Job Post: Vacancy for Legal Head at World Resources Institute, Mumbai

Position Overview

In this newly created role reporting directly to the Director Operations, you will play a strategic role in providing guidance and counsel at the senior levels of WRI in the areas of legal and reputation risk. Providing legal support to our India operations and business development activities will be your primary responsibility. As Legal – Head, you will be integral part of the team, which participates in the development and implementation of WRI’s strategy and operations. You should have excellent knowledge about FCRA compliances, company law and Trust Laws.

Responsibilities

Legal Advisory Support

Ensure day-to-day legal needs of all departments are adequately met through management and coordination of outside counsel
Advise on legal issues and potential exposures through individual or group meetings, seminars or written opinions. Assist in compliance law, FCRA, trust law and labor issues as needed
Drafting, reviewing, vetting, negotiate documents (including but not limited to grant agreements with foreign and local donors, non-profit partners, vendor contracts, leases, policy statements, disclosures, solicitations, reports, publications and releases for internal and external dissemination, grants MOUs etc.)
Advise on critical brand protection areas relating to IP and information management, including data privacy and cyber security

Specific areas include nonprofit status and obligations, governance, and internal investigations

Manage fraud reporting and whistleblower policies and procedures. Establish and continuously improve a consistent compliance framework for the identification, management, monitoring and reporting of Compliance risks and issues.
Understanding of Regulatory laws, regulatory strategies, Trust (NGO) laws (FCRA), Company law (FIMA, FDI etc), shops & establishment (Compliance – bonus, wage, attendance, fire drill, IT, display requirements etc). Knowledge and experience of best practice compliance and governance frameworks, methodologies and emerging practice, compliance monitoring.
Drafting and vetting of MOA, MOU, Bank guarantee, Indemnity Bonds if any, Undertakings and authority letters, vendor contracts, donor contracts, framing disclaimers in our contracts, etc. Vetting, consultation and co-ordination with the panel of lawyers to ensure documents are legally sound.
Liaison with relevant legal department of Partners/Government offices and other authorities.
Maintain regulatory or compliance documentation, determine operational compliance with regulations or standards. Communicate with government agencies.

Compliance Management

Manage the compliance for the institute and support in risk management
Identify and facilitate the process to reduce areas of risk exposure
Survey regulatory and legal operating environments to determine risks and recommend actions or options available to mitigate such risks
Report violations of compliance or regulatory standards to duly authorized enforcement agencies as appropriate or required.
Liaison with consultants, lawyers for legal opinions
Monitor the compliance at 3 levels, Program, Offices and Organization level
Conduct or direct the internal investigation of compliance issues. Identify compliance issues that require follow-up or investigation.

Risk Management

Meet with senior managers and other staff to obtain information about current and future projects and activities contemplated
Review key project summaries, publications and other materials produced by India office to identify potential legal exposure
Work with counsel for other non-profit agencies on legal issues of common interest to the non-profit and NGO communities
Oversee relationships with outside legal counsel providing legal services in India; participate on committees, task forces, and in seminars to educate internal stakeholders on managing legal risk and exposure
Be available to all staff to listen and advise on work related to legal and ethical issues. Advising on all correspondence requiring legal inputs and educating front-facing teams on relevant regulatory aspects for better expectation-setting with stakeholders upfront
Legal due diligences of the partner organizations and highlighting the risk if any from the funding perspective.

Management Strategy and Operations

Meeting India Executive Team as needed to participate with senior managers in the development and implementation of WRI strategy and operations
Assume responsibility for management of operational and strategic implementation as determined by the India Executive Team
Identifying potential legal and related risks and developing mitigating strategies.

Board of Directors Support

Provide guidance and counsel and serve as to the Board of Directors ensuring that appropriate governance processes are executed
Review and approve minutes of the proceedings of the Board and ensure that meetings of the By-Law Committees are appropriately documented
Provide advice and guidance to the Board in its execution of its duties
Work with the Executive Assistant CEO to ensure Board fiduciary materials are compliant with local regulations and oversight bodies
Providing updates and reports to the internal committees, partners and the Board on a regular basis on relevant legal issues Conduct of Board and Annual General Meetings and the related compliances

Required Qualifications:

Bachelors’ degree in Law (LLB), with additional qualifications of Company Secretary or Chartered Accountant
Minimum 10-12 years of experience as a corporate lawyer or an in-house legal counsel.
Experience working with non-profit organizations is strongly preferred. Sound knowledge and understanding of all laws applicable to a non-profit organization. FCRA, company law, Trust Laws are mandatory.
Excellent legal drafting and interpretation skills with high detail orientation
Highly competent in statutory, regulatory compliance issues.
High standards of integrity, ethics, and professionalism
Understanding of and commitment to the underlying environmental, sustainability and substantive strategic areas of strategic significance to WRI
Excellent verbal and written communications and negotiations skills; excellent analytical abilities and legal research skill; proficiency in word processing and internet research; ability to work in a diverse environment
Experience in managing a legal department, experience in training and making presentations all a plus

Preferred Qualifications: