General Counsel

General Counsel

£107,681 per annum – Permanent – Part home/Part office (London) based

Overview

UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. This role sits within UNICEF UK’s legal, governance and regulatory arm, leading strategy and ensuring the organisation operates with integrity, sound judgement and confidence.

Responsibilities

• Lead UNICEF UK’s legal, governance and regulatory strategy.
• Serve as principal legal adviser to the Executive Team and Board, providing pragmatic, commercially focused advice.
• Lead a multi‑disciplinary department, positioning legal, governance and risk functions as strategic enablers of organisational impact.
• Balance legal risk with organisational priorities, delivering clear, practical advice.

Qualifications

• Significant senior‑level experience leading legal and governance functions within a complex organisation, with a track record of supporting executive and board‑level decision‑making.
• Strong commercial acumen, sound judgement and the ability to balance legal risk with organisational priorities.
• Influential and collaborative leadership, skilled at building relationships and leading high‑performing, multi‑disciplinary teams.

Benefits

• Excellent pay and benefits, including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, brand discounts and wellbeing tools.
• Outstanding training and learning opportunities.
• Impressive open‑plan office space and facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
• An open culture and workplace where colleagues share values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.
• The opportunity to make a difference to children around the world.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, and men, because we want to increase the representation of these groups at this level at UNICEF UK.

Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us; this will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.