Heifer Impact Capital Paralegal & Legal Contract Manager

Heifer Project International (“Heifer”) is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

BACKGROUND

Heifer is a leading international development organization working in the agricultural sector in over 20 countries with 32.5 million people since our beginning. Celebrating over 75 years, Heifer works with communities of smallholder farmers to end world hunger and poverty and care for the Earth. Our community led development model leads to food security and nutrition, economic development and environmental sustainability that can empower small scale farmers on the path to living income.  When those components are multiplied by the positive impacts of gender equality and social capital, communities achieve greater resilience and a sustainable reduction in hunger and poverty.

Heifer’s Impact Capital team (“HIC”) was assembled to address and focus on connecting farmers and cooperatives with access to capital. Our team is focused on leveraging Heifer’s history, reputation and brand to catalyze significant new sources of 3rd party capital to invest into strengthening agricultural value chains and creating resilience with the express intent of closing the living income gap for smallholder farmers. The ultimate aim is to create a global private impact fund targeting scalable, meaningful and measurable social impact and positive financial returns. We intend to do this by investing across the agricultural value chain to empower farmers and agricultural communities to earn a living income while caring for the Earth. We believe that this innovative approach will be an integral part of our toolkit to create strong social impact in our work.

HIC works alongside Heifer’s programs around the world through a global team that has a presence in Little Rock, AR; Cape Town, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; New Delhi, India; and in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

FUNCTION

To act as HIC’s lead paralegal, and fulfill the responsibilities listed below in connection with that position. This position will work closely with Heifer’s Legal Services Department (“Legal Services”).

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS:

Conscientious, attention to detail, multitasker, dependable, efficient, thoughtful, resourceful, trustworthy, accountable, instills trust.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES

A. (70%) Assist HIC personnel by drafting and managing review of legal documents, more specifically,

• Work with HIC team to draft agreements including investments agreements, contracts, etc.,
• Ensure that legal documents reflect and comply with HIC’s Investment Committee’s approval, recommendation requirements, monitoring and evaluation, policies and procedures, and accounting considerations,
• Provide legal support for investment closing activities such as ensuring all documents in closing agenda are signed and saved and all filings take place in connection with closing,
• Review and edit various legal documents as requested,
• Notarize legal documents,
• Strategize with HIC and Legal Services personnel on solutions to various legal issues,
• Supervise and coordinate certain tasks with external counsel, including counsel in foreign countries, and
• Provide collection assistance and enforcement of legal remedies on past due/uncollectable accounts.
• Legal agreement drafts, legal review and commentary, email communication, document management

B. (10%) In coordination with Legal Services representatives, determine the legal requirements by country/territory regarding making investments and loans, and provide ongoing updates as required for HIC to stay current.

• Able to provide HIC personnel guidance and updates

C. (10%) Legal related transaction assistance on potential investments in the pipeline. This includes:

• Refining legal processes and procedures already in place within Heifer
• Providing information for the creation of accompanying workflows,
• Assisting with changes to user guides for legal processes, and
• Working with Heifer’s Laserfiche team on various issues
• Process documentation

D. (10%) In coordination with Legal Services representatives, serve as initial line of communication in response to inquiries from HIC staff and external vendors regarding contracts, other legal documents, and general inquiries.

• Manage the retention of legal documents for electronic scans and, in cases when electronic scans are not an option, original hardcopies of said documents.
• Document retention and email / verbal communication

E. May perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree plus ten (10) years of related experience.
• Relevant experience in drafting legal agreements for financial transactions.

Preferred Requirements:

• Notary public certification.
• Experience working in global jurisdictions and the ability to research local legal considerations.
• Experience documenting and suggesting improvements for legal process within an organization.

Most Critical Proficiencies:

• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to establish priorities and manage multiple projects to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate effectively across all of Heifer’s divisions and departments.
• Proven, excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully, and diplomatically within a culturally diverse staff.
• Excellent organizational skills including strong attention to detail.
• Computer skills with experience in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work under pressure.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

• Perform essential job functions.
• May require constant sitting and moving, and working at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds (9 kilograms) floor to waist.
• Must be comfortable in a rapidly changing environment.
• Must be flexible and able to improvise to handle a variety of situations.
• Ability and willingness to travel both domestically and internationally.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.

Salary Information:

The expected base salary range for this position is $75k to $95k USD annually. Placement within the range will be based on the competency level of the candidate:

Minimum: Entry level, meets minimum qualifications. Needs guidance and training to perform key responsibilities of the job

Midpoint: Experienced and fully competent. Can independently perform all responsibilities of the job

Maximum: Highly experienced and can perform at a higher level than expected

**Disclaimer: Salary ranges are based on country location and local country salary scales.

WHAT WE OFFER:

Heifer International offers a variety of benefits for U.S.-based employees working 30 or more hours per week.

• Health and wellness benefits including Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Saving Account
• Employee assistance program
• 403(b) retirement plan (match 1% employee to 2% employer up to a maximum of 4% match + 3% employer discretionary contribution regardless of employee contribution)
• 22 vacation days in addition to 12 statutory and discretionary holidays, and 10 sick days per year
• Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
• Professional development and annual merit increase opportunities
• Optional critical illness insurance, legal assistance plan and pet protection
• And more!