IREX seeks a qualified professional to fill the position of Contracts Lawyer for the Global Libraries – Ukraine Program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  

IREX seeks a qualified professional to fill the position of Contracts Lawyer for the Global Libraries – Ukraine Program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

ABOUT IREX

IREX (the International Research & Exchanges Board) is an international nonprofit organization specializing in education, independent media, Internet development, and civil society programs. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of $70 million and a staff of over 400 professionals worldwide. IREX and its partner IREX Europe deliver cross-cutting programs and consulting expertise in more than 50 countries.

ABOUT BIBLIOMIST The Bibliomist Global Libraries Ukraine program equips public libraries with access to Internet and provides accompanying training and assistance with advocacy for enhanced library support and services. The Bibliomist program started with a planning phase in 2007 and to date has equipped almost 1,000 libraries across Ukraine. The national program will continue through November 2014.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

IREX seeks a qualified professional to fill the position of Contracts Lawyer for the Bibliomist Program. This position will ensure that all partnership agreements for the project are in compliance with the law of Ukraine, IREX policies and donor requirements. The position will be based in Kyiv, Ukraine. The position requires a law degree and experience in writing and evaluating contracts and/or grants in Ukraine, and knowledge of Ukrainian non-profit and public law as well as practice the non-profit and international technical assistance sectors. IREX seeks a minimum one-year, full-time (40 hours per week) commitment.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Draft and provide legal expertise on grant and cooperation agreements with Ukrainian libraries and NGOs, winners of “Bibliomist” grant competitions;
• Draft and provide legal expertise on commercial contracts with vendors for IT procurement to ensure compliance with IREX policy, funder requirements and legislation and regulations of Ukraine as well as general principles of commercial law;
• Collect financial and organizational information from libraries, contractors and sub-recipients and conduct pre-award legal check;
• Prepare Memorandums of Understanding agreements for libraries-participants of “Bibliomist” Project for their registration as recipients with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine according to Ukrainian legislation requirements;
• Prepare agreements for transferring technical assistance (equipment, books, etc.) to libraries, librarians, recipients of “Bibliomist” Project according to Ukrainian legislation requirements;
• Prepare consultant agreements with individual consultants and experts;
• Review standard contracts proposed by vendors for compliance with IREX policy, funder requirements and the law of Ukraine;
• Advise Bibliomist staff on legal issues that have potential effect on project activities and recommend outside counsel as needed; participate in Bibliomist program discussions as need;
• Advise Bibliomist staff in how to identify agreements and situations requiring agreements and the steps necessary to approve and sign them;
• Maintain IREX’s filing system for agreements and contracts.

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must be well organized, able to work independently, skilled at handling multiple tasks, able to meet deadlines and work in stressful situations, and willing to travel within Ukraine. Other specific qualifications should include at a minimum:

• A degree in law and the right to practice law in Ukraine;
• At least two years of professional experience as a lawyer working in Ukraine with experience in grants and contracts;
• Practical experience with Ukrainian and international law with regard to contracts, charitable activities, forms of incorporation and international assistance projects;
• Familiarity with political, economic, and social issues in Eastern Europe or Ukraine specifically;
• Knowledge of relevant computer applications;
• Excellent writing skills in English and Ukrainian;
• Ukrainian citizenship