The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

The Legal Division at the Gates Foundation supports the foundation and its affiliates. We collaborate closely with our colleagues to ensure the highest levels of integrity are upheld by the foundation, its affiliates, and its employees. Our focus includes preserving the foundation’s reputation by ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, while at the same time striving to be innovative and flexible. Consistent with the foundation’s risk philosophy, we consciously balance necessary risks with desired goals. Acting upon the belief that awareness and understanding enhance impact, we provide perspective, training, and education to staff on the laws and requirements applicable to private foundations.

The Assistant General Counsel (AGC) reports to the Director—Legal, Employment and is an individual contributor (i.e., non-managerial) role. The AGC is a point person responsible for the management of complex employment matters and advising and influencing internal partners arising from the foundation operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia (EMEA), and the foundation’s offices in Africa. The AGC is a consultant and advisor to the Human Resources Team and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Center of Excellence with respect to global matters arising in locations outside of the foundation’s offices in the United States (non-U.S. matters). This role will sit in foundation’s London office.

What You’ll Do

Provide risk management advice and judgment on a wide range of complex legal matters, including day-to-day guidance on issues pertaining to employment law and, where applicable, labour law, including:

• performance management, discipline, terminations, internal investigations, reasonable adjustments, leaves of absence, salary compliance;
• compensation and benefits, talent acquisitions and recruiting, immigration and visa matters;
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts;
• remote workers, alternate work arrangements, reorganisations, and redundancies;
• contingent workforce related matters, including use of supplemental workers and consultants from sourcing to separation, commercial contracts/statements of work, and joint-employer liability; and
• support the global employment legal compliance program.

Partner with outside counsel on employment and labour pre-litigation and litigation matters and lead the process through resolution of internal HR issues, grievances, claims, and other potential disputes against the foundation through negotiation or mediation.

Assist with privileged internal audits and process reviews, and new policy and program creation and implementation.

Experience developing and delivering training and education materials in a concise and consistent manner.

Proactively identify where new and/or improved processes will lead to greater efficiencies and develop and implement appropriate process improvements and efficiencies, partnering with internal teams as appropriate.

Your Experience

The successful candidate for the Assistant General Counsel—Legal, Employment role must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• A first degree and active professional qualification and ongoing licence to practice.
• Extensive experience as a solicitor or barrister, including expertise practicing employment law, with a preference for candidates with in-house legal department work experience.
• Practical problem solver with a demonstrated ability to think strategically, creatively, and proactively.
• Experience collaborating with cross functional teams, including experience managing relationships outside of legal.
• Excellent written and communication skills; ability to build trust and credibility with partners at all levels and functions and advise on issues that may not have clear answers.
• High standards and excellent judgment, intellectual quickness and curiosity, resourcefulness and resilience.
• Ability to prioritise work in context of the foundation’s risk tolerance framework.
• Excellent collaboration skills in an environment that requires diplomacy, maturity, and good judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

The successful candidate for the Assistant General Counsel role is not required to meet the following preferred qualifications but their ability to do so will weigh heavily in their favor:

• Prior experience advising United States-headquartered organizations on non-United States labour and employment issues and supporting clients outside the United States; particularly in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• Experience supporting and driving to completion large-scale projects.
• Familiarity with the laws and regulations applicable to private foundations or charities.

Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

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Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.