Job Description

Closing Date
2025/09/25


Reference Number
SAS250910-1


Job Title Head of Legal


Job Type Permanent


Division Governance and Secretariat


Department Legal


EE Occupational Levels Level 7: Middle and Senior Management


Location - Town / City Sandton


Location - Province Gauteng


Location - Country South Africa


Job Advert Summary
To develop and drive the successful delivery of the Legal strategy and the effective running of the function, ensuring the attainment of Sasria objectives internally and externally through provision of sound legal risk management expertise.



Minimum 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.
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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.



Duties and Responsibilities#

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 Sasria'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.
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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 Sasria's enterprise risk management.
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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 Sasria and legal requirements. Facilitate the appointment and management of the panel of attorneys. Represent Sasria 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.
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Financial

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

We are committed to Employment Equity when recruiting internally and externally. It is company policy to promote from within wherever possible. Therefore, please be aware that internal candidates will be considered first before reviewing external applicants, provided that this supports achievement of our Employment Equity goals.