UNPAID VOLUNTEER - General Counsel
Digital Technology Institute for Development · Remote
Role Title: General Counsel
Role Type: Unpaid Volunteer
Number of Positions: 1
Location: Home-based / Remote
Reporting To: Director-General
THIS IS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER ROLE.
About DTID
The Digital Technology Institute for Development (DTID) is an international non-profit institute advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies to support sustainable development and policy implementation.
DTID brings together professionals, researchers, technology specialists and other stakeholders to generate research, develop practical solutions, strengthen partnerships and support informed decision-making at the intersection of technology, climate change and sustainable development.
The Role
DTID is seeking a highly experienced and motivated General Counsel to join the Director-General's Office and provide strategic leadership to the organisation's Legal Advisory and Governance function.
The successful candidate will oversee a team of senior and junior legal advisors and provide expert, practical and strategic legal advice to the Director-General and teams across DTID.
The General Counsel will support DTID in managing legal and governance risks and ensuring that organisational decisions, policies, agreements and activities are undertaken within appropriate legal frameworks.
The role requires broad legal expertise, strong leadership capability, excellent professional judgement and the ability to provide practical legal advice across areas including corporate and nonprofit governance, contract law, employment law, privacy and data protection, intellectual property, competition law and dispute management.
Key Responsibilities
The General Counsel will:
- Lead and manage DTID's Legal Advisory and Governance function and supervise senior and junior legal advisors.
- Provide strategic legal advice to the Director-General, senior leadership and relevant teams across DTID.
- Identify, assess and advise on legal and governance risks affecting DTID's activities and operations.
- Draft and review legal opinions, contracts, memoranda, policies, governance documents and briefing materials.
- Support the development and review of internal governance policies and organisational legal frameworks.
- Advise on matters including corporate and nonprofit governance, employment, contracts, fundraising, data protection, intellectual property, competition, defamation and dispute resolution.
- Support the management and resolution of disputes and advise on appropriate legal strategies and settlements.
- Monitor the implementation of contractual and legal obligations and provide advice on compliance.
- Build constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and provide clear, practical legal guidance.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of DTID's legal, governance and risk-management arrangements.
Requirements
Skills and Abilities
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Strong analytical, legal research and critical-thinking skills.
- Excellent professional judgement and problem-solving capability.
- Strong leadership and people-management skills.
- Ability to lead, mentor and motivate legal professionals.
- Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills.
- Ability to communicate complex legal matters clearly to both legal and non-legal audiences.
- Ability to develop effective working relationships across professional and organisational boundaries.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands.
- Ability to work independently and take initiative.
- Ability to work collaboratively within an international and remotely distributed organisation.
- Ability to provide pragmatic, proportionate and solutions-focused legal advice.
- High standards of confidentiality, integrity and professional ethics.
General and Specialist Knowledge
Candidates should have strong knowledge or experience in several of the following areas:
- Corporate and organisational governance.
- Nonprofit and charity law.
- Commercial and contract law.
- Employment law.
- Privacy and data-protection law.
- Intellectual property, trademarks and copyright.
- Competition law.
- Fundraising and partnership arrangements.
- Dispute resolution and litigation.
- Regulatory and compliance matters.
- Organisational risk management.
- Drafting and reviewing contracts, policies and legal documentation.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, is expected.
Knowledge or interest in climate change, sustainability, international development, artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies would be advantageous.
Education and Training
Candidates should possess:
- A recognised legal qualification such as an LLB, GDL or equivalent professional legal qualification.
- Qualification as a solicitor or barrister in the United Kingdom, or an equivalent senior legal qualification in a relevant jurisdiction.
Relevant postgraduate qualifications or specialist training in corporate governance, commercial law, employment law, data protection, nonprofit law or another relevant legal discipline would be advantageous.
Professional proficiency in English is required.
Knowledge of an additional international language would be advantageous.
Experience
Candidates should ideally demonstrate:
- A minimum of 10 years' post-qualification legal experience in private practice, in-house practice or a combination of both.
- Senior legal advisory or General Counsel experience.
- Experience providing advice to senior executives, boards or organisational leadership.
- Broad legal experience across corporate, contract, employment, governance, privacy, regulatory or dispute-related matters.
- Experience developing legal strategies and advising organisations on legal and governance risk.
- Experience leading, managing or supervising legal professionals.
- Experience drafting and reviewing complex legal documents, policies and agreements.
- Experience building constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience working independently and taking responsibility for complex legal matters.
Previous in-house legal experience is highly desirable.
Experience working within a nonprofit, international organisation, think tank, research institution, development organisation or comparable environment would also be advantageous.
Benefits
What Difference Will You Make?
Strong legal and governance arrangements are fundamental to DTID's credibility, institutional development and ability to operate effectively across jurisdictions and areas of work.
As General Counsel, you will provide the strategic legal leadership required to protect DTID's interests, strengthen organisational governance and support senior leaders in making informed and legally sound decisions.
Your contribution will help strengthen DTID's legal governance, risk management, contractual arrangements, compliance and institutional accountability as the organisation continues to develop its international activities and partnerships.
Benefits
What Will You Gain from Volunteering with DTID?
Although this position is unpaid, volunteering with DTID provides opportunities to:
- Apply senior legal expertise within an international organisation.
- Provide strategic advice directly to the Director-General and senior leadership.
- Lead and mentor an international team of legal professionals.
- Contribute to the development of DTID's legal and governance frameworks.
- Gain exposure to legal issues arising at the intersection of technology, sustainability and international development.
- Collaborate with professionals and specialists from different countries and disciplines.
- Strengthen international governance, advisory and stakeholder-management experience.
- Build international professional networks and long-term professional relationships.
- Contribute directly to DTID's institutional development, governance and long-term sustainability.
Selection Process
DTID is committed to identifying talented individuals with both demonstrated expertise and strong potential.
Applications will be considered on the basis of demonstrated capability, relevant professional experience, legal expertise, leadership experience and suitability for the responsibilities of the role.
The selection process will normally include:
- Application screening
- Written or technical assessment
- Interview and/or technical discussion for shortlisted candidates
- Final selection and onboarding
Candidates who successfully complete the written or technical assessment will be invited to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.
Important Notice
This is an unpaid volunteer position.