LEGAL CONSULTANT

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:

This is a 6 month consultancy position.

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty with a special focus on working alongside women and girls. In 2024, CARE worked in over 100 countries, reaching millions of people with innovative programs in emergency response, economic empowerment, health, education, and climate resilience. CARE is committed to creating an environment where everyone can learn, grow, and succeed, and we are at the forefront of humanitarian innovation, including digital transformation and responsible AI deployment.

The Opportunity:

CARE is embarking on a strategic expansion of its digital capabilities and private sector partnerships to maximize impact and operational efficiency. The Legal Department is seeking an experienced legal consultant to provide critical support during this transformational period. This 6-month consultancy offers an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of international development, corporate law, digital innovation, and emerging technology, making a tangible impact on CARE’s mission while working with a dynamic, values-driven team.

The Legal Consultant will serve as a strategic legal advisor and project manager for several critical initiatives within CARE’s Legal Department. This role demands a unique blend of corporate transactional expertise, international law knowledge, technology law proficiency, and project management skills. The consultant will lead the development of organizational policies, manage complex legal entity registrations and restructuring across multiple jurisdictions, support innovative private sector partnerships, and provide legal guidance on CARE’s digital transformation and AI implementation initiatives.

Key collaborators will be Legal Department, Program Strategy & Innovation Team, Finance & Operations, Regional & Country Teams, Technology & Digital Innovation Team, Private Sector Partnerships Team, Human Resources

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Policy Development & Legal Framework Modernization 

• Lead the drafting, review, and updating of organizational policies to reflect current legal requirements, best practices, and CARE’s strategic priorities
• Develop comprehensive policies addressing emerging areas including data privacy, AI governance, privacy, records retention, technology procurement, and intellectual property management
• Create standardized templates and playbooks for private sector engagement, including joint venture agreements, commercial partnerships, social enterprise structures, and innovative financing arrangements
• Conduct comprehensive policy gap analysis and develop remediation plans aligned with international standards and donor requirements
• Collaborate with regional and country teams to ensure policies are culturally appropriate and operationally feasible across diverse contexts

Design and deliver policy training sessions and resources for staff, including written guidance, FAQs, and practical implementation tools

Legal Entity Management & Registrations 

• Oversee ongoing compliance and registration requirements for existing CARE legal entities globally, including annual filings, governance updates, and regulatory reporting
• Manage and coordinate the establishment of new legal entities to support program expansion and strategic initiatives
• Conduct legal research on entity formation requirements, nonprofit regulations, and operating restrictions across target countries
• Coordinate with local counsel, government agencies, and internal stakeholders to navigate complex multi-jurisdictional registration processes
• Develop and maintain centralized systems for tracking entity information, registration status, renewal deadlines, and compliance obligations
• Provide strategic guidance on optimal entity structures for new initiatives, including considerations of tax efficiency, liability protection, operational flexibility, and donor requirements
• Support entity restructuring, mergers, and dissolutions as needed to align with organizational strategy

Private Sector Partnerships & Complex Transactions 

• Provide legal support for innovative partnerships with private sector companies, social enterprises, and impact investors
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements including strategic alliances, revenue-sharing arrangements, licensing agreements, technology partnerships, and joint ventures
• Advise on blended finance structures, social impact bonds, and other innovative financing mechanisms that combine philanthropic and commercial capital
• Ensure private sector partnerships comply with nonprofit regulations, donor restrictions, and CARE’s mission and values
• Support the development of social enterprise initiatives and advise on appropriate legal structures, governance frameworks, and risk mitigation strategies
• Collaborate with program teams to structure partnerships that maximize development impact while protecting organizational interests

Digital Transformation & AI Legal Support

• Develop and implement legal frameworks for CARE’s digital-first initiatives, including digital service delivery, blockchain & crypto currency transactions, data collection platforms, and technology-enabled programming
• Provide legal guidance on AI deployment, including risk assessments, ethical frameworks, bias mitigation, algorithmic accountability, and regulatory compliance
• Draft AI governance policies addressing responsible use, human rights considerations, data protection, transparency, and accountability in accordance with emerging global standards
• Advise on data privacy and protection compliance across multiple jurisdictions, including GDPR, local data protection laws, and sector-specific regulations
• Review technology vendor agreements, software licenses, cloud services contracts, and other technology procurement to ensure adequate data protection, security, and service levels
• Support the development of digital consent frameworks, beneficiary data rights policies, and responsible data management practices

Required Qualifications:

Education & Professional Credentials

- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
- Active bar admission in at least one U.S. state or equivalent jurisdiction (in good standing)
- Eligible to practice law and provide legal advice

- 7-12 years of legal experience, including substantial work in corporate transactional law, with significant exposure to international matters
- Demonstrated experience with entity formation, corporate governance, and multi-jurisdictional legal compliance
- Proven track record drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements and partnership structures
- Experience developing organizational policies, legal frameworks, or compliance programs
- Experience working with nonprofit organizations, NGOs, international development agencies, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred

Specialized Knowledge & Skills

- Knowledge of nonprofit law, charitable regulations, and tax-exempt organization requirements
- Familiarity with international commercial law, cross-border transactions, and foreign entity regulations
- Understanding of technology law, including data privacy, AI regulation, intellectual property, and digital contracts (direct experience strongly preferred)
- Strong project management capabilities with experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with competing deadlines
- Exceptional legal research, writing, and analytical skills
- Excellent oral communication and presentation abilities, with capacity to explain complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences

Personal Attributes

- Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to work independently and take initiative in ambiguous situations
- Strong cross-cultural competency and sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts
- Solutions-oriented approach with ability to balance legal rigor with practical business needs
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice, poverty alleviation, and CARE’s mission
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work efficiently and collaboratively while maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information

Preferred Qualifications:

- Prior in-house counsel experience, particularly with international NGOs, foundations, or social impact organizations
- Direct experience with AI governance, algorithmic accountability, or emerging technology regulation
- Expertise in data protection law (GDPR or similar frameworks) and digital rights
- Experience structuring social enterprises, impact investment vehicles, or blended finance mechanisms
- Living or working experience in the countries in which CARE operates

Expected Deliverables (6-Month Consultancy)

Policy Development

- Comprehensive AI Governance Policy and Implementation Framework
- Updated Data Privacy and Protection Policy aligned with global standards
- Digital Transformation Legal Playbook covering technology procurement, vendor management, and digital service delivery
- Private Sector Partnership Guidelines and Standard Agreement Templates

Entity Management

- Successful registration of 3-5 new legal entities in target jurisdictions
- Centralized Entity Management System with tracking mechanisms for renewals and compliance
- Entity Structure Recommendations Report for strategic initiatives

Partnership Support

- Legal structuring and documentation for 2-3 major private sector partnerships
- Blended Finance Legal Framework and Risk Assessment Guide

Knowledge Transfer

- Training materials and workshops for legal team and key stakeholders on new policies and frameworks
- Comprehensive transition documentation ensuring sustainability of systems and processes beyond consultancy period

About the Organization

There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. Some examples of these fees are placement fees or immigration processing fees. CARE does not use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an up-front fee of any kind. Occasionally, CARE does employ recruiting or placement agencies to help us identify candidates for specific employment within CARE. If you’re contacted by a legitimate recruiting or placement agency, there should be no charge to you. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud from someone purporting to be CARE, please contact us at legal@care.org. Please do not email legal@care.org to apply for this position. Instead, click "apply now" below in order to submit your interest.

CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Starting salaries are based on internal equity, candidate experience, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.