Job Description
The Senior Counsel – Public Sector Operations will lead and provide legal and policy advice and support to Public Sector Operations (PSO) team and the relevant Vice Presidencies, with a view to protecting AIIB’s interests and ensuring compliance with its mandate, policies, and procedures. In particular, the Senior Counsel will be responsible for advising on the structuring, negotiation, and implementation of sovereign-backed financing operations, including results-based financing, policy-based financing, guarantees, and co-financing arrangements with development partners. The Senior Counsel may also be assigned by the line manager to work across functional boundaries, including collaboration with other Legal Units, the Office of the General Counsel, and other institutional functions.
Accountabilities & Responsibilities
- Lead in providing legal and policy advice to Public Sector Operations and project teams on the design, structuring, and implementation in the context of the Bank’s public sector investment operations, with a view to ensuring compliance with AIIB’s social and environmental standards and other policy requirements.
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex legal documentation for sovereign operations, including financing agreements, guarantee agreements, co-financing arrangements.
- Develop and revise legal model forms.
- Advise on legal and policy matters relevant to sovereign operations, including restructurings, waivers, and remedies in sovereign-backed operations in line with AIIB’s operational policies
- Support the development of AIIB’s sovereign operations framework, including the design of new financing instruments, policies, and standards.
- Collaborate with other LEG Units and development partners and counterparts to promote harmonized approaches and best practices in sovereign lending.
- Conduct research and prepare legal opinions, memoranda, and policy notes on issues related to sovereign financing and MDB operations.
- Promote innovative approaches in legal processes and documentation to improve efficiency and effectiveness in supporting sovereign operations
- Perform other assignments at the request of the General Counsel or Chief Counsel to advance the performance of the Legal Department.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications
- Minimum 8 years of relevant post-qualification practice experience, experience in a top-tier international law firm and/or with an international financial organization is a strong plus.
- Relevant professional experience with sovereign loans , guarantees and /or PPP projects and loan/financing/guarantee agreements is a strong plus.
- An excellent understanding of the legal aspects of investment operations of multilateral development banks and experience in sovereign-backed financings and guarantees would be an advantage.
- Excellent command of English, including drafting and negotiating legal documents in English.
- Ability and resourcefulness to work independently with minimal oversight.
- Ability to mentor and coach less experienced colleagues
- Ability to design and deliver training to colleagues in LEG, AIIB staff and external clients
- Ability to communicate with and convince internal and external stakeholders at a high level with appropriate legal solutions.
- Experience in working collaboratively in a cross-cultural environment.
- An LLM degree, J.D. or equivalent and qualified to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.
AIIB is committed to diversity, transparency, and inclusion. We believe our strength comes from having a team with the right diverse skills, experiences and abilities selected through a merit-based competitive process. We actively encourage applications from people from both within and outside AIIB members, regardless of nationality, religion, gender, race, disability, or sexual orientation.
Join in AIIB’s mission to promote sustainable infrastructure investments and improve social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond.
Previous experience and qualifications will determine the grade and job title at which successful applicants will enter AIIB.
