Vacancy #: 7347 Unit: Office of the Legal Adviser Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, San Josรฉ, Costa Rica Reporting to: Legal Adviser Work percentage: 100% Grade: P2 Expected start date: 01 September 2025 Type of contract: Fixed-term (12 months) Closing date: 15 September 2025 BACKGROUND The Office of the Legal Adviser (OLA) provides legal advices and services to IUCNโs Secretariat and other IUCNโs components, as the case may be, on all corporate legal issues affecting the organization, excluding environmental law and policy. JOB DESCRIPTION This newly created position is based at the IUCN Regional Offices for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (ORMACC), in San Josรฉ, Costa Rica. It forms integral part of the Office of the Legal Adviser (OLA), based at IUCN Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. The Legal Officer will provide broad range of legal services and support to ORMACC and other designated Regional Offices, acting as the primary OLA focal point for these designated regions, while also providing legal support to other units and regions as needed.
The Legal Officer reports to the Legal Adviser, who provides strategic legal leadership, manages the legal function, and oversees the performance and development of the legal team. The role also works in close collaboration with the Senior Legal Officer, who acts as the subject matter expert in contracts, data protection, and intellectual property, offering technical guidance and ensuring a uniform and coherent approach in these specialized areas.
Working with a high degree of autonomy and responsibility, the Legal Officer will support internal clients mainly across the following offices: the Regional Offices for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (ORMACC), the Regional Office for South America (SUR), the North America Regional Office (NARO) and the Center for Mediterranean Cooperation (MED). Responsibilities include:
โข Serve as OLAโs primary point of contact for legal matters, and in particular contract review, in the designated regions, fostering strong, consultative relationships with internal clients.
โข Draft and review all types of contracts (e.g., donor, grants, implementation, services agreements and Memorandum of Understanding) with other organizations, local authorities, private sector entities or service providers, with appropriate guidance from the Senior Legal Officer, when needed; Upon completion of an induction period and subject to the Legal Adviserโs decision, exercise sign-off authority for contracts up to CHF 250,000.
โข Provide timely and pragmatic legal advice, interpreting IUCN policies and guidelines to support decision-making.
โข Deliver training and build awareness among staff on contract review processes and other legal policies, in line with OLAโs global training strategy.
โข Draft and review internal procedures and policies, as required.
โข Provide legal support on data protection and intellectual property matters, aligning with the Senior Legal Officer, when needed.
โข Conduct legal research, draft legal briefs and prepare documents on a wide range of legal issues.
โข Provide support on any corporate matters that may arise, including draft and review legal and corporate documents such as Power of attorneys and minutes of Meetings of IUCNโs distinct legal entities in the dedicated Regions.
โข Escalate unresolved or high-risk legal issues to the Legal Adviser in a timely manner.
โข Support the Legal Adviser in matters related to the legal status of IUCN, including drafting, revision and/or analysis of legal instruments, host country agreements, briefs, policies and procedures.
โข Assist the Legal Adviser in managing litigations and claims assigned to him/her, including case analysis and tracking, document preparation, and coordination with external counsel.
โข Develop and maintain a deep understanding of IUCNโs work, initiatives and priorities and relevant policies and procedures.
โข Monitor and stay informed of legal developments relevant to OLAโs work, both at global and local level.
โข Filing of contracts and other legal documents in paper and electronic form.
โข Manage and update OLAโs electronic workflow tools.
โข Fill in for other team members as necessary.
โข Perform any other ad-hoc assignments as assigned.
As part of a small and dynamic team, the Legal Officer is expected to demonstrate flexibility and a collaborative spirit. While the above outlines the primary responsibilities, the role may evolve to include additional tasks. Any significant changes to the job description will be discussed and agreed upon with the employee and the Human Resources Management Group. REQUIREMENTS โข Law degree from a recognized university.
โข Candidates must meet the legal requirements to perform in-house legal advisory functions in Costa Rica.
โข 8โ10 years of experience as in-house counsel, preferably in an international or non-profit organization.
โข Experience working across multiple jurisdictions and legal systems is an asset.
โข Strong knowledge and experience in contract law, and intellectual property.
โข Good knowledge of data protection law, employment law and the law of associations is a plus.
โข Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multicultural environment.
โข Fluency in English and Spanish is required; knowledge of French is an advantage.
โข Proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet-based tools.
โข Ability to manage multiple responsibilities autonomously, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines under pressure.
โข Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
โข High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
โข Ability to adapt to new environments and build effective working relationships across diverse cultural contexts.
โข Applicants must be nationals of Costa Rica or hold valid residency permit permitting employment in the country. APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the \"Apply\" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the worldโs largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve peopleโs well-being.
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