N-26-46 Legal Specialist

• Resource Type National Recruited Staff (NRS)
• Region HQ
• Date Opened 10/29/2026
• Job Type Full time
• Industry Research and Development
• City Lima
• State/Province Lima

Job Description

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking adynamic and experienced Legal Specialist to support our Legal Team in Lima,Peru. The Office of Legal Affairs provides legal advisoryservices and ensures effective management of legal and contractual risks byproviding such advice and assistance to the Area leaders of research andoperations in HQ and regions.

The Center:

CIP is a not-for-profitinternational agricultural research-for-development organization with a focuson potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots andtubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving foodsecurity, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root andtuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partnersto contribute to high-quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening forsustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, withstaff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and LatinAmerica. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Integrated Partnership. CGIAR is a globalresearch partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to transforming food,land, and water systems in a climate crisis. Its science is carried out by 15Research Centers in close collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.

About the role:

The successful candidate will providespecialized legal advisory and contractual support to contribute to the Unit’sgoals. The Legal Specialist will report to the Legal Senior Manager and will bebased in Lima, Peru.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide accurateand timely legal advice to managers and staff on contractual, institutional,and operational matters.
• Draft, review, andnegotiate contracts and agreements (HCAs, Collaboration Agreements, MoUs, NDAs,and third-party agreements), identifying risks and proposing mitigation.
• Supportimplementation of CIP policies and procedures, promoting legal, compliance, andrisk management best practices.
• Monitor legislativechanges affecting CIP operations across LAC, Africa, and Asia.
• Coordinate duediligence and validation of partners, contractors, and suppliers.
• Design and deliverlegal training to business units.
• Own legaltemplates, clause libraries, and monitoring tools, recommending processimprovements.
• Coordinate andmanage the signing process of legal documents and contracts, ensuring timelyfollow-up and filing in electronic and physical archives, directing supportfrom the Legal Intern, if assigned.
• Own legal intake,ticket registration, and workload tracking, producing periodic metrics andreports on legal workload and service delivery, with data-entry and trackingsupport from the Legal Intern, if assigned.
• Supervise and guidethe Legal Intern, if assigned.
• Comply, in theperformance of assigned tasks, with applicable national and international laws,regulations, and standards, including health and safety requirements.

Requirements

What are we looking for?

• Law degree with professional title (Título deAbogado) and active bar membership (Colegiatura – CAL or regional equivalent).
• At least 6 years of relevant professionalexperience in a similar legal position.
• Proven experience drafting and negotiatingcontracts and agreements.
• Specialization in contracts law (desired).
• Experience in international organizations or NGOsis preferred.
• Familiarity with Peruvian legal procedures andinternational agreements.
• Knowledge of intellectual property law applicableto science and development (desired).
• Advanced qualitative and quantitative analyticalskills.
• Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel.
• Fluent in Spanish and advanced English (written andoral, C1 or higher) required.
• Strong innovation, accountability, teamwork, andintegrity; ensure confidentiality and ethical handling of sensitive legalinformation.

Whyshould you consider this opportunity?

• CIP is a global and reputable international organizationthat has a strong, state-of-the-art R&D background.
• CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improvingnutrition and well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuberfarming and food systems in the developing world.
• CIP is a member of the CGIAR, a global researchpartnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated totransforming food, land and water systems in a climate crisis. Its research iscarried out by 15 CGIAR Research Centers in close collaboration with hundre