Executive Directorate of Legal Affairs (EDLA)

Apply now »

Publication Starting Date: Nov 14, 2025

Location: Lyon, France

Company: Interpol

Vacancy Notice 1512

 

INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 196 Member Countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities, and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime. 


INTERPOL strives to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. To achieve our Diversity goals, we encourage applications from women and nationals of under/unrepresented member countries who are passionate about our mission. INTERPOL’s recruitment process is merit-based hence all hiring decisions are made considering the applicant’s qualifications and the needs of the Organization.

 

Job Title: Executive Directorate of Legal Affairs (EDLA) 
Reporting To: The Secretary General
Location: Lyon
Type of contract: Fixed-term Contract
Duration (in months): 36.00
Grade: Unclassified   
Number of post: 1
Level of Security screening: Enhanced
Deadline for application: 7 December 2025

 

Conditions applying for all candidates

 

Only professional experience for which candidates can provide official proof of employment will be considered. Candidates could be requested to provide copies of such official documents prior to interviews/test.

 

Subsequent extension to this post will be subject to the terms of the Organization’s Staff Manual, to satisfactory performance and to availability of funds.

 

Tests/interviews in connection to this selection procedure will take place approximately three to four weeks after the deadline for applications. Applicants are kindly requested to plan their availability during this period accordingly, in case they are short-listed.

​Selected candidates will be expected to report for duty approximately two to three months after receiving an offer of employment at the latest.

This selection exercise may be used to generate a reserve list of suitable candidates that may be used to address Organization's similar staffing needs in the future.

 

 

SUMMARY OF THE ASSIGNED DUTIES, INCLUDING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE POST

 

The Executive Director of Legal Affairs is the General Counsel of the Organization; She/He reports to the Secretary General, and is responsible for leading and coordinating the Executive Directorate of Legal Affairs. She/He is the senior legal advisor and counsel to the Secretary General and all relevant governing bodies, such as the Executive Committee and the General Assembly on important legal issues.

She/He oversees teams, policies, processes and data (including files) of the Executive Directorate of Legal Affairs, as well as provides strategic counsel and thought leadership to its senior echelons. She/He is INTERPOL's subject matter expert on legal affairs, keeping abreast of current and emerging practices to ensure currency of capability and capacity within the legal affairs teams.

The Executive Director of Legal Affairs develops new ways of working and anticipates legal issues, balancing legal practice and theory to help develop innovative and effective legal strategies and solutions.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES

OBJECTIVE 1: Advise Executive leadership, Governing Bodies and Boards on legal matters, operating policy, and relevant strategic issues or interests

  • Act as Chief legal advisor to the Secretary General, Senior Management Team, Executive Committee, and General Assembly of INTERPOL's member countries.
  • Represent the Organization before the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) on issues of legal policy and in response to specific inquiries.
  • Provide expert and strategic legal advice to senior leadership and high-profile stakeholders.
  • Develop, promote, and implement legal strategies to protect organizational interests, operations, and programmes.
  • Support the transformation agenda of the Organization with sound and forward-looking legal advice to leadership.
  • In close coordination with the Office of Governance, provide strategic guidance in the support to the prioritization, preparation, and follow up of the Committee on Governance activities in reviewing and reforming the Organization’s fundamental legal texts.
  • Provide strategic guidance in the support of the prioritization, preparation, and follow up of the activities of the Committee on Processing of Data, in its mandate to ensure alignment between member countries’ operational needs, INTERPOL’s Strategic Framework and the Organization’s data processing legal framework.

 

OBJECTIVE 2: Provide Executive-level direction to legal staff, oversee legal services

  • Direct the activities of managers, attorneys, and professional staff in the Executive Directorate, Legal Affairs at General Secretariat headquarters, regional bureaus and Special Representative offices.
  • Oversee the management of the Executive Directorate Legal Affairs portfolio and ensure managers assign tasks and responsibilities to competent specialists.
  • Set standards and ensure the delivery of high-quality legal analyses and advice on complex and strategic issues.

 

 

OBJECTIVE 3: Ensure mitigation of legal risks and collaborate on mitigation of operational risks at an organizational level, oversee all litigation and dispute resolution

  • Provide strategic and executive-level direction and supervision to the Notices and Diffusions Task Force (NDTF) to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risks.
  • Ensure the development and evolution of rules, legal standards and guidelines for the review and circulation of Notices and Diffusions and other data processing activities in alignment with international law enforcement needs, developments in public international law, and INTERPOL's legal principles.
  • Ensure the development and evolution of rules, legal standards and guidelines for the review of legal aspects related to police programmes and projects in accordance with international law enforcement needs, developments in public international law, and INTERPOL's legal principles.
  • Design, oversee, and implement the Organization's external litigation strategy and particularly at the onset of high-profile/high-risk cases affecting the Organization's interests, to ensure effective protection and representation of INTERPOL's position.
  • Provides direction to managers on litigation before international tribunals, including the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Administrative tribunal of the International Labour Organization, and relevant national or international courts.
  • Provide advice to Executive Directorate of Legal Affairs managers on potential administrative and internal employment disputes and claims, working with the Office of Internal Oversight and the Directorate of Human Resources.

 

 

OBJECTIVE 4: Oversee and coordinate the negotiation and drafting of agreements

  • Oversee and provide strategic direction to the relevant legal managers and units negotiating and drafting legal instruments.
  • Oversee and provide strategic direction to the relevant legal managers and units on all matters related to privileges and immunities, including guiding dialogue with member countries to ensure that the Organization's privileges and immunities are respected and applied consistently.
  • Provide strategic direction in the promotion, ratification and implementation of the INTERPOL General Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities across the membership.

 

 

OBJECTIVE 5: Strategic Management and Organizational Leadership

  • Develop strategic legal frameworks to ensure effective governance and compliance.
  • Maintain an evolving approach to legal knowledge, emerging practices, and criminal operations to ensure INTERPOL maintains operational currency in legal practices.
  • Exercise comprehensive managerial responsibilities, including personnel leadership, budget oversight, strategic planning, and operational decision-making across General Secretariat legal services.
  • At the request of the Secretary General, represent INTERPOL in high-level meetings with national and international stakeholders, fostering cooperation and operational alignment.
  • Foster strong cross- Executive Directorate collaboration.

 

 

OBJECTIVE 6: Perform any other duties as required by the hierarchy.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS


EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATION REQUIRED:

  • Masters or juris doctor degree in Law preferably in international and/or criminal law — PhD would be an asset.
  • Law enforcement-related training or background at senior levels would be highly desirable.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

  • Proven experience providing sound legal advice and guidance to executive leadership teams.
  • At least 15 years of experience providing legal leadership and senior advisory capability preferably in an international organization or international cooperation.
  • Experience in providing critical legal support to teams in highly challenging environments.
  • Exposure to working with police agencies or government services would be ideal.
  • Experience in leading a team or teams of legal specialists as well as managing staff development and deployment.
  • Experience managing a budget, resources, and alignment with Organizational strategies.
  • Experience in civil, criminal, or administrative litigation in an international environment would be an asset.
  • Experience working in an international and multicultural environment would be desirable.
  • Experience in leading or collaborating with international legal fora and bodies.

LANGUAGES:

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Proficiency in a second official working language of the Organization (Arabic, French, Spanish) would be an asset.

ABILITIES REQUIRED:

  • Strong executive leadership and people management skills.
  • Strong legal drafting ability and advisory ability.
  • Very strong analytical, risk evaluation and interpretative skills.
  • Strong judgment, negotiation and mediating skills.
  • Personal and professional maturity.
  • Ability to work under pressure.
  • Initiative and creativity.
  • Energetic and proactive attitude.
  • Team player that collaborates and engages for results and speedy solutions.
  • Ability to develop and maintain professional networks.
  • Good interpersonal and multicultural skills
  • Very strong communication skills (written and oral), including listening skills.