icddr,b is a Bangladesh-based international health research institute that strives to solve key public health problems through high-quality scientific research and innovation. icddrb as a values-based organization encourages women and people with disabilities to apply.
Regulatory and Legal Affairs (R&LA) under office of the Executive Director specifically established to provide support and strengthen icddr,b’s core function of scientific research. R&LA assists researchers and scientists with research contracts and processes all legal and critical documents, provides strategic legal advice to organizational stakeholders and thrives to ensure minimum legal risk for the organization through robust regulatory compliance.
This position holder will directly report to the Executive Director and responsible for overseeing all regulatory and legal affairs of icddr,b; Lead and manage the legal and regulatory compliance issues of the organization, pragmatically manage legal risks and regulatory compliance by being an astute business executive with the objective of minimizing liability exposure achieving business goals and commercial operations in proper compliance within the governing laws of Bangladesh, icddr,b Act 2022 and internal guidelines of icddr,b; and organizational values, policies and guidelines (such as Institutional Governance Framework - IGF and Gender Diversity Guidelines).
The position will be responsible for following duties and responsibilities:
- Strategy Development, Planning and Organizing: Develop and enforce organization’s regulatory compliance strategy and framework; Lead the strategic and tactical regulatory and legal initiatives of the organization by setting up the Department of Regulatory and Legal Affairs and to serve as the primary legal advisor of icddr,b in all national and international affairs; Provide Senior Leadership Team with effective advice on the organizational strategies from critical legal and regulatory perspective and their successful implementation; Actively contribute in the process of strategic planning and play an advisory role to align organizational strategic decisions within the legal and regulatory framework and ensures icddr,b remains compliant; drafting/reviewing/vetting policy documents and other governance instruments; under the supervision of ED working with relevant Ministries and Governmental offices for the enactment of icddr,b's new Act, its translation and development of different Regulations under the 2022 Act; work with and as SLT to facilitate different regulatory issues including without limitation obtaining different permission (as necessary) from governing authorities, managing/ensuring different facilities/benefits provided by the Government or appropriate authorities through proper channelization/follow ups/strategic approach, etc.; facilitating/working with different departments in responding to Governmental offices for different legal issues; work with Finance and/or any other department to facilitate audit/providing justification/explanation to audit observations; act as the custodian of Institutional Governance Framework (IGF).
- Implement and oversight of regulatory compliance strategy: Participate in the definition and development of corporate policies, procedures and programs for initiating, implementing and oversight of all regulatory compliance issues of icddr,b; Develop strategies and techniques in consultation with the ED and SLT to identify and mitigate potential legal, regulatory, or compliance, and/or administrative risks; Develop and maintain a systematic process of review to ensure compliance with regulatory laws and related codes of practice through initiating a comprehensive regulatory compliance monitoring program; Set up and manage the Department of Regulatory and Legal Affairs, including recruiting of new personnel and training of existing staff; Ensuring full compliance with Core Donor reviews; Support new business/research objectives with regulatory strategic support, including technical writing and presentations; Provide clear and valid regulatory guidance to icddr,b personnel throughout the operational and development process; Keep current of all applicable national and international regulations; act as members of diffreent committee, review board, team or etc. to conduct the necessary proceeding; Represent icddr,b, if needed, for different quasi-judicial matters at different administrative/governmental offices; Provide general counseling related to domestic and international regulatory requirements and corporate governance in order to ensure internal and external regulatory compliance and framework are aligned with the domestic and international regulatory matters.
- Legal Advice and Administrative Affairs: Perform and manage all required legal functions as the primary in-house legal counsel, including leading the legal team in accordance with and in support of the business objectives; Draft, review and advise on policies, procedures and SoPs of icddr,b; Draft, review and advise on by-laws, strategic documents; Advise on ordinance and other legal provisions; Advise management in establishing and influencing strong ethical standard and legal compliance in the organization; Respond to all complaints made against the organization and advise management; Provide legal support to HR and Internal Oversight with investigations of non-compliance issues, including scientific misconducts and suggesting compliance measures to business partners; Advise the organization on the litigation risks of possible business decisions, providing preventive counseling with respect to the legal risks associated with business practices; Provide legal expertise to other departments where needed; Represent the organization in all legal proceedings and managing coordination with external counsels; Plan and direct all aspects of organization’s legal affairs to ensure due diligence and legal compliance for icddr,b; Advise on legal aspects of the organization’s financing, including assessing and advising on current and future business structures and legal entities; Develop, supervise and coordinate the work of external counsels and consulting them on sensitive legal issues; Monitor Intellectual Property (IP) Rights, Assist and advise Finance and SCM for Tax/VAT and Customs related issues; Act as SOC Member as needed for the procurement procedur; Develop and manage the legal department’s budget; act as the Member Secretary of the Governance Working Group (GWG) facilitating the management of the disciplinary proceedings along with HR and reporting to the Board and donors (as appropriate) under the supervision of ED; act as the facilitator for different amicable settlement procedure; facilitating different training and/or awareness session as needed; act as members of diffreent committees, review boards and/or any team as needed; act as negotiator for different issues as need by the Centre; Develop and maintain pro-bono and internship programs for icddr,b in order to ensure organization's legal issues are operating in line with the strategic requirements.
- Contract Management: Serve as the key lawyer/legal advisor on all major organizational contractual transactions; Negotiate, draft, review and implement a wide variety of complex, multi-party agreements including financing agreements (grants and sub-grants), MoUs, MTAs, NDAs, Leases etc and their amendments/extensions; Conduct meetings independently with the PIs and senior administrative staff to provide guidance pertaining to the contracting process; Lead the review process and ensure informed approval for all legal arrangements from proper authority; Work in close collaboration with the Legal Counsel, Contracts Manager, Legal Managers and other in-house lawyers to implement a service oriented and client focused contract review system for optimum work flow; Develop and implement integrated sub-grant monitoring system for providing legal oversight of all sub-grants from icddr,b; Monitor all grants, including narrative reporting schedule, in close collaboration with the RA and Finance for ensuring compliance with donor’s requirements; Coordinate closeout process in collaboration with RA and Finance; act as a negotiator or facilitate the negotiation, on behalf of icddr,b, with different donor and/or contracting party; arranging necessary amendments to the existing contracts, contract templates and/or as necessary to ensure compliance requirements in order to make robust legal contracts with minimum risk exposure to icddr,b; Conduct meetings independently with the PIs and senior administrative staff to provide guidance pertaining to the contracting process.
- People Management: Interview candidates and make hiring recommendations, if required; Promote a spirit of collegiality and gender diversity amongst team members and in the organization; Encourage team members to collaborate across areas; Address and resolve any diversity related issues; Set goals and conduct appraisals for the team; Set high standards and confront poor performance where needed; Mentor young professionals and prepare them for higher responsibilities; Identify and reward high performers; Recommend promotions; Take appropriate actions to manage poor performance (such as creating Performance Improvement Plans, coaching, job rotations, planning separations from icddr,b) in order to build and develop an engaged and high performing team. Maintain the liaison with external legal counsel (national and international) for different legal proceeding/cases at the Courts of Bangladesh and/or abroad and assist them as and when needed to the best possible level.
Required experience and qualifications:
Education:
Barrister-at-Law/LLM from a reputable university and fully qualified and enrolled to practice in Bangladesh Bar Council.
Experience:
- 08 - 10 years of legal experience including exposure in large NGO/INGO/Health Research Organization/international organization.
Location: Mohakhali Campus, Dhaka
Contract Type and duration:
- Fixed Term; duration will be 2 Year with a possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and performance.
Salary & benefits:
- Annual 4,266,060/- inclusive of house rent, conveyance allowances and other admissible benefits
- 14.8% provident fund contribution, income tax paid by icddr,b, children allowance @Tk.2,492/- per child per month, festival bonus, contributory healthcare support including dependent spouse and children, group life insurance, and subsidized canteen. Transport and day-care facilities are subject to space availability.
Notes of attention:
- Only short-listed candidates shall be invited for written test /interview;
- icddr,b does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Interested candidates who fulfil the requirements should submit online applications using icddr,b website: career.icddrb.org by January 19,2026.
