Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending poverty in a livable planet. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

The 13,000-member strong Staff Association (SA)’s mission is to promote and safeguard the rights, interests, and welfare of all staff to foster a sense of common purpose in pursuing the aims and objectives of the World Bank Group (WBG). We are a small office in the Bank’s Main Complex based in Washington D.C. but have a sweeping global mandate — representing all staff as well as coordinating activities of 85 delegates across the institution and among Country Office Staff Associations in over 90 member countries.

A key part of SA’s day-to-day activities includes helping staff (including consultants) deal with workplace issues no matter who they are or where they work. As the institution grows so does the need to resolve conflict and with this in mind, the SA is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel at its Washington D.C.-based headquarters.

Duties and Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be part of our Staff Grievance/Relations Team currently made up of five Staff Relations Counselors (SRCs) and a Senior Legal Counsel, all of whom report to the SA Chair. The Senior Counsel works closely with the SRCs on assisting many of the more than 1,000 staff they serve annually worldwide.  The Senior Counsel provides information, guidance and support for staff who have legal questions about their employment or who are dealing with workplace conflict, including assisting staff who are using or considering using any part of the Bank’s internal justice mechanisms. The Senior Counsel works closely with outside counsel retained by the SA, primarily to represent staff at the World Bank Administrative Tribunal.  The Senior Counsel also provides legal guidance to the SA Chair and the Executive Committee on a variety of issues that impact staff and the business of the Staff Association including areas not specific to labor and employment law e.g. immigration, management of membership dues, SA contracts with external parties, etc. The Senior Counsel represents the SA in the development of policy on HR and internal justice matters. The Senior Counsel 100% advocates for staff, reporting to the SA chair and no one in corporate management.

Duties include:

• Interpreting and applying Staff Rules, HR policies and procedures for a variety of individual situations, including but not limited to entering and ending employment, performance management issues, career development, benefits and compensation, disability, flexible work arrangements, harassment and bullying, and interpersonal conflict with peers or management;

• Supporting staff who are using or considering using the various grievance and internal justice options including Mediation, Administrative and Performance Management Reviews, Peer Review Services, and Administrative Tribunal. Similarly, the Senior Counsel also refers and works closely with other avenues of staff support, such as the Ombuds, the Anti-Harassment Coordinator, the Race Equity Officer, Health Services Directorate, and Human Resources, and is available to support staff during ethics and INT investigations;

• Staying current on WBG wide organizational developments and their potential effects on staff; conducting research to support policy analysis, as well as working with the SA Chair to represent the SA in working on Bank-wide policy improvements that would benefit staff including but not limited to initiatives such as disability reform, corporate sponsored taskforces on mental health, anti-racism and respectful workplace, review of HR policies and staff rules, and various SA working groups.

Selection Criteria

• Experience working on the resolution of employment disputes through formal and informal processes, preferably in the context of representing staff interests;
• Knowledge of labor and employment law and dispute-resolution processes in any relevant jurisdiction;
• Experience with HR policy analysis and development;
• Strong legal writing and analysis skills;
• Ability to speak in an assertive, respectful, and persuasive manner in senior settings;
• Experience working in a culturally diverse setting;
• Elevated level of integrity, discretion, and sound judgment in working with sensitive and confidential issues.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including ability to work effectively in a team and/or task force with staff at all levels, internally and collaboratively across departments.
• Law degree and 10+ years of work experience in labor and employment law; employment policy; and conflict resolution, preferably in an international environment.
• Experience working with an IFI and/or having experience of working in institutions subject to International Administrative Law is highly desirable.

Professional Competencies
• Strong legal writing and analytical skills;
• Knowledge of litigation processes, particularly in the context of labor and employment disputes;
• Clear understanding of World Bank policies as they apply to staff and familiarity with the Staff Rules;
• Demonstrated strong communication skills (verbal and written), including the ability to improve draft emails from clients to make them as persuasive and professional as possible;
• Ability to work independently with little or no direction as well as contributing to a collaborative style within a team.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.