Legal Counsel at Save the Children

Role Purpose:

The role holder will be part of a core compliance team of five lawyers and two paralegals, who are responsible for leading on the management of legal, regulatory and compliance matters relating to Save the Children International’s operations in over 50 countries worldwide.

We’re looking for a mid to senior lawyer to join our brilliant, dynamic team of legal and compliance specialists, where you’ll have the opportunity to lead on fascinating, challenging and meaningful work as part of an innovative and ambitious organization whose mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

The Legal Counsel’s principal role will be to support the Head of Legal Compliance with the management of SCI’s relationship with its regulator, the Charity Commission, including overseeing the reporting of serious incidents to the Charity Commission and SCI’s Trustees. The role holder will also be responsible for ensuring that SCI’s end to end process for serious incident reporting is as effective and efficient as possible and for working with SCI’s Global Teams to identify trends in incidents. 

The successful candidate will also be expected to support on internal investigations, disputes and crises and provide strategic advice to the wider organization, including senior stakeholders, on other legal compliance matters, such as fraud, sanctions, anti-money laundering and data protection and UK statutory reporting. They will also have line management responsibility and will be involved with the legal team initiatives relating to well-being and pro-bono.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the post-holder may be expected to work outside the normal job description and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Qualified as a solicitor or barrister in England or a common law jurisdiction from a minimum of 7 years + PQE. Strong candidates who are qualified lawyers in non-common law jurisdictions will be considered.

Essential:

• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: regulatory compliance or enforcement, charity / not for profit, litigation and disputes, internal investigations.
• Demonstrated ability to business partner with a function / team / client to understand their priorities and to come to pragmatic, legally appropriate solutions
• Sound judgement and ability to manage multiple stakeholders and tasks in a pressured environment.
• Skilled at applying technical expertise to solving problems in a practical way.
• Strong time management skills and ability to work efficiently to tight deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Proven ability to communicate technical and complex information and ideas to different audiences
• Management or coaching experience
• Ability to provide pragmatic advice with authority at senior level
• Experience in project management
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically manage work priorities by addressing immediate critical issues and progressing long-term aims
• Ability to work independently and use initiative to tackle new areas of law with confidence
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate with people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy
• Maintains a calm disposition and positive outlook, particularly when working under pressure
• Constructive and proactive approach
• Team player; with a full appreciation of collaboration
• Good understanding of (and the ability to adapt to) the context in which Save the Children Operates
• Commitment to the mission, vision and values of Save the Children.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the international development / humanitarian sector
• Familiarity with company and charity governance
• Knowledge and experience advising on and managing regulatory and compliance requirements and processes in the UK and/or internationally.
• Previous in-house experience.