Legal Counsel Officer (Locally Recruited)

About the role

CIMMYT is seeking a Legal Counsel Officer to support the full contract lifecycle, provide legal reviews, and assist in negotiations with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. The role is based in Harare and contributes to the organization’s mission of improving global cereal production.

Key responsibilities

• Draft, review, amend and quality‑control agreements with public and private entities using approved templates and legal guidance.
• Conduct first‑level legal reviews, identify risks, and prepare legal comments, risk notes and briefing materials.
• Support negotiation processes, prepare signature packages, manage Adobe Sign and CLM system tracking.
• Maintain legal matter files, contract records and regional agreement databases in line with confidentiality protocols.
• Conduct legal research on applicable laws, regulations and institutional obligations.
• Coordinate external counsel, monitor deadlines, review deliverables and manage invoices.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Legal Department processes, tools and reporting.

Required profile

• Law degree from a reputable university.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in legal support, paralegal or contract administration roles.
• Full professional proficiency in English (C1 level or higher).
• Strong analytical, drafting and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural, multidisciplinary environment.

Required skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Proficient in Adobe Acrobat.
• Familiarity with contract lifecycle management systems (ICERTIS preferred).
• Experience with D365 or similar contract automation tools.

What we offer

• Private Health Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Training & Development