Country Office Legal Counsel – Philippines (Retainer)

Title: Country Office Legal Counsel – Philippines (Retainer)

Location(s) where the Services are to be performed: Philippines, with services provided remotely and in-person as reasonably required.

Contracting Manager: Country Director

The Legal Counsel will work closely, as appropriate, with RI's country leadership, HR, Finance, Awards and Partnerships, Supply Chain and Operations, Security, and relevant global office colleagues.

Timings: As required during the contract period

Dates: November 2026

The engagement may be extended by mutual written agreement, subject to satisfactory performance, continued need, and availability of funding.

Pre-Hire Checks Requirements: This role is classified as requiring standard pre-engagement checks

About Relief International

Relief International is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience, and promote long-term health and wellbeing. We work in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.

Relief International (RI) Philippines operates with a strong focus on peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and development programming in areas affected by conflict, natural disasters, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Since establishing its presence in the country, RI has worked closely with local communities, civil society organizations, and government institutions to support conflict-affected populations, promote social cohesion, and deliver life-saving assistance. The country's program integrates gender equality, youth empowerment, and community resilience across its portfolio, ensuring that interventions address both immediate needs and long-term structural challenges.

Purpose of the Engagement

RI Philippines seeks to engage a Philippine-licensed lawyer in good professional standing to provide accessible, timely, practical, and risk-informed legal support to the organization. The Legal Counsel will help RI:

• Maintain its legal and regulatory standing in the Philippines;
• Identify and manage legal risks arising from its programs and operations;
• Make legally informed employment, contractual, operational, and governance decisions;
• Maintain appropriate documentation and compliance records;
• Respond appropriately to government inquiries, complaints, disputes, and potential claims; and
• Coordinate Philippine legal requirements with RI’s global policies, donor obligations, and organizational structure.

The Legal Counsel is expected to provide clear and operationally practical advice, including recommended actions, responsible parties, deadlines, risk levels, and options available to RI.

Scope of Services

• Advise RI on routine Philippine legal, regulatory, and corporate compliance requirements, including but not limited to SEC requirements and permits for licensing.
• Provide legal advice and written opinions on routine matters arising from operations, including but not limited to disputes and resolutions arising from employee-employer matters brought before the Department of Labor and Employment, matters relating from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• Review contracts, agreements, MOUs, leases, government documents, authorizations, and other organizational documents.
• Provide notarial services during the contract period.

Key Delivery Milestones

Services will be provided on an ongoing basis throughout the contract period, with advice, document review/drafting and regulatory support provided as requested by RI.

Information, services or resources to be provided by the Contractor:

The Legal Counsel will provide timely legal advice, document review and drafting, regulatory guidance, government liaison and notarial services within the scope above. The Contractor will maintain appropriate records of work undertaken and provide a summary of services with each invoice.

Additional / Out-of-Scope Services

The monthly retainer covers the services described in this SOW. If the Contractor believes that a requested service falls outside the Legal Counsel scope, he or she must notify RI and obtain written approval before undertaking the additional work.

Any request for additional services must clearly state:

• the matter or service considered outside scope;
• the reason it is outside the In-House Legal Counsel scope;
• the proposed work and estimated effort; and
• any additional professional fees or expenses.

No additional fees or expenses will be payable without prior written approval from RI. Work undertaken without such approval will be considered covered by the agreed retainer.

Litigation, court or quasi-judicial proceedings, trial representation, formal dispute resolution and other matters requiring separate legal counsel will be engaged separately and are not included in this SOW.

Safeguarding and conduct

• Uphold and promote RI’s commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Ensure that your behaviour inside and outside of work promotes the values outlined in RI’s Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies.
• Consistent with RI’s safeguarding and protection policies, contribute to ensuring that all those who come into contact with RI staff and the communities we serve can be trusted to work safely with them.

Required skills and competencies:

The Legal Counsel should have:

• A valid Philippine license to practice law and be in good professional standing;
• Demonstrated experience in Philippine corporate, regulatory, contractual, and general organizational law;
• Experience providing retained legal support to organizations, companies, NGOs, international organizations, or similar entities;
• Strong legal research, drafting, review, and communication skills;
• Ability to provide practical and timely legal advice; and
• Familiarity with Philippine government regulatory and corporate compliance requirements.
• Experience working with international NGOs or humanitarian organizations is highly desirable.

RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability

As a humanitarian organization, Relief International is committed to the safeguarding of all those we come into contact with through our work. We are committed to the core humanitarian principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. Relief International expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviors outlined in the Code of Conduct.

Recruitment to all roles in Relief International includes a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checks.