Head of Financial and Institutional Law

Deadline for application: 30 November 2026. We are looking for someone to manage our Financial and Institutional Law division (one of two divisions) within the General Counsel department. As the head of the division, you will be responsible for the operational management of four practice areas: capital markets, lending and banking, international civil service law, and institutional affairs. In this position, you will report and provide operational support and strategic advice to the General Counsel and, as needed, act as deputy General Counsel. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Develop strategies and support the General Counsel in decision-making on such issues as funding, investment, and banking and lending operations; regulatory, institutional, and corporate issues; internal governance and risk management; and international civil service matters, the internal justice system, and staff litigation.
• Coordinate and oversee the development, review, and/or optimisation of the legal framework for European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) activities within the division’s four practice areas. 
• Coordinate and oversee the delivery of projects in which the Financial and Institutional Law Division participates.
• Meet relevant internal stakeholders’ needs through proactive, solution-oriented support while maintaining legal certainty and mitigating legal risk in line with the ESM’s Risk Policy.
• Support the General Counsel in managing the department and the legal aspects of the EFSF and ESM within the Financial and Institutional Law division’s four practice areas and the General Counsel department.
• Manage and develop the team inclusively and in line with ESM values and behaviours, maintaining and strengthening professionalism and sustaining trust and collaboration within the team and beyond.
• Maintain team motivation and an appropriate balance of competencies and resources to achieve the division’s objectives.
• Ensure staff recruitment and retention, optimise individual and collective performance, and actively address workplace issues.
• Conduct research and monitor legal matters and significant trends within the division’s four practice areas that affect ESM and EFSF operations;
• Sustain relations with key external stakeholders.
• Supervise the work of external service providers, such as law firms and other third parties.
• Coordinate ESM outreach on legal policymaking within the division’s four practice areas.
• Represent the General Counsel department in internal meetings and the ESM at public events and other forums.

KEY BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE

• Qualified lawyer in an European Union (EU) jurisdiction with a master’s degree (or equivalent) or PhD.
• At least 15 years of relevant experience at a law firm, financial institution, bank, national and/or EU financial regulator, or international organisation working in the financial markets, ideally with a minimum of five years in a similar role and level of responsibilities.
• At least five years of professional experience in a people management role, including motivating, inspiring, and developing diverse and multicultural teams.
• Good practical understanding of economics and finance, evidenced by relevant work experience, and a demonstrated ability to work with experienced finance or economics professionals.
• Very good legal drafting and review skills, supported by substantial experience. 
• Strong understanding of the legal and governance architecture of treaty-based international financial institutions and Luxembourg-law special purpose vehicles. This includes their decision-making and approval processes and related national constitutional and parliamentary requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of international organisations’ financial operations, including sovereign lending, investment transactions, borrowing operations (e.g. guaranteed/non-guaranteed, digital/non-digital bond issuances) and derivatives transactions.
• Strong understanding of EU law, particularly Economic and Monetary Union, banking union, financial services regulation, EU supervisory and resolution frameworks, and the EU budget and related funds and financial instruments. This includes understanding emerging legislation and regulatory developments that set new standards for the financial sector, and their potential implications for international financial institutions and their operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in international administrative and employment law, conflict resolution, and/or redress mechanisms involving international organisations.
• Good understanding of artificial intelligence and its application to legal services. Experience with, or demonstrated awareness of, the effective and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools within legal teams, including related legal, governance, and confidentiality considerations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including drafting contractual provisions and technical papers. Any other language skills are considered an asset.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strategic judgement
• Setting direction and delivering through others
• Driving innovation and growth
• Leading high-performing teams
• Relationship building and partnerships
• Accountability and integrity

PRACTICAL INFORMATION 

• Deadline for application: 30 November 2026
• Employment grade: Head of Division
• Contract duration: five-year fixed-term contract, with possibility of extension
• Place of employment: Luxembourg 

• Current working arrangements: possibility to work remotely, usually up to two days a week, from Luxembourg and the border region (or from further away under certain conditions). 

   

  The ESM aims to provide equal opportunity to all candidates irrespective of their gender, nationality, age, race, culture, education, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or disability. To further enhance the diversity of our workforce, we particularly encourage women to apply.

  Note 1: The ESM reserves the right to refrain from hiring, or to slightly modify job responsibilities, as needed.
  
  Note 2: As a result of the selection process, please note that you may be placed on a ‘reserve list’ valid for a duration of six months during which you might be considered for a similar position with a similar level of requirements. Only those candidates who have been notified will be placed on the ‘reserve list’. After this period, you will need to apply again for our vacancies to be considered for a different selection process.