Manager - In-House Legal Counsel - Operations

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World Resources Institute

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Mumbai, India

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In-House Legal Counsel - Operations


Who we are and what we do?

WRI India, an independent charity legally registered as the India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. WRI India’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being.

We are inspired by and associated with World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organization. Currently over 300 researchers are working with WRI India in our offices at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Overview for Operations

WRI Operations team supports the crucial front-line work of the organization, they directly interact and work with Donors, Partners, Government agencies, Statutory bodies, Trustees, Vendors, and Consultants in fielding their inquiries, providing support at all the fronts and solving problems. So that the WRI programs can be implemented without any hurdles and the program staff and researchers can develop high quality research documents, plans and implement the programs at the field level.

WRI operations team consists of various functions such as Budget and Finance, Grants and Contracts, Legal Counsel, Human Resource, IT and Facilities management. Each role comes under the purview of operations and each function lead reports to the Director Operations and Director Operations report to the CEO of the Organization.

WRI Operations team strive for operational excellence across all functions starting with the recruitment, retention and management of WRI’s staff, our most important asset. We manage our endowment, the contributions entrusted to us, and our facilities in ways that are in line with our values and advance our mission. We maintain strict budgetary planning and financial controls to ensure that all contributions are managed in compliance with donors’ wishes.

About your role:

WRI India requires a self-motivated, smart, detail-oriented and highly organized individual to report directly to the Director of Operations, who will play a strategic role in providing legal advice, and guidance at the senior levels of WRI in the areas of legal and reputation risk. Providing legal support to our India operations and development activities will be your primary responsibility.
You will be an integral part of the team, which participates in the development and implementation of WRI India’s strategy and operations. You should have excellent knowledge about FCRA compliances, company law and Trust Laws.

How your day will unfold:

  • We are looking for a highly qualified Legal Counsel to oversee the legal aspects of our work. You will safeguard our reputation by guaranteeing that the organization strictly follows laws, rules, and guidelines, and give legal advice to management about all relevant issues
  • Drafting, reviewing, vetting, and negotiating documents (including but not limited to grant agreements with foreign and local donors, non-profit partners, vendor contracts, leases, policy statements, disclosures, solicitations, reports, publications and releases for internal and external dissemination, grants MOUs etc.)
  • We are looking for a highly qualified Legal Counsel to oversee the legal aspects of our work. You will safeguard our reputation by guaranteeing that the organization strictly follows laws, rules, and guidelines, and give legal advice to management about all relevant issues.
  • Ensure day-to-day legal needs of all departments are adequately met through management and coordination of outside counsel.
  • Advise on critical brand protection areas relating to IP and information management, including data privacy and cyber security.
  • Liaison with consultants and lawyers for legal opinions
  • Understanding of Regulatory laws, regulatory strategies, Trust (NGO) laws (FCRA), Company law (FIMA, FDI etc.), shops & establishments (Compliance – bonus, wage, attendance, fire drill, IT, display requirements etc.). Knowledge and experience of best practice compliance and governance frameworks, methodologies and emerging
  • Manage the compliance for the institute and support in risk management.
  • Identify and facilitate the process to reduce areas of risk exposure.
  • Be available to all staff to listen and advise on work related to legal and ethical issues. Advising on all correspondence requiring legal inputs and educating front-facing teams on relevant regulatory aspects for better expectation-setting with stakeholders upfront.

Qualifications & Requirements we seek:

  • Qualified LLB, or Masters in Law.
  • Experience in Grants Management will be considered as an advantage.
  • Excellent knowledge and understanding of laws, regulatory framework and procedures pertaining to Corporate Law, Trust, and FCRA Regulations.
  • Minimum 6-8+ years of experience within a law firm or corporate legal department, with primary emphasis on laws applying to non-profits.
  • Seasoned communication skills—able to influence at a variety of levels and across functions in a complex matrix organization.
  • High standards of integrity, ethics, and professionalism
  • Understanding of and commitment to the underlying environmental, sustainability and substantive strategic areas of strategic significance to WRI
  • Excellent communications and negotiations skills; excellent analytical abilities and legal research skills; proficiency in word processing and internet research; ability to work in a diverse environment.
  • Must have business deal-making and negotiation acumen Becoming In-house Counsel.

Salary and Benefits: 15,00,000 INR to 18,00,000 INRCTC Per annum

Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.

Duration: 2 years as term hire (extendable based on performance and project requirements)


Location: Mumbai, India

Start date: As soon as possible.


List of Documents to be attached:

  • Cover Letter
  • Resume

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purpose.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) @WRI India

WRI India values and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of our work and workforce. Integrating these values into our actions fosters a progressive and collaborative culture and can also enhance our impact. It is our responsibility to create a welcoming working environment for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and experience to learn together. We are responsible for fostering a safe and inclusive workplace where questions, concerns and information about diversity, equity and inclusion are part of our ongoing dialogue and development.

Learn more about WRI India’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Click Here

People-centric to the core:

We keep our people at the centre of everything we do - from a welcoming work environment to benefits and a culture that encourages staff to stay healthy, happy, engaged, and growing.

Some of the non-monetary benefits that our staff get:

Health benefits: We cover health insurance for you and your loved ones for up to INR 8 lakhs

Term Insurance: Our term insurance policy covers life coverage of 50 lakhs per staffmember

Employee Assistance program: Promoting mental well-being and supporting staff in achieving a satisfying work-life balance

Digital healthcare service: Online doctor consultations for your primary healthcare needs

Flexible work schedule: Alternative work arrangements for all who are eligible by nature of their job

Learning culture: Workshops and trainings to empower staff, encourage new learning opportunities

Rest and Recharge weeks: We encourage staff to take time off to rest, rejuvenate, upskill, and pursue their interests.

Our leave policy: Avail personal time off at 36 per year, along with public holidays, maternity, paternity, and adoption leaves.

Click here to know more about our benefits Careers | WRI INDIA (wri-india.org)

Equal employment @WRI India

We believe in equal employment, it is our policy to recruit, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to caste, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual preference, parental status, or disability.