M26325- HQ Legal Counsel; Locally

Puesto: M26325- HQ Legal Counsel (Locally Recruited)
Location: Texcoco

Description
CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow's problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.
For more information, visit cimmyt.org.
The Regional Legal Counsel is an in-house lawyer who provides comprehensive legal support for all CIMMYT operations in the region. This position advises on contracts, legal transactions, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and all other matters relevant to the department. The role ensures effective legal coverage across the region and contributes to the delivery of legal services throughout CIMMYT’s regional operations.

The role will be based in Texcoco, Edo de Mexico.

Key Responsibilities:

Execute and coordinate end-to-end Contract Life Cycle Management (development, drafting, review, negotiation, amendment, quality control, and archiving) of grants, subgrants, research collaboration agreements, consultancy, procurement contracts, leases, nondisclosure agreements, Host Country Agreements, and other legal instruments entered into by CIMMYT with national and international partners and service providers, supporting Headquarters functions and CIMMYT’s global operations.
Provide timely, practical, and business-oriented legal advice across multiple jurisdictions where CIMMYT operates, including corporate, regulatory, labor, tax, administrative, criminal, and litigation-related matters, with particular focus on institutional matters and Headquarters-supported operations.
Provide proactive legal support and day-to-day advisory services to Headquarters departments, institutional functions, and operational units (including Research, Finance, HR, Procurement, and Operations), ensuring that institutional objectives are achieved in a legally compliant, risk-aware, and operationally efficient manner.
Act as a legal focal point for Headquarters functions, programs, and departments, collaborating with Regional Legal Counsel to promote consistency in interpretation and application of institutional policies, procedures, and legal frameworks across CIMMYT operations.
Ensure CIMMYT remains compliant with legal and regulatory requirements applicable to Headquarters functions and global operations. This includes providing legal support and expert advice on privacy and data protection, research, occupational health and safety, environmental regulations, and other relevant legal frameworks.
Research and analyze treaties, laws, regulations, policies, and procedures from a variety of legal areas and jurisdictions applicable to CIMMYT operations, to ensure compliance and provide legal counsel and advice in diverse areas, including corporate, regulatory,labor, tax, administrative, and litigation matters; draft legal opinions, notes, letters, memoranda, and other legal documents.
Ensure CIMMYT remains compliant with applicable legal and regulatory requirements relevant to Headquarters’ functions and global operations. This includes providing legal support and expert advice on privacy and data protection, research, occupational health and safety, phytosanitary standards, and environmental regulations.
Ensure effective monitoring and follow-up of entrusted legal requests and department services, tracking progress through provided dashboards and KPI…