Description

***This posting is available to candidates in the U.S. or the U.K.

Background:

CARE, Mercy Corps, and Save the Children are exploring a deeper strategic collaboration to increase impact, efficiency, and local leadership in global assistance. In the context of major shifts in global funding, each organization recognizes that increasing impact requires new ways of working together. We are initiating a set of collaborative opportunities designed to prototype this Impact Alliance.  These opportunities range from shared procurement and support services to participant feedback tools and a more coordinated approach to working with local partners. Plan International, Inc. is joining the Impact Alliance as a fourth organization solely in relation to the share procurement workstream.

To support this work, we are seeking an experienced Legal Consultant to provide strategic legal guidance and coordination across the four organizations.

Purpose / Project Description:

The Legal Consultant will serve as a legal advisor to in-house counsel of the Impact Alliance organizations, supporting legal efforts   to identify, analyze, and resolve complex multi-jurisdictional legal issues arising from collaborative opportunities. This role requires strategic thinking, exceptional coordination skills, and the ability to navigate the legal landscape of multi-organizational partnerships while balancing innovation with compliance.

Consultant Objectives: 

Under the joint direction of each organization’s General Counsel (or delegate) the legal consultant will provide advice and support transactional and legal project management efforts on a range of legal regulatory, compliance, or governance matters that arise in the course of Alliance operations. The legal issues related to Impact Alliance activities may arise across multiple jurisdictions, including the U.S. and the U.K.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Legal Strategy and Advisory: Provide strategic legal counsel on Alliance structure, governance frameworks, dispute resolution mechanisms, and legal risk mitigation across all collaborative opportunities.

• Data Governance, Privacy, and Technology: Develop data governance and privacy compliance frameworks, for information sharing, and structure legal frameworks for AI, digital tools, and emerging technology innovation.

• Intellectual Property & Data Protection: Develop IP frameworks and agreements for jointly developed tools and innovations, balancing IP protection, ensuring data protection, and maintaining humanitarian knowledge-sharing imperatives.

• Procurement: Advise on joint procurement collaborations, ensuring compliance with regulations relevant to joint procurement arrangements and structuring vendor agreements for collaborative initiatives. Draft and negotiate inter-organizational, vendor agreements that support multi‑organization use cases.

• Outside Counsel Management: Identify needs requiring specialized external expertise, coordinate external legal support, and serve as primary liaison between Alliance leadership and external counsel.

• Cross-Organizational Coordination: Build relationships and coordinate with legal teams across all four organizations, facilitate legal alignment while respecting independence, develop standardized templates, and provide legal training to program staff.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will provide deliverables as agreed with the Impact Alliance General Counsels and based on the activities stated above. This may include summary of meetings, agreement templates, and written advice and memos.

Timeframe / Schedule: 

Immediate availability is required for part-time work. Time frames for deliverables are to be agreed with the Consultant.

The Consultant will report to:

General Counsels or their delegates of the Impact Alliance organizations. Contracting, payment, and coordination will be handled through Mercy Corps’ Legal Department, supervised by Mercy Corps’ General Counsel.

The Consultant will work closely with:

Impact Alliance Project Manager and Impact Alliance stakeholders

Required Experience & Skills:

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) and active bar membership, or qualified as a solicitor or barrister in England

• Minimum 7-10 years of legal experience, including nonprofit or international development work

• Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit governance, partnership structures, financing mechanisms and donor compliance frameworks

• Experience advising on cross-jurisdictional legal issues, including laws and regulations applicable to nonprofit or charitable entities in the U.S. and the U.K.

• Proven experience with data privacy, intellectual property, and technology-related legal issues

• Strong drafting, project management and cross-functional coordination skills

• Ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder legal projects and provide practical, solutions-oriented advice

• Strategic thinker with collaborative and innovative approach to building consensus across diverse stakeholders and providing legal advice that enables, achievement of organizational objectives

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with international NGOs or multilateral organizations

• Background in international law, comparative law, or multi-jurisdictional compliance

• Knowledge of AI governance, digital innovation in humanitarian contexts, or emerging technology law

• Familiarity with procurement law and supply chain legal issues in humanitarian contexts

• Prior experience managing outside counsel

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.