Job Description
Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.
All around the world, people are waking up to the deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing realization that nature is our life-support system. And that nobody will be spared from the impacts of its loss. Here at WWF, we are helping to tackle this enormous global challenge.
Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from HR and finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.
What we do
We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to business and government, we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable.
We are recruiting the role of Legal Counsel for our International Secretariat to help us achieve our ambitious goals, and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.
Location: Woking, UK
Contract: Open ended
Work percentage: 100%
Mission of the Department:
To ensure WWF International and its offices operate in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations, and to identify, mitigate and advise on legal risks and to defend and protect WWF’s interests, including advising on litigation and other contentious matters; to advise on institutional matters, including governance and WWF Network matters and agreements; to protect and register WWF trademarks and brands globally; to design and implement global compliance and ethics framework, including whistleblowing process and investigations.
Major Functions:
- Provides legal advice to WWF International’s departments and WWF-International’s managed country offices on a wide range of legal issues and agreements to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and to identify, mitigate and advise on legal risks and issues and to defend and protect WWF’s interests internationally.
- Drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial and other contracts, and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)’s.
- Protects WWF trademarks and brand globally and advises on intellectual property law and trademark licensing matters, including drafting and reviewing licensing agreements.
- Engages clearly and effectively with other WWF International departments and WWF Offices in the WWF Network and external partners.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Works closely with the Head, Senior Legal Counsel to provide timely and practical legal advice to the organisation (WWF-International and WWF-International’s managed country offices) seeking the most beneficial and cost-effective solutions, having regard to organisational risk;
- Reviews, drafts, and negotiates a wide range of contracts, including corporate partnership agreements; fundraising agreements; supply of goods and services agreements; IT agreements; MOU’s; Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA)’s; trademark licensing agreements; cooperation agreements, and grant agreements;
- Advises on general legal issues, including; charity law, fundraising, intellectual property, data protection and advertising;
- Drafts agreement templates, guidance notes, legal opinions and training materials;
- Provides advice on intellectual property matters, such as trademark registration and renewal, trademark conflicts and oppositions, including support when required with the management of the WWF trademark registrations;
- Assists with legacy and trusts related matters;
- Conducts legal research and analysis of specific legal questions, at the request of the Head, Senior Legal Counsel or the General Counsel;
- Assists the Legal Team with any other general legal matters as required.
Required Qualifications
- Qualified Solicitor in relevant jurisdiction (all jurisdictions in which WWF has an office considered);
- A minimum of 3-5 years post qualification experience, ideally with some private practice experience and/or experience working in an NGO (though not a requirement);
- Strong commercial contract drafting and negotiation experience. Intellectual property experience is an advantage;
- Excellent written and spoken English. French is an advantage.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
- Ability to analyse and problem solve complex legal issues;
- Ability to influence and negotiate at all levels;
- A commitment to professionalism and integrity;.
- Ability to work collaboratively with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds and an ability to manage different perspectives;
- Ability to communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders,including articulating key messages and translating complex issues into simple language;High level of attention to detail and accuracy with the ability to resolve issues in a cost effective, efficient and proportionate way;
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage numerous matters simultaneously and to adhere to deadlines;
- Interest and enthusiasm for the NGO and conservation sector;
- Identifies and aligns with the core values of the WWF organisation: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.
Working Relationships:
Internal - Frequent interactions and coordination with WWF staff at all levels (including senior management) within WWF International, WWF International’s country offices, and WWF National Organisations.
External - External counsel and trademark agents worldwide, public and private partners involved in contract negotiation, INGOs and other partners WWF works with.
Preferred location: Woking, UK or Zeist, The Netherlands or flexible in one of our WWF International Hubs.
Deadline for applications: by Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Kindly note work permit restrictions may apply and that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.
