Senior Legal Expert / Старший/а експерт/ка з юридичних питань
IFES is a non-profit, non-partisan international organization. As the global leader in democracy promotion, IFES advances good governance and democratic rights by providing technical assistance to election officials; empowering the underrepresented to participate in the political process; and applying field-based research to improve the electoral cycle. Since 1987, IFES has worked in over 135 countries, from developing democracies to mature democracies.
Since 1994, IFES has played a significant role in promoting electoral, administrative and legal reform in Ukraine. In cooperation with partners in Ukrainian civil society and the Central Election Commission (CEC), IFES is working to foster dialogue on electoral reform, build the capacity of local NGOs, institutionalize best practices in training election officials and ensure more equal representation in the electoral process for disadvantaged populations, especially women, representatives of national minorities and persons with disabilities.
IFES is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Senior Legal Expert. The period of performance: February 17, 2025 – February 16, 2026. The total number of days for the contract: 120.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Draft expert reviews, legal opinions, research papers, and related documents on topics including election law reform in Ukraine, political finance, abuse of state resources, electoral administration, electoral justice, gender and inclusion, and referenda, with a comparative perspective where applicable.
- Review legal documents produced by IFES and its partners on the aforementioned topics, providing comments and recommendations.
- Develop draft laws with proposed amendments to improve election and referenda legislation.
- Analyze draft laws on these subjects submitted to the Verkhovna Rada and offer recommendations for enhancement.
- Participate in Verkhovna Rada working group meetings, conferences, round tables, and similar public events as an expert or guest speaker.
- Collaborate with existing IFES legal experts and other relevant staff.
- Attend donor coordination meetings and other international events.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
SKILLS AND SPECIFICATIONS:
- Proven experience working with senior government officials, local governments, NGOs, and the international donor community in Ukraine.
- Familiarity with the international donor community and demonstrated ability to serve as an action-oriented interlocutor with democracy-development actors in Ukraine at all levels.
- Strong analytical and reasoning skills.
- Excellent public speaking and presentation abilities.
- Exceptional diplomacy skills and cultural sensitivity.
- Comprehensive knowledge of Ukraine’s legal and electoral frameworks, focusing on elections and political processes.
- Expertise in legal drafting and providing senior briefings on electoral and legal matters.
- Extensive experience in analysis, policy development, strategy formulation, and implementation.
- Commitment to principles of confidentiality and avoidance of conflicts of interest.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s Degree in a relevant field;
- Minimum of thirteenteen years of relevant working experience in Ukraine;
- Experience working on policy, democracy, and governance programs.
- Proven track record with technical assistance projects.
- Previous experience drafting legislation and amendments on elections, political finance, and related topics.
- In-depth knowledge of political issues, election legislation, and referenda in Ukraine.
- Extensive understanding of Ukraine’s civil society, policy environment, and key stakeholders.
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Fluency in English and Ukrainian languages are required.
Interested local candidates are invited to submit their CV and a Letter of Interest, with “Senior Legal Expert” in the subject line, to [email protected] no later than by January 30, 2025, 23:59 Kyiv time.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. IFES encourages people with disabilities and from other diverse backgrounds to apply.
