Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

Do you have experience of managing a legal team or department with diverse workload?

Do you a qualified Lawyer with minimum of 5 years PQE in UK or other common law jurisdiction?

Do you have understanding of different legal jurisdictions?

If the answer is yes, then we would like to hear from you.

The Role:

As a Deputy General Counsel, you will provide strategic leadership and high quality legal oversight across Oxfam GB, deputising for the General Counsel/Company Secretary when required and ensuring continuity of governance and legal stewardship. Working alongside the other Deputy General Counsel, you will lead the Legal Team in delivering clear, solutions focused advice that enables the organisation to manage legal risk effectively and advance its mission.

You will work collaboratively across the organisation—including as an active member of the Leadership Forum—to identify emerging legal risks and opportunities, strengthen organisational decision making, and champion innovative uses of the law that further Oxfam’s objectives. Through strong internal engagement and external networks, you will ensure that Oxfam benefits from forward looking legal insight, robust compliance, and creative legal strategies that support its global impact

What we are looking for:

We’re looking for a candidate who cares about Oxfam's mission to end poverty and is personally aligned to our feminist principles and values of empowerment, accountability and inclusion in all you do.

An ideal candidate for the role will also be / have:

• Experience of managing performance of others and helping people to develop, grow and achieve their potential, including increasing diversity and inclusion in teams and / or workplaces, and creating positive change in work culture, processes and practices.
• Experience of managing a legal team or department with diverse workload
• Qualified Lawyer with minimum of 5 years PQE in UK or other common law jurisdiction
• Experience of working within a regulated environment
• Broad commercial experience either in-house or private practice advising on complex agreements;
• Understanding of different legal jurisdictions
• Ability to identify key legal questions within complex queries and provide solution focused answers;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, analytical and planning skills;
• Demonstrable experience of knowledge transfer and empowering others
• Ability to occasionally travel internationally

We offer:

We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits. 

From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more. 

You can read more about all Oxfam has to offer here.

Flexfam:

We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you.

This role is a job share with the current Deputy General Counsel who works 2 days per week. It is based in Oxford and will require attendance in the office at least once a week, and other days as required by business needs. The Deputy General Counsel has management responsibilities, and some training and supervision of junior staff, which is done in person at the office.

How to apply:

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.