Vacature: Legal Counsel Organisation

Permanent* / full time

*offered on a 12 month contract basis initially, with possibility of extension / move to permanent contract, subject to local terms.

Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands (hybrid).

Salary: The approximate gross salary for this role will be around €70,174.34 – 74,852.63 Euros per annum (including 8.33% holiday pay), which is 75-80% of the salary band, in which you can grow to 100%. For further information about the compensation and benefits package available please see the ‘What you can expect’ section below.

Eligibility: Applicants must speak and write English and Dutch at C2-level, and be a member of the Dutch Bar or have the possibility to reactivate Dutch bar registration.

Greenpeace International (GPI) is looking for a Legal Counsel Organisation to provide independent and solutions-oriented legal advice and support to Greenpeace International (GPI) on strategic and operational organisational matters. In addition to advising GPI, the Legal Counsel Organisation provides strategic legal advice to National and Regional Greenpeace Organisations (NROs) on legal matters, with a focus on governance-related issues.

The Legal Counsel Organisation is part of the three-member GPI Organisation and Governance Team. In addition to the Legal Counsel, it consists of a Senior Legal Counsel and an Associate Legal Counsel. The purpose of the team’s work is to:

• protect Greenpeace International and the organisations and people in the Greenpeace network to allow them to take smart risks in fulfilling its mission;

• further Greenpeace International’s and the Greenpeace network’s objectives; and

• support the development and implementation of the Global Legal Framework.

In this role you will:

• Advise on compliance with national and international laws, guidelines, and internal policies to protect GPI’s integrity, assets, and reputation.

• Offer legal advice on contracts, policies, compliance, and governance to all GPI departments and units.

• Negotiate, draft, and review major contracts, and develop standards for contracting and contract management.

• Contribute to the development and improvement of internal policies and practices.

• Provide governance advice and support to GPI and GPI’s consolidated entities and maintain relationships with directors.

• Represent the Legal Unit in cross-departmental discussions and committees.

• Select and instruct external counsel.

• Offer strategic advice on governance, registration, and compliance issues to NROs.

• Advise on the bilateral relationship between GPI and NROs.

• Monitor and promote civic space issues, focusing on the right to association and good governance.

• Build resilience across the Greenpeace network and participate in crisis management if needed.

• Liaise with governance bodies and stakeholders on legal matters and maintain relevant legal networks.

• Represent Greenpeace International in pro bono legal networks.

• Develop and provide training on legal issues and manage legal information systems.

• Promote the Global Legal Framework across GPI and the Greenpeace network.

• Manage Greenpeace’s trademarks and intellectual properties, updating enforcement standards and policies.

• Ensure legal representation in commercial and organisational disputes, selecting and instructing external counsel as needed.

For further information about this role, please see the full job description by clicking HERE.

What we’re looking for:

Remember no one has every skill or experience needed for this role and you’ll have the opportunity to learn a lot from the team. We believe someone who has a few of these is well suited to exceed in this role:

• Dutch bar registration or the possibility to reactivate Dutch bar registration

• Fluent in written and spoken Dutch and English. Knowledge of additional languages is an added value

• Substantial and demonstrable work experience as an attorney-at-law (advocaat) and/or in-house legal counsel in the Netherlands

• Demonstrable knowledge of Dutch commercial contracting

• Knowledge of legal operations, employment law, finance, maritime law, or (charity) tax law is an added value

• Ability to develop, implement, and manage complex projects and guide legal project teams

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and ability to lead and collaborate with cross-cultural teams

• Exceptional influencing skills, and strong negotiation, conflict resolution, communication, and presentation skills

• Strong ability to communicate complex legal issues, tailored to targeted audiences

• Strong skills in capacity-building, training, and knowledge transfer

• Ability to work under pressure

• Analytical skills

• Proactive and solutions-focused

• Flexible approach to working with colleagues across multiple time zones and open to international travel

• Demonstrable support for and belief in the Greenpeace network core aims and values

• Digital literacy skills; the ability to learn and utilise our digital platforms to successfully perform the role function (familiarity with G-Suite, Slack and Zoom is an advantage)

What you can expect:

Contract: One-year contract with potential extension to an indefinite term

Pension Scheme: Competitive and sustainable pension fund

Holidays: 30 days of annual leave

Hybrid Working: Enjoy a flexible work environment with our dog-friendly office in Amsterdam and a one-off home office setup compensation

Health Care: Compensation for health care expenses

Public Transport: A public transport card valid throughout the Netherlands

You’ll also be encouraged to develop both personally and professionally, taking advantage of the wide range of learning and development opportunities available to our staff, including a personal training budget.

Staff can also access our wellness initiatives, such as meditation and also have the opportunity to join our global Equity, Diversity & Inclusion staff communities.

Please click HERE to visit the careers site, to learn more about working for Greenpeace.

About us:

Greenpeace is a global campaigning network. It comprises 25 independent national/regional organisations, and a coordinating organisation, Greenpeace International. Greenpeace uses peaceful, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and develop solutions for a green and peaceful future.

Our goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity. That means we want to:

• protect biodiversity in all its forms

• prevent pollution and abuse of the earth’s ocean, land, air and fresh water

• end all nuclear threats

• promote peace, global disarmament and non-violence

To Apply

If you share our vision, please click ‘apply for this job’, to begin your application.

To apply for this role, we require you to answer a selection of key questions and upload your CV (in English) via our online application form.

Addressing the key questions is an important part of your application. We will be looking for evidence that demonstrates your skills and experience in these areas. Use examples where possible, to draw attention to experience, knowledge, achievements and skills gained in past employment or voluntary/leisure activities, provided they are relevant to the post.

For the purpose of this application we prefer to see answers that are written by candidates themselves, without relying on large language model AI or similar tools, so we can get a good impression on your thinking.

It’s advisable to prepare your responses to the key questions before starting your online application, as you are unable to save and return to it at a later date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please email us at recruitment.int@greenpeace.org. Please note that all applications have to be filled out via the website and can’t be submitted via this email.

We welcome everyone to apply for our positions. We understand that some candidates hesitate to apply unless they meet 100% of the criteria. However, we strongly encourage you to apply if you meet some of the key criteria for our roles. We’d love to know how your unique experience can bring value to our team. We believe in people power and having representation from many different communities to effect change.

Greenpeace International is an equal opportunity employer with a longstanding commitment of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual. We recognise and value the benefits and strengths that diversity brings to our employees and the whole organisation and we thrive in an environment that encourages respect and trust. We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and would like to invite you especially to apply!

CLOSING DATE: Monday 23rd September 2024, 23:59 (CEST)