Oxfam NGO Legal Counsel for Africa Jobs

Oxfam is an international confederation of 20 organizations networked together in more than 90 countries, as part of a global movement for change, to build a future free from the injustice of poverty.

The Oxfam International Secretariat is currently headquartered in Nairobi, with offices in Oxford, Washington DC, New York, Brussels, Geneva, and a liaison office with the Africa Union in Addis Ababa.

The purpose of the Shared Legal Service is to provide an effective and efficient legal service to Oxfam International, to support the work of its Affiliate members, and to use the law to achieve Oxfam’s purposesJob Purpose-Key Responsibilities and AccountabilitiesThis role reports to the General Counsel, who is based in Oxford, and who reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

The General Counsel is on the (extended) Oxfam International Management Team, and also reports to the Chief Executive and to the Chair of the Board of Supervisors as required.The General Counsel is also General Counsel of Oxfam GB.

The role of the General Counsel and the Legal Counsel is to support the legal management of the Oxfam International Secretariat, to coordinate a legal response to issues that apply across the Oxfam Confederation, and to support the Affiliate members of Oxfam International in relation to legal risk.

The General Counsel is the Director of the Shared Legal Service, which is an informal network of the Legal Advisers employed in the Oxfam Confederation. Currently there are 3.5 Legal Counsel (including the Oxfam International General Counsel) and the Legal Team Administrator in Oxfam GB, 1.5 in Oxfam Spain, I in Oxfam Netherlands, and 2 Full Time Equivalent in Australia.In Oxfam International responsibility for the delivery of country programmes is shared between Oxfam International (which provides the line management and direction), Executing Affiliates (who provide back office services and support to country programmes, with one Executing Affiliate per country), and Partner Affiliates (which includes the Executing Affiliates), who have a particular focus on support to countries.

The Shared Legal Service members also participate actively in legal networks, including the INGO legal network, and manage Oxfam’s legal pro bono relationships.

Geographical scopeThis role supports the global work of Oxfam International, but has a particular focus on Africa.