Legal Counsel

The Legal Counsel provides legal advice and support across DIANA’s mandate and operations, contributing to the management of legal risk, institutional governance, and the development and application of legal frameworks and agreements. The role handles a range of legal matters autonomously and supports data protection and information governance activities within DIANA.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice across a range of areas including international, public, regulatory, and commercial law relevant to DIANA’s activities, identifying legal risks and proposing appropriate mitigation measures.
• Draft and review legal instruments, including Memoranda of Understanding, contracts, regulatory documents, and internal policies, ensuring consistency with NATO frameworks and host nation requirements.
• Contribute to the development, interpretation, and implementation of internal legal frameworks, policies, and governance arrangements, supporting the provision of legal advice to stakeholders.
• Support organisational decision-making by delivering clear, well-reasoned, and practical legal analysis to internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments relevant to DIANA’s activities (e.g. defence, technology, procurement, and innovation), identifying potential implications and supporting appropriate organisational responses.
• Support data protection and information governance activities, including maintaining relevant documentation, advising on routine matters, and escalating complex or high-risk issues as appropriate.
• Liaise with colleagues across DIANA and, where required, with NATO bodies and external stakeholders, supporting coordination, consistency, and information exchange on legal matters.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of legal templates, guidance materials, and internal processes to support consistent and high-quality legal outputs.
• Perform any other related duties as required.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree at a nationally recognized/certified University in law or a related discipline and a minimum of 2 years post-related experience OR exceptionally, the lack of a Bachelor’s degree in law or related field may be compensated with at least 6 years extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post.
• A minimum of 2 years of work experience in legal areas relevant to DIANA’s activities, such as public procurement, defence or technology regulation, or international public law.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience providing legal advice with minimal supervision.
• Experience drafting clear, accurate, and well-structured legal documents.
• Experience supporting data protection and information governance activities, including handling sensitive information and understanding compliance requirements.
• Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders and communicate legal concepts in a clear and practical manner.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary or international environment.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; and I (“Beginner”) in the other.
• Legal work experience in an innovative, technology‑driven, or start‑up environment, or exposure to legal work supporting innovation or emerging technologies (desirable).
• Exposure to international or commercial legal matters within a public, international, or regulated organizational context (desirable).
• Knowledge of the legal or regulatory framework of one or more of the Host Nations (United Kingdom, Canada, or Estonia) (desirable).
• Knowledge of NATO institutional framework, policies and procedures (desirable).

Skills

• Legal Advice
• Public Procurement Laws
• Defence Regulation
• Technology Regulation
• Public International Law
• Legal Document Drafting
• Data Protection Compliance
• Information Governance
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Multidisciplinary Environment Experience
• International Environment Experience
• Analytical Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Time Management
• Legal Risk Management
• Institutional Governance
• Legal Framework
• Legal Agreements
• NATO policy knowledge

Languages

English, French