Assistant General Counsel (Finance)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Close relatives¹ of ADB staff, except spouses of international staff, are not eligible for recruitment and appointment to staff positions. Applicants are expected to disclose if they have any relative/s by consanguinity/blood, by adoption and/or by affinity/marriage presently employed in ADB.

¹Close relatives refer to spouse, children, mother, father, brother and sister, niece, nephew, aunt and uncle.

Staff on probation are not eligible to apply. Applicants for promotion must have served at their position for at least one year and must have normally served at their personal level for at least two years immediately preceding the date of the vacancy closing date. Applicants for lateral transfer must have served at their position and personal level for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the vacancy closing date (reference A.O. 2.03, paragraphs 5.8 and 5.9).

In the event that the staff appointed to a new category (i.e. from AS to NS, or from NS to IS) is rated at 2 or lower in the first two performance reviews after appointment at the new level, they will return to the level occupied immediately prior to their appointment in the new category.

This is a senior staff fixed-term appointment for a period of 3 years. This vacancy is open to internal and external applicants.

If the selected candidate is an external hire, the appointment may be extended for a period of up to 3 years per extension, or not renewed. In case of extension, staff may continue in the position for another term of up to 3 years, or be reassigned to any suitable position in ADB.

The same terms and conditions also apply to a selected internal candidate. In addition, if the staff selected has a regular appointment, staff will retain the regular appointment and his/her selection will be considered an assignment for an initial fixed period of 3 years. If the staff selected has a fixed term appointment, his/her appointment will cease, and he/she will be given a new fixed term appointment for an initial term of 3 years.

Fixed-term appointments or assignments are subject to Section 3 of Administrative Order (AO) 2.01 (Recruitment and Appointment) and Section 8 of AO 2.03 (Selection, Talent and Position Management) and its Appendices.

Whether the selected candidate is internal or external, and regardless of the type of appointment, any extension of staff beyond age 60 shall be subject to such terms and conditions determined by ADB, including, where relevant, those provided in Section 10 of AO 2.05 (Termination Policy) and its Appendices.

Overview

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

This position is assigned within Office of the General Counsel (OGC), ADB’s legal department. OGC is responsible for providing legal and policy advice to ADB’s Board of Directors, its Management and client departments on operational and administrative matters and advises on methods to limit ADB’s risk exposure appropriately. It prepares or reviews documents that create and define the legal rights or obligations of ADB, including financing and investment contracts.

To view the ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

The position title on appointment is “Assistant General Counsel”.

Job Purpose

The Assistant General Counsel (Finance) takes a lead role in (1) the planning, implementation, and supervision of OGC’s vision, goals, strategies and work plan, (2) supervising the provision of legal support services by a team of lawyers in the review, preparation, and administration of legal documentation for ADB’s major and local currency borrowings, derivatives, investments, and other financial transactions, (3) supervising the provision of legal support on a range of financial and other matters across several departments, including on ADB’s policies, (4) supervising the provision of legal support on cofinancing partnerships and funds, (5) identifying and managing related legal risks, and (6) working directly with client departments and provide guidance on day-to-day operational issues and compliance with ADB policies. The Assistant General Counsel will report to the General Counsel and will supervise International Staff, National Staff, and Administrative Staff.

Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Strategic Management

• Provide leadership in planning, implementing, and supervising work plans, as well as monitoring the quality of output and the achievement of long-term goals and OGC’s annual objectives.
• Provide leadership in professional and operational matters, taking the lead in contributing new or innovative approaches to policy and financial issues.

2. Treasury Operations Management

• Manage and supervise OGC’s support to Treasury Department on public and private offerings of ADB bonds, compliance with listing rules, swap and hedge transactions and structuring work relating to new issuances.
• Oversee effective day-to-day operations and provide guidance on legal documentation for ADB’s borrowing, investment, treasury services, and other financial transactions in adherence to ADB’s legal policies and procedures.
• Supervise all necessary legal preparations for local currency borrowings and cross currency swaps, including applications for government and regulatory approvals, related documentation and negotiations with government and regulatory authorities, depositories, fiscal and paying agents, arrangers, managers and custodians; and borrowings under ADB’s various debt-issuance programs.
• Supervise the negotiation and finalization of master agreements, collateral agreements, and other documents in connection with ADB’s derivatives, repos and other financial transactions.
• Manage and supervise OGC’s support on replenishments of the Asian Development Fund and Technical Assistance Special Fund, and related legal and policy matters.
• Advise Treasury Department and other relevant departments on legal and policy issues. Facilitate effective coordination and cooperation with Treasury Department and other internal stakeholders.
• Resolve complex issues and mitigate legal risk in ADB’s transactions.
• Inform and provide recommendations to the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel on significant developments, emerging opportunities, and challenges in the area of finance operations.

3. Financial, Cofinancing and Institutional Support

• Provide legal advice and support on financial, risk management and other policies.
• Manage and supervise OGC’s support in respect of cofinancing partnerships and funds established by ADB and special initiatives to support ADB’s operations.

4. Knowledge Management

• Lead or contribute to the development, writing and review of policy papers, legal research, and dissemination of policy and best practices in a given field.
• Perform a significant role in guiding and mentoring staff, and substantively contribute to the design of professional and operational training or development activities in the field of expertise.

5. External and Internal Relations

• Manage relationships between OGC and its clients to ensure client orientation in the delivery of services while maintaining integrity of ADB operations.
• Contribute to meetings with Management and Senior Staff in areas under the Assistant General Counsel’s supervision and participate in committees and task forces.

6. Staff Supervision

• Create and lead multidisciplinary teams and ensure the overall quality of their work.
• Manage the performance of the teams and their respective members, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to the team and their respective members and ensure their on-going learning and development.
• Manage budget and resource allocation for the teams, ensuring efficient allocation and utilization of resources, including staffing and training requirements.
• Oversee and provide support in the recruitment of OGC positions.

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Juris Doctorate or Master’s degree, or equivalent, and admission as a lawyer in one or more of ADB’s member countries. Specialized experience in finance, preferably in international financial institutions, legal departments, law firms or similar organizations.
• At least 15 years of relevant professional experience with practical experience in the preparation and negotiation of international financing agreements, and legal analysis of the status and organization of multilateral development and financing institutions.
• Proven leadership capabilities.
• Able to work with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Able to inspire trust and confidence and to promote a strong culture of honesty, trust and openness.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required to lead and manage a team of highly skilled professionals and creating/maintaining an environment that encourages responsible information and knowledge sharing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required. Must be able to communicate, present and defend complex legal arguments and issues with a high degree of competence.
• International experience working in several countries.
• An understanding of the operational policies and programs of ADB or similar multilateral development bank (MDB) with hands-on knowledge of or exposure to ADB’s or other MDB operations is desirable.

• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level 7.

General Considerations

The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.