Legal Counsel (Talent Pool)

Grade: IS-4
Deadline: 26 October 2025 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International 
Salary: USD 129,400 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable)): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

Introduction
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. The GCF has a portfolio of 297 projects across 133 countries, with a total commitment of USD 16.6 billion to date.

In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 

GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.  
You will be able to quickly scan and analyze complex, competing issues and lead significant sized teams to find solutions in evolving contexts, across multiple geographic locations. 

You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.
 

You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.
 

You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people.

Position Objective
The Legal Counsel will be part of the Office of the General Counsel providing legal support to the entire Fund on operational matters, with a particular focus on the Fund’s Readiness Programme and the Project Preparation Facility, specifically on the drafting, reviewing and negotiating of financing agreements and readiness and project preparation facility legal agreements; conducting legal due diligence in connection with readiness, project preparation facility and funding proposals; and preparing legal advice on the interpretation of statutes, contracts and other legal documents.

Purpose 

• Review of readiness and project preparation facility proposals;
• Draft, review and negotiate legal documents and legal arrangements required by the Fund for its readiness operations, and ensure they are coherent with best practice and the legal framework of the Fund;
• Draft and review documents (policies, templates, instructions, guidelines) under the legal framework of the Fund especially as they relate to the Readiness Programme;
• Review of project funding proposals and legal documents required by the Fund for its operations, and ensure they are coherent with best practice and the legal framework of the Fund as well as negotiating these arrangements/agreements and other legal documents required by the Fund for its operations;
• Conduct and review legal due diligence in connection with the proposed funding structures;
• Participate in GCF’s Board meetings and other events and meetings of the GCF. This may include the preparation of relevant documentation, supervision of the work done by consultants and interns, and making presentations;
• Collaborate with operational teams across the Fund;
• Demonstrate solution-oriented behaviour and the ability to think critically and creatively so as to resolve complex issues which arise from time to time in the course of transactions; and
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Associate General Counsel and the General Counsel, as relevant.

Engagement

• Provide legal support to other divisions on matters relating to the operations of the Fund;
  Keep abreast of developments in all relevant legal fields and particularly in relation to multilateral finance and technical assistance programmes administered by multilateral organizations;
• Liaise with other offices and departments within the GCF in order to assess and address their requirements, to advise on the drafting of legal documents; 

Delivery

• Timely delivery of review of funding proposals and other legal documents necessary for the Fund’s legal and policy framework;
• Thorough, accurate and timely delivery of due diligence reports applying creative solutions to issues which may arise in operational transactions from time to time;
• Keeping the Office of General Counsel colleagues abreast of the latest trends/developments in climate finance;
• Providing sound and practical legal advice on the legal, policy and operational frameworks, procedures and processes  of the Fund. 

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

• Juris Doctor, LLB, or equivalent law degree (a higher degree in law is an advantage);
  Qualification to practice law in at least one jurisdiction;
• At least nine (9) years of relevant work experience practicing law in cross-border transactions involving grants and/or loans with a well-recognized law firm, an
  international financial institution and/or a development finance institution; candidates with at least five (5) years’ experience providing legal support to capacity development or project preparation in international or regional contexts will be preferred;
• Experience working on novel areas of law, or innovative and/or complex financial transactions is an advantage;
• Solid legal drafting skills specifically of drafting financing agreements;
• Experience liaising with, and advising, senior members of staff; experience advising management is an advantage;
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams and directing  the work of external or internal counsel  and interns is an advantage;
• Experience in, or working with, developing countries; and
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential for this position; knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

The closing date for application is 26 October 2025. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

*The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references.

Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply.