The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), established in 1956, is a multilateral development bank with a unique social mandate from its 43 member states. The CEB finances investment in social sectors, including education, health and affordable housing, with a focus on the needs of vulnerable people. Borrowers include governments, local and regional authorities, public and private banks, non-profit organisations and others. The CEB approves projects according to strict social, environmental and governance criteria, and provides technical assistance. As a multilateral bank with a triple-A credit rating, the CEB funds itself on the international capital markets. In addition, the CEB receives funds from donors to complement its activities.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) manages legal risks at the CEB by providing legal advice to the Directorates, management and governing bodies of the Bank. OGC intervenes in projects and capital market operations as well as in administrative and institutional matters by advising on contractual matters, following up on applicable regulations in all these areas and managing litigation concerning the CEB’s activity and staff disputes.

Within OGC, the Operations, Finance Unit is responsible for providing legal advice in connection with capital market operations in compliance with applicable international banking and financial law and the Bank’s regulatory framework.

The Office of the General Counsel is looking for a legal counsel for its Operations, Finance Unit. S/he will provide legal advice on a wide range of transactions and regulatory matters relating to the Bank’s capital markets activities (in the areas of funding, treasury and derivatives) and will report to the Head of Operations, Finance Unit.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal advice in the field of capital market transactions (MTN (Medium Term Notes) and ECP (Euro Commercial Paper) programmes and issues, derivatives, repos and other framework agreements and transactions),
• Analyse and follow up the regulatory framework (EU/US/UK…) applying to CEB’s capital markets / derivatives activity,
• Draft legal documents, opinions and reports,
• Conduct research and prepare memoranda/analyses,
• Ensure the liaison between the Bank and its external legal advisers and supervise their work.

He/she might also be asked to contribute to the work in other areas such as project finance to the extent required by the needs of the OGC.

In carrying out his/her functions, the incumbent will have to demonstrate a good capacity for autonomously managing the complex legal files entrusted to him/her by the Head of Operations, Finance Unit or by the General Counsel.

Academic background: 

• University degree in law allowing the admission to a bar association, ideally backed up by a postgraduate degree (e.g., LL.M.) ideally obtained in a country other than the one in which the main studies were done.

Professional background:

• At least 4 years’ relevant legal experience in the field of capital market transactions, gained ideally at a leading international law firm or in the legal department of an international financial institution or international bank.
• Ability to autonomously manage own portfolio of assigned legal files.
• Very good capacity to analyse, structure and summarise legal information; ability to assess implications for CEB; accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and work to challenging deadlines.
• Sound knowledge of current IT tools, including electronic document management tools.

Language skills:

• Excellent command of one of the two CEB official languages (English and French), both oral and written, and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level.
•  Knowledge of one or more other Member State language(s) is an asset.

Core competencies:

• Adaptability
• Client Orientation
• Communication
• Innovation
• Result Orientation
• Team Work

Nationality:

• Citizen of one of the Bank’s Member States: Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and Ukraine.

1) Initial 4-year contract (including a one-year probationary period) with the possibility of renewal one or more times up to six years and of conversion into an indefinite-term contract.

2) Grade and salary:

• A2/A3
• Depending on level of experience, monthly salary range starts between € 7,517.11 and € 9,275.67 plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.
• Appointment may be made at a lower grade, based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.
• Grades are established without any discrimination (including gender discrimination)

For more information, please consult the CEB Basic Salary Scale in section 5. Benefits of the CEB website.

As an international financial institution, CEB remuneration is exempt of income tax in France. In addition, our offer includes allowances* and medical and personal insurance. Staff members benefit from a contributory pension plan which provides them with either a pension or a leaving allowance.

* Exact benefit package according to candidate’s personal situation:

• basic family allowance
• expatriation
• dependent child supplement
• additional dependent child supplement for a single-parent family
• supplement for a disabled and dependent parent
• supplements for a disabled or severely disabled child
• education allowance (children) for expatriate staff
• installation allowance and reimbursement of travel and removal expenses 

The CEB welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates who are nationals of CEB Member States.

The CEB rigorously applies the principle of equal pay for equivalent work. We are committed to workplace gender equality and strive to ensure the recruitment of suitably qualified and experienced staff without regard to their gender, as well as their age, racial or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation/identity, or disability. In line with peer international financial institutions, the CEB is EDGE certified (Move level), having demonstrated its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and having been assessed against the highest global standards.

Our selection process includes several steps conducted online, such as digitally recorded interviews, technical assignments and interactive panel interviews.

Applications (CV and cover letter) from CEB Member States candidates should be made in English or French using the Bank's online application system at https://ceb.profils.org before midnight Paris time on 23 March 2025.