We don’t just talk, we do. Lead the change with us.

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere.

We are a global team of nearly 800 changemakers, operating in more than 30 countries, across five continents. We are political strategists, policy experts, delivery practitioners, technology specialists and more. We speak more than 45 languages. We are working on over 100 projects, tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re all here at TBI to make a difference.

In a world of ever more complex challenges, we believe diversity of background and perspective is a strength. We pride ourselves on a culture that values and nurtures difference. We are dedicated to unlocking potential, not only for the countries we work in but also for each of our team members. No matter where you’re from or who you are, if you’re passionate about the transformative power of progressive politics, we invite you to build a better future with us.

Role Summary

Tony Blair Institute’s Internal Operations Division supports and helps pave the way for the Institute to deliver its mission. We are comprised of the Legal, Finance, Digital Operations, Security and Technical Operations and People Teams.

We develop and deliver policies and processes that drive our working practices, mirror our values, and that are aligned with our strategic objectives, supporting the Institute to deliver its mission. We ensure that our organisational capabilities equip us to meet current and future challenges.

The Institute’s Legal team is seeking to recruit Legal Counsel to provide day-to-day legal support and advice to colleagues in our Africa portfolio of projects.

The successful candidate will be a skilled lawyer who is equipped to work independently across a wide variety of legal areas. The candidate will be able to provide practical, risk-based and well-informed legal advice, collaboratively working with leaders in the region and Internal Operations colleagues both in London and across Africa.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide timely, responsive and practical approach to the delivery of legal advice to the Africa portfolio
• Advise on, and support legal aspects of the formation, structuring and operationalization of the Institute’s foreign branches and subsidiaries across Africa
• Lead and manage ongoing corporate compliance responsibilities in the Africa region working closely with the global Legal team
• Work closely with our Managing Director, Africa and other leaders in the region to help deliver and drive forward our work
• Provide advice and support related to right to work permit, immigration and visa matters;
• Draft, review, and negotiate various contracts with donors, counterparties, and key partners working closely with the global Legal team

• Support in the drafting, development and training of legal and risk Institute-wide policies

• Support the Institute’s due diligence process, reviewing (or where necessary, conducting) counterparty due diligence, escalating any concerns discovered

• Build good internal and external relationships to support effective delivery
• Work with relevant external counsel and professional advisors
• Identify areas of cross department/project collaboration as well as areas of process where internal processes can be improved
• Assist the Legal and wider Internal Operations team with ad hoc tasks and projects that may be required from time-to-time
• Work with the Internal Operations function as a stakeholder in the excellent delivery of business support services to the Institute

Person Specification

• Qualified to practise law in Kenya or South Africa (as required for the jurisdiction where the role will be based)
• 8+ years of post-qualification experience either at a reputable law firm and/or in-house legal team, with demonstrable experience across Africa
• Experience with and sound understanding of commercial and corporate law
• Some experience with international law and international organisations beneficial
• Excellent drafting skills with the ability to work on a variety of legal documents
• Ability to recognise legal and regulatory risks and implement risk management strategies
• Strong understanding of current legislation, regulations, and legal frameworks
• Fluency in English required
• Willingness to facilitate the legal training and qualification of junior team members
• Capability to evaluate and improve internal practices and procedures

Closing Date:

2024-02-10