Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION
Strategic Alignment

• Proactively direct and oversee the Legal function, ensuring that the organisation remains compliant with all relevant legal prescripts including legislation, regulations and directives.
• Collaborate with the executive management team to provide legal advice to and advance Company's interest.
• Provide strategic advice and counsel to the company in terms of the legal impact of strategic plans and actions - locally or internationally.
• Develop and implement legal risk management framework, strategies, policies, ensuring alignment with the overall organisational strategy.
• Develop the function's operational plans and monitor implementation thereof.

Legal

• Be the strategic and technical lead on legal and legal risk management matters.
• Provide legal services and guidance to the organisation as needed on matters including contracts, short term insurance, labour law, and company law among others.
• Provide general legal advice pertaining to organisational decisions regarding scope, mandate, and shareholder interactions.
• In collaboration with the executive management, manage various complex legal projects and litigation.
• Collaborate with external legal counsel and other stakeholders to facilitate and ensure attainment of organisational objectives.

Compliance

• Collaborate with the Compliance Function to ensure that the framework for Legal and Compliance risk management is in alignment with Company's enterprise risk management.

Operations

• Oversee management of contracts and service level agreements.
• Drive the reduction of Corporate Risk by ensuring all contractual relationships are done in compliance with Company and legal requirements.
• Facilitate the appointment and management of the panel of attorneys.
• Represent Company in regulatory forums (e.g., SAIA legal committee).
• Participate in Risk and Audit Committee meetings as invited and provide necessary reports on a regular basis and in accordance with applicable governance frameworks including Prudential Standards, King Code IV & compliance standards.

Financial

• Compile and manage functional budget forecasts.
• Manage legal costs where applicable and oversee the taxation of costs.

People Management

• Ensure adequate capacity resourcing for the function to successfully execute its mandate.
• Recruit and develop skilled staff.
• Oversee, support, coach, and develop performance of direct reports, ensuring agreed performance targets are met.
• Address non-performance accordingly.
• Talent management of direct reports, including career development and succession planning for key positions.
• Ensure that the working environment contributes to improving staff morale and increasing productivity.

JOB REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
• Master's degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Management, Law, or a related field will be an added advantage.
• Admitted Legal Practitioner, registered with the Legal Practice Council.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant management experience, leading a legal function, resolution of disputes and differences including performance management issues, interacting with and providing legal advisory services to executive management.
• Experience in managing and resolving complex issues, legal and litigation matters.
• Key stakeholder engagement and influence.

Skills Required