Jobs for the Human Rights sector

About International Lawyers Project (ILP) 

ILP is a network of talented and passionate pro bono lawyers drawn from diverse countries and cultures across the globe. We mobilise teams of legal experts to support the policy and legal needs of marginalised communities, their governments, and their social movement organisations. Our partners are civil society organisations, governments, community groups and investigative journalists.

Founded in the UK in 2005, we are staffed by a small core staff team of lawyers and thematic experts dedicated to using the law to achieve economic and environmental justice through strategic pro bono legal support. Over the last 20 years, we have supported partners in more than 100 countries.

We are proud to have a diverse staff and volunteer team reflective of the communities we support, from Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe, with extensive expertise in our focus areas as well as law and international development. We work primarily in the Global South, with active projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia, as well as in Europe. As a charity, our ultimate aim is to help our clients create long-lasting change in some of the world’s most disadvantaged regions. 

Our vision is a just and sustainable world in which the law serves as a tool for those who need it most. 

Role and Responsibilities 

We are looking to recruit an experienced, innovative senior legal manager to manage our international Governance & Accountability Programme. The ideal candidate will be a qualified lawyer (or international development professional with equivalent experience in rule of law /governance / NGO use of legal strategies), with deep enthusiasm and in-depth knowledge of how our partners could use the law to achieve anti-corruption reform. A more detailed explanation of our organisational and programme strategy is set out in our 2024-2026 Strategy.

Working as part of a small but dynamic team, you will have the opportunity to learn at close hand what it means to work for an international NGO focusing on how the law can be used to fight corruption and achieve environmental and economic justice. You will develop projects with a range of partners, including international agencies, NGOs, CSOs, governments and government bodies. You will collaborate with a range of volunteer lawyers (law firms and barristers chambers) who are leading experts in their field. You will also nurture, build and maintain relationships with our funders. The role will involve outreach to new partners, programme management, drafting fundraising applications and donor reports, tracking impact, as well as evaluating and learning from projects.

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Implement the strategic vision for ILP’s Governance and Accountability (G&A) programme, in conjunction with the Senior Programmes Director, Senior Counsel, Legal Fellows, Executive Director, partners, staff and Board; 

2. Develop an expert understanding of the most effective policy tools and legal interventions to deliver the programme’s objectives, through engagement with volunteer lawyers, ILP partners, staff, Board and others; 

3. Build and maintain ILP’s G&A programme. This includes:

· Liaising with partners to identify legal/policy/campaign needs and offer potential legal and/or policy reform solutions, including through conducting analysis of their activities; 

· Creating an active pipeline of G&A projects and cases including environmental crime and corruption, through identifying and engaging in regular outreach with potential new partners; 

· Ensuring an even spread of G&A projects across the five strategic programme pillars;

· Identifying, building and maintaining strong relationships with existing and new highly experienced volunteer lawyers;

· Mapping and developing relationships with regional and international development entities and other technical assistance providers to identify potential partners, needs and focus countries; 

· Representing the programme in external fora and events; 

1. Ensure effective project delivery and evaluation of impact including: 

· Managing & coordinating project implementation through the full project cycle; 

· Delivering financial management for assignments including accurate budgeting, forecasting, accounting and reporting; 

· Supporting the development and maintenance of strong programme management and knowledge management systems and processes, including regular updating of ILP’s databases; 

1. Working closely with the Senior Counsel and Senior Programmes Director, lead fundraising activities to support both the G&A programme and organisational overheads, including exploring opportunities for potential funding with partners, liaising with and nurturing donors, designing funding applications and creating relevant budgets; 

2. Line management of G&A Legal Fellow;

3. Share in the necessary operational and administrative activities of the organisation and contribution to website and social media communications.

Candidate profile:

We are especially interested in candidates with the following skills and experience: 

· A qualified lawyer (or equivalent with significant relevant professional experience) with an  excellent understanding of how law is useful to achieving reform in our key strategic work areas: public procurement integrity, environmental crime and corruption, accountability for international corruption asset recovery, countering illicit asset flows and illicit asset recovery, and tackling the UK’s role as an international money laundering hub for enablers; 

· Understanding and enthusiasm for the concept and practice of pro bono legal assistance;

· Demonstrable project management skills and experience in an NGO (5+ years);

· Demonstrable experience in donor management, including drafting fundraising applications and budgets, nurturing new and managing existing relationships, meeting donor reporting requirements, drafting donor impact reports and raising funds for future projects and activities;

· Relevant experience and knowledge (either from previous work experience or study) relating to economic justice and/or environmental law and policy in an international development context;

· Ability to work on a wide range of tasks simultaneously, and at speed, including developing and managing relationships with a range of stakeholders (donors, NGOs, civil society organisations and government representatives), on an international basis;

· Demonstrable understanding (either from previous work experience or study) of key issues in sustainable international development, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals; 

· Excellent research skills; strong administration and coordination experience in an NGO setting;

· Strong interpersonal and team working skills; 

· Comfortable working independently and proactively and as part of a small team with a busy caseload;

· Very high level of fluency in spoken and written English;

· Working knowledge of another language such as Spanish (desirable).

Key details about the position

· Travel: candidates must be willing and able to travel internationally 2-5 times per year, including fulfilling vaccination and other requirements.

· Our genuine support for equity, diversity and inclusion is illustrated by our current team.

· Visa sponsorship: we are open to sponsoring a UK visa application for an extraordinary candidate.