Legal Advisor, Lead (Pb) Prevention Program

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is a global health organization that partners locally and globally to create and scale solutions to the world’s deadliest health threats. Millions of people die from preventable health threats. We collaborate to close the gap between proven, life-saving solutions and the people who need them. Since 2017, we’ve worked with governments and other partners in more than 60 countries to save millions of lives. We work toward a future where people live longer, healthier lives, communities flourish, and economies thrive. This is an ambitious vision, and it inspires us and our partners to make progress every day. 

The Cardiovascular Health (CVH) unit at Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) provides technical assistance in developing cardiovascular disease prevention programs to help countries improve their people's heart health. Working with our partners to improve the control of high blood pressure, reduce salt intake, and eliminate trans fat from the global food supply, the CVH team has helped save countless lives from cardiovascular disease.

Position Summary

RTSL Nigeria is seeking a Legal Advisor to provide legal support for a new lead poisoning prevention project. The Legal Advisor, Lead (Pb) Prevention Program, will prepare legal analyses, mappings, and recommendations to support the development, strengthening, implementation, and/or enforcement of regulations that address lead exposure from a variety of sources. This position will work collaboratively with the Senior Legal Adviser, RTSL Nigeria, and other team members to ensure that the program on lead poisoning at RTSL, Nigeria, takes account of the essential role of laws and regulations in setting standards and enforcement practices.

Duration and Location

The Legal Advisor, Lead (Pb) Prevention Program is a 12-month Independent Consultant position based in Abuja, Nigeria. 

Contract Deliverables

The scope of the work will include, but not be limited to, the following tasks: 

• Collect and analyze existing laws and regulations that address sources of lead exposure at federal and, where applicable, state levels.  
• Map government bodies legally responsible for implementing, and have enforcement authority to implement, policy and legislative actions relating to lead exposure.  
• Map existing initiatives among government bodies, with close coordination with the team, to examine the existing legal framework and where work has been completed.   
• Conduct stakeholder consultations and legal interviews with key government agencies, regulatory bodies, and industry actors to gather insights on existing monitoring and enforcement challenges and opportunities for strengthening legal frameworks related to lead (Pb) exposure. 
• In close coordination with the STA Legal and under the guidance of the STA Lead Prevention, make strategic recommendations for legal or regulatory changes to reduce lead exposure in Nigeria, highlighting all regulatory options for proceeding. 
• Develop legal training materials and support capacity-building workshops for policymakers, regulators, and enforcement agencies to enhance understanding and application of lead-related laws and regulations. 
• Track and analyze legislative or regulatory developments at the federal and state levels relevant to lead exposure, environmental and occupational safety, or consumer protection, and provide periodic legal briefs or memos to RTSL and its partners. 
• Provide drafting support for relevant legal documents aimed at limiting lead poisoning in Nigeria.  
• Support any other activities necessary to ensure the success of the lead poisoning prevention project and contribute to broader cardiovascular health-related legal and regulatory initiatives as may be assigned by RTSL.

Contract Management

The Independent Contractor will submit all deliverables to the Senior Technical Advisor, Lead Prevention, who will manage this contract and monitor progress towards deliverables.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in law. A master's degree would be an added advantage

Experience:

• At least 8 years of work experience as a fully enrolled legal professional 
• Experience with legal drafting, ideally related to the formulation of policies, proclamations, and regulations  
• Experience working within the Nigerian public sector, ideally on public health    
• Experience engaging with legislative or regulatory reform processes at the federal or state level
• Familiarity with Nigeria's environmental and consumer protection frameworks is an advantage 

Skills & abilities:

• Understanding of the Nigerian legal structure and functions relating to the legislative framework and processes 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with demonstrated experience documenting and disseminating program accomplishments 
• Highly attentive to detail 
• Outstanding organizational, stakeholder management and interpersonal skills 

Other:

• Able to travel within Nigeria for partner meetings or other convenings, as needed 
• Understanding of the agencies responsible for policies, regulations and laws relating to lead (Pb) and/or other heavy metals

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter detailing their suitability for the role.

RTSL believes its programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We encourage applications from and provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, organ donor status, or status as a veteran. Resolve to Save Lives complies with all applicable US EEO laws.