Legal Representative

TERMS OF REFERENCE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE

ABOUT SEARCH

Search for Common Ground (Search) is a non-governmental organization working to transform the way societies deal with conflicts. We have over 35 years of experience in peacebuilding and are based in 53 local offices worldwide. We strive to build sustainable peace for generations to come by working with all sides of a conflict, providing the tools needed to work together, and finding constructive solutions. While conflict is inevitable, violence is not. Our mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. Instead of tearing down an existing world, we focus on constructing a new one. We shift the everyday interactions between hostile groups of people, so they can work together to build up their community, choosing joint problem-solving over violent means. We rely on local staff as well as local partner organizations in order to ensure our work is culturally sensitive, sustainable and well-grounded in the context.

OBJECTIVES

To represent Search for Common Ground in Iraq and engage with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government for all legal and tax related matters.

DELIVERABLES

The roles and responsibilities of the Legal Service Provider will include:

8. Give accurate and timely counsel to executives in a variety of legal topics (labour law, partnerships, international ventures, audits, taxes, legal related issues (staff & organization), )
9. The service provider will review Search’s draft Employment Handbook and Employment Contract template to ensure they are in line with the KRI/Iraqi Labour Law and other existing effective laws and regulations in
10. On an annual basis the service provider needs to update the Admin order for the KRI government. Search supports the service provision process by providing all necessary documentation as to date available including reports, documents, POA, delegation letters,
11. Collaborate with Search senior management to devise efficient defence strategies
12. Apply effective risk management techniques and offer proactive advice on possible legal
13. Communicate and negotiate with government offices such as and not limited to DNGO office, tax offices, syndicate of accountants,
    1. Service provider needs to work on registering the NGO in the department of Tax and social security in
14. Draft and solidify agreements, contracts and other legal documents to ensure the company’s full legal rights.
15. Provide clarification on legal language or specifications to the organization and its employees.
16. Review and legalise Search’s Annual Financial Report to Directorate of NGOs in Iraq/Kurdistan Region and obtain approval from the Syndicate of Accountants in Iraq/Kurdistan
17. Conduct work with transparency, integrity, quality,responsibility, and on agreed timelines.
18. Maintain current knowledge of alterations in legislation
19. Support with other tasks as requested by the Search senior
20. Translate and legalise official documents from/to English- Arabic- Kurdish and vice versa

The service provider must make every effort to complete the required services within reasonable timelines. The service provider should also provide Search with regular information on the progress of work and shall immediately inform Search in writing of any circumstances that may interfere with or jeopardise the performance of the work in accordance with this agreement.

Search agrees to pay to the service provider according to the service prices determined in the Quotation/Offer provided by the Service Provider to Search. Search will reimburse the service provider for official/governmental fees, proven by official invoices.

EXPERT PROFILE

Successful candidates will be expected to have the following qualifications:

• BSc degree in Law or D. degree with five years experience as a Legal Counsel
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of labour and tax law and procedures
• Demonstrated ability to create legal defensive or proactive strategies
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity
• Sound judgement and ability to analyse situations and information
• Outstanding communication skills
• Interpersonal skills that evoke trust and are gender and culturally sensitive
• Willingness and ability to be flexible
• Fluent in Kurdish and Arabic, knowledge of English is preferred

Throughout the duration of the contract, the legal service provider is requested to

coordinate closely with Search’s Country Management regarding deliverables.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Deadline: Sunday, April 17th 2022

Selection will be made on a rolling basis and we therefore advise you to submit your completed application as soon as possible. To apply, interested candidates should send the following items to Ammar Almuali at [email protected].

• Detailed CV
• Financial proposal including daily rate