Director, Institutional and Administrative Unit - Legal Services at The OPEC Fund for International Development

Department / Unit: Legal Services Department / Institutional and Administrative Unit
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Job Category: Management
Grade: H2
Recruitment Status: International / Local
Contract Duration: Two-year fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal

Job Profile

• The Director, Institutional and Administrative Unit provides advice and assistance to the General Counsel on institutional and administrative matters and ensures legal service delivery to several departments, all in accordance with the institutional strategy, in order to support the execution of  the OPEC Fund’s mandate and achievement of its targets and objectives.
• The incumbent also advises on host country matters, human resources, and procurement matters, and is responsible for coordinating the legal services provided to Finance, including on all treasury and capital market activities of the OPEC Fund.   

Duties and Responsibilities
Policy development and implementation:

• Provides input to or leads the development or review of institutional and/or departmental strategy and objectives.
• Leads the legal team responsible for Institutional, Administrative and Capital Market activities in implementing its annual work program and ensuring the achievement of its mid- to long-term goals, strategic targets and annual objectives.

Legal services:

• Coordinates the provision of legal services to Finance, including: (a) negotiating all legal agreements relating to the rating process, the OPEC Fund borrowing program in the international capital market, and the listing of securities on approved stock exchanges; (b) drafting and negotiating documents relating to the investment of the liquidity portfolio in the capital or money markets; (c) replenishment of OPEC Fund resources; and (d) tax exemptions.
• Coordinates the negotiation of the terms and conditions of institutional procurement contracts covering buildings, goods and services, IT hardware and software, as well as other capital investment activities. Also advises on compliance with procurement policy and other rules and regulations

Legal advice:

• Provides legal advisory support on all human resource matters, including on recruitment, administration of compensation and benefits, HR Policies Framework and HR Rules & Procedures, the Staff Code of Conduct, and handling of employee disputes.
• Provides advice on matters relating to the Headquarters Agreement between the OPEC Fund and the Republic of Austria, particularly in respect of the privileges, immunities and exemptions extended therein to the OPEC Fund and its employees. 
• ​​​​​​​Drafts/responds to Note Verbales and requests from the Host Country in connection with the Headquarters Agreement and directly liaises with the authorities of the latter on behalf of the OPEC Fund
• ​​​​​​​Assists the General Counsel in advising on constitutional and corporate legal issues arising from the interpretation and application of the Agreement Establishing the OPEC Fund, by-laws and financial regulations, and drafting legal documents relating to membership of the OPEC Fund, membership contributions to the resources of the OPEC Fund, and the creation of special funds.  
• ​​​​​​​Identifies issues of legal importance related to the international status of OPEC Fund, conducts/supervises research and analysis on such legal issues and brings them to the attention of the General Counsel for consideration, with recommendations and an agreed action plan.

Leadership and direction:

• Leads, mentors and assesses the team, providing goals and expectations, feedback and technical guidance to optimize their performance and enhance service delivery quality.
• ​​​​​Contributes to the development and maintenance of the knowledge assets of Legal Services as well as capacity building and knowledge sharing within the department and organization
• ​​​​Supports the General Counsel in management of the strategic objectives of  Legal Services.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Stakeholder management and engagement:

• Represents the OPEC Fund in any legal or dispute resolution proceedings assigned by the General Counsel and liaises with external counsel as required.  ​​​​​​​
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Works with external stakeholders (authorized officials of partner countries/institutions, law firms, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of other VBIOs and other counterparties) and internal stakeholders (e.g. all OPEC Fund departments/units on the subject of legal services and advice on an ongoing basis).​​​​​​​
• Carrying out other tasks assigned by the General Counsel that are related to the job function.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Law and admission to the Bar or equivalent.​​​​​​​
• A minimum of 15 years relevant professional experience, of which 5 years should have been at an international development finance institution/ international law firm.​​​​​​​
• A minimum of 5 years  relevant proffessional experience at a senior level.
• Fluent in English.

​​​​​​​Competencies:

• Inclusive Leadership & People Management - Demonstrates the ability to lead and manage diverse teams effectively, fostering an inclusive culture where all team members feel valued, empowered, and engaged. Promotes collaboration, drives team performance, and supports professional growth through mentorship and equitable opportunities. 
• Strategic Planning & Execution - Exhibits strong strategic thinking and execution capabilities, aligning initiatives with the OPEC Fund’s long-term goals. Utilizes planning tools to set clear objectives, allocate resources efficiently, and monitor progress to ensure successful delivery of strategic priorities and sustainable growth.  
• Managerial Accountability & Responsibility - Takes ownership of decisions and actions, ensuring alignment with the Fund’s values and strategic direction. Establishes clear accountability structures, sets performance standards, and promotes transparency in reporting and decision-making processes
• Conflict Resolution  -Effectively manages and resolves conflicts to maintain a productive and respectful work environment. Applies appropriate strategies to identify root causes and facilitate constructive, mutually beneficial solutions that strengthen relationships and team cohesion.  
• Ethical Decision-Making - Upholds the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in all decisions. Adheres to the OPEC Fund’s code of conduct, ensuring transparency, fairness, and alignment with the institution’s mission and values. 
• Cultural Sensitivity- Leads with cultural awareness and adaptability in a global organizational context. Promotes inclusive communication and collaboration, leveraging cultural insights to enhance team effectiveness and organizational impact.  
  Effective Communication -Communicates ideas and information clearly, persuasively, and appropriately across diverse audiences and channels. Encourages active listening and feedback, ensuring messages are tailored, culturally sensitive, and impactful. 
• Results Orientation - Demonstrates a strong focus on achieving results through proactive planning, decisive action, and accountability. Ensures goals are met within defined timeframes and in alignment with the Fund’s strategic objectives.
• Stakeholder & Impact Focus - Prioritizes stakeholder needs and expectations to deliver sustainable impact. Applies stakeholder mapping and relationship management strategies to ensure transparent communication and alignment with the Fund’s mission and long-term outcomes.