M24228 Legal Assistant - Board Support

CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. For more information, visit cimmyt.org.

CIMMYT is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented, energetic, and customer-focused professional to join our Legal Department as a Legal Assistant, specializing in Board Support.

The position will be based at CIMMYT headquarters in Texcoco, State of Mexico, near Mexico City.

Specific duties:

• Provide support to the Contract Life Cycle Management drafting, review, negotiation, amendment, release, quality control, management, contracts, and agreements entered by CIMMYT with national and international (private and public) entities.
• Assist the General Counsel in preparing, coordinating, and managing board meetings, including drafting agendas, preparing meeting materials, and ensuring timely communication with board members.
• Maintain and organize all board-related documents, including minutes, resolutions, and reports, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
• Provide assistance to the General Counsel in the Board of Trustees meetings, including logistics, travel arrangements, hospitality arrangements and providing administrative support.
• Prepare agendas and attend meetings, take minutes, capture action items, and ensure follow-up and prep information for participants; ensure Department tasks are met, among other administrative tasks, such as making expense reports, processing payments, travel arrangements, advances, accommodation, and documentation, reporting of activities, etc.
• Liaise with Procurement to process the Department’s requests for services, purchases, and requisitions of supplies.
• Assist with the preparation of lists, status charts, and data management integral to the Department.
• Support the curation of agreements and other document databases.
• Maintain a high level of support for stakeholders requiring input, search, and update data and information.
• Manage and track a high volume of tasks and projects, ensuring deadlines are met and priorities are maintained.
• Participate in the ongoing optimization of legal service processes and guidelines, contributing to improved efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure proper follow-up on assigned tasks, track progress daily using provided dashboards and KPI monitoring tools, and prepare progress updates for relevant stakeholders.
• Any other activities required by the supervisor.

Requirements

• The selected candidate must have a bachelor's degree in law.
• At least 4 years of experience working with a Board of Directors and/or Corporate Governance Body or similar roles.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect an ability to organize and prioritize work in a setting with frequent and rapid priority and assignment changes and additions coming from multiple sources in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain a high level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish. English test will be administered; the candidate must score a minimum of C2 as per CEFR.
• Proficient computer skills (at a minimum: Microsoft Office, Zoom, and Adobe Acrobat) and willingness to learn/master other programs and software as necessary.
• Excellent organizational, writing, research, and communication skills, including the ability to communicate legal concepts to lay (non-legal) stakeholders.
• The candidate must exhibit a sense of urgency and commitment to his responsibilities and deadlines.

CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package and support for continuous professional development. In addition to the provisions of the Mexican Labor Law, our package of benefits includes year-end bonus (40 days), vacation premium (56%), life and medical insurance, supermarket coupons, savings fund, social Mexican benefits (IMSS, SAR / Infonavit).