The OPEC Fund for International Development is a multilateral development finance institution established in 1976. Our 12 Member Countries are: Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
We
are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Director, Public Sector - Legal
Location: Austria (AT)
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract
Job Grade: Management
Job Category: H2
Department/Unit: Legal Services / Public Sector - Legal
Job Profile
- The Director assists the General Counsel at the operational level
and ensures delivery of legal services to Public Sector Operations (PSO)
and Strategy, in accordance with the institutional strategy and framework.
- The Director leads the team responsible for PSO sovereign operations
and Strategy matters, ensures quality control of the team’s output, and
develops the team’s knowledge and skills on legal issues within the Unit’s
areas of coverage.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategy,
policy development and implementation:
- Provides input to the development or review of operational and/or
departmental strategy and objectives set by the General Counsel, as well
as operational policies and procedures.
- Leads the legal team responsible for supporting PSO and Strategy
departments in implementing their annual work program and ensuring the
achievement of the institution’s mid- to long-term goals, strategic
targets and annual objectives.
Legal
advice and services:
- Coordinates the provision of legal services to PSO and Strategy,
including:
- (i) advising on all new lending instruments and modalities, as well
as operational policy matters;
- (ii) drafting and negotiating legal agreements and related
documents for operational matters under PSO and Strategy (including
sovereign project & program loans, sovereign trade finance, grants,
trust funds and partnerships) across all lending and non-lending windows
and instruments;
- (iii) conducting due diligence on projects or programs proposed by
PSO or Strategy, as the case may be, including reviewing local legal and
regulatory requirements; and
- (iv) providing legal support throughout the project life cycle
- Assigns Counsel to participate in the technical review of new
operations, project appraisal missions, and the review of project
concept notes, appraisal reports and Board papers for presentation to the
Loan Committee and the Governing Board
- Provides guidance to the team, ensuring quality output and prompt
service delivery in the drafting, reviewing, negotiating and finalizing of
all legal documentation required for PSO and Strategy, including grant
operations or partnerships
- Manages all matters relating to legal policies for loans and the
development and management of applicable legal templates for operational
matters
- Collaborates with colleagues from other departments in the design of
new financing instruments and formulation of new operational policies and
procedures
Identifies issues of legal importance related to OPEC Fund’s operations, supervises benchmarking, research and analysis on such legal issues (including drafting of applicable legal opinions) and brings the matters to the attention of the General Counsel for consideration, with relevant recommendations
Leadership
and direction:
- Leads, mentors and develops the team, fostering a culture of
excellence, collaboration and high performance
- Oversees talent development, performance management, capacity
building and succession planning, ensuring alignment with organizational
objectives
- Drives improvements in legal service delivery by recommending
streamlined processes, enhanced workflows and the improved use of legal
knowledge management, document management and digital tools
- Leads institutional or departmental initiatives to support the
discharge of the OPEC Fund’s mandate and achievement of goals and
objectives
- Contributes to the development and maintenance of the knowledge
assets of LS as well as capacity building and knowledge sharing within the
department and organization
- Supports the General Counsel in managing Legal Service’s strategic
objectives and contributes to the effective delivery of the department’s
mandate
Stakeholder
management and engagement:
- Liaises with co-lenders, partners and external counsel as required,
and represents the OPEC Fund in legal reviews or dispute resolution
proceedings assigned by the General Counsel
- Manages engagement with external stakeholders, including other MDBs,
external counsel, partner countries, as well as internal stakeholders
- Performs any other related tasks as assigned by the General Counsel
to contribute to the success of the Unit and Legal Services.
Qualifications and
Experience
- Master’s Degree in law and admission to the Bar or equivalent or a
(closely) related field.
- A minimum of 15 years relevant professional experience, including
five (5) years at a senior level. Preferably, at least five (5) years of
this experience should have been gained at an international development
finance institution or multilateral development bank.
- Ability to manage and resolve a range of complex legal issues to mitigate legal,
operational and institutional risks
- Ability to coordinate a complex range of activities with a view to
achieving departmental objectives
- Ability to coordinate the activities of LS-Public Sector Team on an
ongoing basis, and to support, mentor staff and build a strong team
- Fluent in English. Good working knowledge of Arabic, French or
Spanish is an added advantage.
Competencies:
- Collaboration and Teamwork - Ability to effectively collaborate with
colleagues, stakeholders (internal and external), and partners from
diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to achieve shared goals.
- Effective Communication - Ability to articulate ideas and
information clearly and persuasively across various channels and
audiences, integrate communication best practices, and ensure messages are
tailored, culturally sensitive, and impactful, promoting active listening
and feedback mechanisms.
- Results-Orientation - Ability to effectively achieve results through
proactive ownership, decisive action and strategic planning. ensuring
goals are met within specified timeframes and in alignment with OPEC
Fund’s strategic direction
- Learning Agility and Adaptability - Ability to swiftly learn,
unlearn, and adapt to changing circumstances and emerging challenges, with
a commitment to continual growth through embracing new ideas,
technologies, updating functional expertise, and facilitating
organizational resilience
- Stakeholder and Impact Focus - Ability to prioritize and address the
needs and expectations of diverse stakeholders to achieve sustainable
impact through stakeholder mapping, ensuring effective relationship
management, transparent and timely communication, and aligning their
contributions with OPEC Fund’s mission to deliver long-term, positive
outcomes
- Accountability - Ability to take responsibility for one's actions,
decisions, and their outcomes, demonstrating integrity and reliability,
adhering to established internal controls, setting clear expectations, and
maintaining a high standard of ethical behavior.
Leadership
Competencies:
- Inclusive Leadership & People Management - Ability to lead and
manage diverse teams effectively, fostering an inclusive culture where
every team member feels valued and empowered, cultivating a collaborative
environment, driving team performance, and supporting professional
development through mentorship and equitable opportunities.
- Cultural Sensitivity - Ability to lead teams by understanding,
respecting, and adapting to cultural differences in a global organization,
fostering inclusive communication, collaboration, and relationships while
strategically leveraging cultural insights to enhance organizational
effectiveness and drive success.
- Strategic Planning and Execution - Ability to develop and implement
effective strategies that align with OPEC Fund’s long-term goals,
utilizing relevant tools to set clear objectives, allocate resources
efficiently, and monitor progress to ensure the successful execution of
strategic initiatives, driving organizational growth and sustainability.
- Managerial Accountability and Responsibility - Ability to take
ownership of decisions and actions, ensuring alignment with OPEC Fund’s
values and objectives, applying relevant principles to establish clear
accountability structures, set performance standards, and maintain
transparency in reporting and decision-making processes.
- Ethical Decision-Making - Ability to make decisions that uphold the
highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct, adhering to OPEC
Fund’s code of conduct, and ensuring that choices are principled,
transparent, and aligned with the Fund’s mission and values, fostering a
culture of trust and responsibility.
- Conflict Resolution - Ability to effectively manage and resolve
conflicts to maintain a harmonious and productive work environment, using
relevant strategies to identify underlying issues, and facilitating
mutually beneficial solutions, ensuring that conflicts are resolved
constructively and relationships are strengthened.
Application
Closing Date
13th September, 2026.
How to Apply
Interested
and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
