive experience in providing legal advice to high level government officials and/or multinational leadership.
• In-depth knowledge and vast and diverse legal experience working in the developing world in both government and private sector.
• Experience handling complex negotiations on behalf of institutions of a similar nature and/ or representation of the institutions of a similar nature before Administrative Tribunals and other dispute resolution fora
• Strong leadership and management skills in supervision of legal teams and managing diverse legal services for a diverse set of clients.
• Demonstrable and highly developed consulting and advisory skills
• Excellent leadership, management and negotiation skills.
• Proven excellent writing and communications skills in both French and English languages.
• Ability to work in complex multicultural institutional environments.

How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline 31st October, 2018.

Note:

• Applicants who fully meet the Bank’s requirements and are considered for interview will be contacted. Only online applications submitted with a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) and copies of the required degrees will be considered. The President, AfDB, reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) does not ask for payments of any kind from applicants throughout the recruitment process (job application, CV review, interview meeting, and final processing of applications). In addition, the Bank does not request information on applicants’ bank accounts. The African Development Bank Group declines all responsibility for the fraudulent publications of job offers in its name or, in general, for the fraudulent use of its name in any way whatsoever.