Юрисконсульт/ка

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps’ Ukraine response meets the humanitarian needs of people affected by the war in Ukraine. Since the escalation of the war in 2022, Mercy Corps has supported more than 750,000 war-affected people in Ukraine and neighboring countries. In response to humanitarian needs, Mercy Corps has provided cash assistance, food and hygiene kits, and psychosocial support for people in emergency situations.

At the same time, Mercy Corps acknowledges that together with addressing humanitarian needs, it is also important to engage in recovery activities leading to resilience of communities. Therefore, alongside ongoing emergency activities, Mercy Corps is implementing a resilience program, that contributes to stabilization of livelihoods and improved resilience for IDPs and conflict-affected individuals. In line with direct investments to support self-employment opportunities, small to medium enterprise (SMEs) and agriculture sectors, this resilience program works as an adaptive response mechanism and will adjust programming according to ongoing analysis of the context and potentially changing needs. Notably, nearly all our programming is delivered in partnership with Ukrainian civil society organizations matching humanitarian and resiliency action with capacity strengthening and a real commitment to localization.

General Position Summary

• The Lawyer is appointed to the position and dismissed from it by order of the Head of the Representative Office on the proposal of the manager of the department.
• In its activities, the Lawyer is guided by the Constitution of Ukraine, laws of Ukraine, resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, decrees and orders of the President of Ukraine, resolutions and orders of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the charter of the representative office, regulations of the Department, internal labor regulations and other regulations, as well as this Description.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Legal advisor will provide legal assistance to departments.
• Will provide legal opinion on compliance with current legislation on the Representative office documentation.
• Will participate in drawing up contracts, will prepare conclusions on their legal compliance.
• Timely draw up and submit for state registration changes to the documents of the Representative office.
• Will prepare claims, defend the interests of the Representative office in court (if necessary).
• Advise employees of the Representative Office on issues of current legislation.
• Will prepare substantiated responses to claims.
• Conduct background check on new partners for risks associated with conflict of interest, fraud, litigation, or political and military links.
• Will consult on issues of disciplinary and material responsibility.
• Will conduct reference and information work on legislation and regulatory acts using technical means. As well as accounting for changes in current legislation and other normative legal acts that are approved.
• Will carry out work on familiarization of officials of the Representative office with normative acts concerning their activities, as well as changes in current legislation.
• Contribute to the preparation of documents and acts of a property-legal nature.
• Will record and store court and arbitration cases that are in progress and completed (if necessary).
• Consulting on labor law related issues.
• Representing our interests with various state authorities (as the State Pension Fund, State Tax Administration, Fund of social protection of the people with disabilities etc.).
• Consult on the tax liabilities and adherence to the norms, if needed, work with the finance team on tax exemptions, etc.
• Provide support with registration of Mercy Corps projects with various Ministries.
• Any related legal work as needed.

Obligation

• The quality and timeliness of performing the duties assigned to them by this position description.
• Non-disclosure of information constituting a trade secret of the Representative Office.
• Compliance with the rules of the internal labor regulations of the Representation.
• For committing, in the course of performing their duties, acts that constitute a crime, for which they will be responsible in accordance with the norms of the legislation of Ukraine.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Reports Directly To: Operations Director

Works Directly With: Program departments, Operations, Finance, HR.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Degree in law.
• 5 + years of experience.
• Experience as a legal advisor in the field of international humanitarian organization will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of civil, economic, labor, and humanitarian law.
• Ability to conduct negotiations with the representatives of the various state bodies, subjects of law of legislative initiative etc.
• Responsible, result oriented and team player.
• Having a lawyer certificate and certificate of the right to practice law.
• Knowledge of English language on upper — intermediate level.

Success Factors

A successful Lawyer is someone who excels in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. Humanitarian mechanisms are designed to provide immediate assistance during a fast uptick in humanitarian needs or displacement. As such, the work pace can be intense and demanding, requiring team members to act quickly and efficiently to address the needs of affected populations.

They will be an effective collaborator who can work with and communicate effectively with colleagues, other humanitarian actors, government agencies, local partners, and crisis-affected communities. The ability to communicate clearly, work as part of a team and navigate cultural sensitivities are crucial skills for employees in this role.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

People with disabilities and veteran status are welcome to apply.

Please, apply: Lawyer (Kyiv) | Mercy Corps Ukraine (ultipro.com)