General Counsel in London

Part home/Part office (London) based. UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as General Counsel & Company Secretary. You will lead UNICEF UK’s legal, governance and regulatory strategy, ensuring the organisation operates with integrity, sound judgement and confidence. Acting as the principal legal adviser to the Executive Team and Board, you will provide pragmatic, commercially focused advice to support high-quality decision-making. You will also lead a multi-disciplinary department, positioning legal, governance and risk functions as strategic enablers of organisational impact.

Responsibilities:

• Lead UNICEF UK’s legal, governance and regulatory strategy and practices.
• Act as the principal legal adviser to the Executive Team and Board; provide pragmatic, commercially focused guidance to support high-quality decision-making.
• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary department, positioning legal, governance and risk functions as strategic enablers of organisational impact.

Qualifications and experience:

• Significant senior-level experience leading legal and governance functions within a complex organisation, with a track record of supporting executive and board-level decision-making.
• Strong commercial acumen with sound judgement; ability to balance legal risk with organisational priorities and provide clear, practical advice.
• Influential and collaborative leader, skilled at building relationships and leading high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams.

What we offer:

• Excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools).
• Outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to flourish in your role.
• Impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
• An open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values and are motivated to do their utmost for children.
• The opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world.

Application process and diversity:

Our application process uses a system called Applied that anonymises responses and focuses on skills relevant to this role. Most colleagues will work one or two days a week in the office on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and the rest of the time from home; flexible options can be discussed. We welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, and from men to increase representation at this level. We believe greater diversity leads to better outcomes for children.

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion; employment decisions are based on business needs and candidate skills, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We welcome conversations about flexible working and personal growth; promotion of a workplace where you can be yourself and succeed on merit.

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us, depending on the role and circumstances. We only accept online applications to save costs and direct more funds to children’s rights. If you require support in completing the online form or an application in an alternative format, please contact Supporter Care during office hours. If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. We only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.