OPEN DATE : 3 October 2023
CLOSED DATE :  15 December 2023
STARTING DATE : ASAP
 
MISSION TO METRICS 
 
The mission of The Ocean Cleanup is to develop and scale technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. You will support our mission by bringing legal expertise to the team.  
 
“Be a legal guardian of a forward-thinking organization, with many opportunities for professional diversification and growth” João Ribeiro-Bidaoui, General Counsel & Director of Global Public Affairs. 
 
 
RESPONSIBILITIES
 
To provide legal advice to all The Ocean Cleanup group entities,  managing the legal risks they may face across several areas of law and jurisdictions. You will draft, review, and negotiate contracts with suppliers, sponsors, partners, international organizations, and governments. You will be involved in mapping and overseeing regulatory requirements for the operations of The Ocean Cleanup and in public relations with regulatory authorities where necessary. Because our operations are new and unique, existing laws and regulations might not cover such operations. To create relationships with government at the regional level and international organizations located in the deploying region with a clear-sighted focus on delivering our mission. In close cooperation with our local partners, you will manage our efforts, ensuring maximum impact with minimum resources. There are often no precedents (something that makes this job so exciting). You will be forging and maintaining relations with governments, international organizations, and like-minded institutions.

The responsibilities and activities are extremely broad and diverse. You will work with an international team of talented lawyers in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and highly ranked law firms that support The Ocean Cleanup.
 
Responsibilities include:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a variety of contracts, including partnership framework agreements, primarily in English;
• Drafting templates for frequently used agreements;
• Mapping applicable laws and regulations and facilitate business compliance;
• Challenge business decisions from a legal perspective;
• Manage outside experts/counsels;
• Advise on a variety of other legal topics upon consultation with external counsel where required;
• Mapping public affairs stakeholders; 
• Support the development and leveraging of existing networks and relationships for constructive dialogue with governments in the region, regional organizations, and like-minded institutions in the deployment areas;
• Accelerate engagement with opportunities for Institutional Funding;
• Mainly supporting the River Department in deploying its projects and Funding and partnership in developing opportunities and frameworks for scale-up of our operations.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in law;
• Common Law degree;
• At least 7 years of experience as an in-house counsel and/or with an International Organization, preferably also experience in private practice;
• Extensive knowledge in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating international contracts;
• A proven ability to deliver results through well-targeted contacts with governments, international organizations in the region, and civil society;
• Longstanding understanding of various fields of law and the willingness to learn and develop further;
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Willingness to travel regularly;
• Excellent English language skills (written and verbal); Dutch is a plus. 

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Pragmatic where possible, but thorough when needed;
• Team player with high cultural awareness and sensitivity;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Thrives in a fast-paced, international environment;
• Self-motivated and independent;
• Intrinsic motivation to work on our ambitious and meaningful goal;
• Understand that being a great colleague and a decent, trustworthy human being are integral to your individual and team success and absolute requirements for members of The Ocean Cleanup Legal Team.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• A valid European Union work permit is highly preferred for this position
• Admitted to practice in a common law jurisdiction.
• Starting date : As Soon As Possible