Opportunity: General Counsel at Tara Climate Foundation — Deadline: 10 October 2025 (12:00 PM SGT)

About Tara Climate Foundation

Tara Climate Foundation is a philanthropic climate foundation dedicated to supporting Asia’s energy transformation and fostering just, thriving, and resilient societies. Since its establishment in 2021 (HQ in Singapore), Tara has provided grants to over 300 organisations across 13 countries, supported by more than a dozen philanthropic funders. With a team of over 55 experts across the Asia-Pacific, Tara works as a grantmaker, convenor, and regional expert to accelerate climate action in East, Southeast, and South Asia (excluding India and China).

The Role: General Counsel

The General Counsel will oversee all legal, risk, and compliance matters, working strategically and hands-on with leadership, program, operations, and partnerships teams. The role requires navigating international legal contexts and ensuring compliance across jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Legal Advisory

Advise leadership and teams on governance, compliance, employment law, and grantmaking.
Provide creative, solutions-oriented legal guidance to enable program goals while managing risks.
Build networks of regional legal experts and resolve complex questions on grants, contracts, and compliance.

Operational Legal Support

Draft/review contracts, templates, and policies (HR, grants, IT, Finance, partnerships).
Guide People & Culture team on global employment law and documentation.
Manage external counsel across employment, compliance, and risk domains.

Governance, Compliance, & Risk

Ensure compliance with relevant laws across jurisdictions (nonprofit law, tax-exempt status, data protection, lobbying, etc.).
Provide oversight on risk management and insurance.

Organisational Development & Leadership

Build internal legal fluency through training and resources.
Support cross-functional collaboration and embed legal as a partner in innovation.
Serve on the Leadership Team, mentoring and supporting staff.

Candidate Profile

Minimum 15 years’ experience in law, risk, and compliance.
Strong background in international law, philanthropy, NGOs, grantmaking, and regranting.
Experience advising senior management in global organisations.
Outstanding intercultural communication and leadership skills.
Knowledge of US law and/or experience working with US Counsel is highly advantageous.