This position is located in the Kathmandu Office of United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Nepal) under the direct line supervision of the Resident Legal Officer, Foreign Service Officer Direct Hire. The primary focus of this position will be to provide legal advice, research, and counsel on matters of US, international and local law in Nepal. The Legal Specialist will also represent the Resident Legal Office (RLO) at meetings with Mission, Embassy, and Nepal Government officials. The Legal Specialist’s duties/responsibilities involve the full range of consultative, advisory, monitoring, management, data collection and analysis, and evaluative aspects of providing legal advice and counsel to USAID/Nepal on a variety of legal matters, with a focus on local law matters related to Mission programs and operation, taxation of assistance and other bilateral issues arising with the Government of Nepal. The Legal Specialist also supports the Resident Legal Officer on matters related to ethics, compliance and safeguarding, diversity equity inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), and equal employment opportunity (EEO). The Legal Specialist counsels, collaborates and coordinates with Mission colleagues in Nepal and works with US Embassy colleagues regarding matters of local law and privileges and immunities under international law including issues related to taxation and customs duties. They also collaborate with colleagues from the donor community, USAID partners, all levels of government in Nepal and nongovernment organizations. The job holder may be expected to perform work related travel.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
a. Education: A Bachelor’s degree in law is required.
b.Prior Work Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in a law/legal office is required. Prior work experience with an international organization (particularly bilateral and multilateral donors), NGO or a large government establishment or private organization is required. The job holder’s professional experience must also include experience in legal drafting, editing, and research.
c. Language Proficiency: Level IV (Fluent) English proficiency in speaking, reading and writing is required.
d.Job Knowledge:
● A comprehensive knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques and practices in the area of law is required.
● The knowledge of taxation, labor law, contracts, and business and non-profit organizations, structures and registration requirements is required.
● Knowledge of relevant government and non-government entities is critical to the successful performance of the duties assigned to this position and therefore, required.
e. Skills and Abilities:
• Must have the ability to communicate effectively and accurately in both written and oral communications.
• Must be able to transmit and interpret the Government and non-governmental sector legal and/or program-related concerns to senior officials, Mission Management and when necessary or required to other sections, agencies and departments across the Embassy.
• Must be able to prepare briefing documents including legal memoranda, legal opinions, and Memoranda of Understanding. Must also be able to prepare reports, correspondence, and documents in a professional and competent manner requiring little or no editorial changes (in English).
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Must be able to work effectively under pressure, demonstrate extreme flexibility and effectively manage more than one issue/activity at a time.
• Must be able to work effectively as a team member in established culturally diverse team environments.
• Must be willing and able to travel throughout Nepal as/when necessary or requested in direct support of the Resident Legal Officer’s responsibilities, objectives and goals.
• Must be proficient in computer operations, specifically Google Suite Applications, especially Google Docs, Google Presentation, and Google Form and Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• A good knowledge of Nepali work culture, language and Nepal development issues and context is required so as to be able to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with stakeholders at the local levels.
• The Legal Specialist is expected to effectively apply principles of equity, diversity and inclusion within all aspects of their work, including within the Mission, as part of their interactions with external stakeholders, and across relevant USAID programming and partnerships, with the objective of bringing in the various perspectives and voices of populations and communities across Nepal for a more inclusive distribution of the responsibilities and benefits of development.
04 October 2023
