Job Description

Who are we?
At SanlamAllianz, we are proud to be the largest pan-African, non-banking financial services organisation on the continent. With operations across 26 African countries (excluding South Africa), our diverse portfolio spans life insurance, general insurance, retail credit, health, bancassurance, and asset management. Guided by our core values of Innovation, Care, Integrity, and Collaboration, we are committed to realising our vision of being the most admired financial services group in Africa. We foster a high-performance, energising, and inclusive culture where employees feel cared for, empowered, and challenged to deliver their best work. At SanlamAllianz, we believe that when people are inspired and supported, they live with confidence - and together, we achieve excellence.
What will you do?
We are seeking a dynamic and commercially astute Junior Commercial Attorney to join our Legal Team supporting SanlamAllianz's operations across Sub-Saharan Africa. This role offers the opportunity to work on legal matters across multiple jurisdictions and to contribute meaningfully to the legal and strategic direction of the business. The purpose of the role is to support the Head of Legal: Sub-Saharan Africa in managing legal risk, drafting and reviewing contracts at the SanlamAllianz hub level, assisting with litigation oversight and reporting and contributing to the implementation of strategic legal initiatives across the SanlamAllianz portfolio. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented legal professional with a strong commercial mindset and a desire to grow within a pan-African legal environment
What will make you successful in this role?
Responsibilities amongst others includes the following:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements (e.g. service agreements, software licensing, NDAs), ensuring alignment with SanlamAllianz's policies and risk appetite.
• Provide legal and commercial advice to business units across SanlamAllianz and its Sub-Saharan African affiliates, supporting contract negotiations and maintaining consistency in contracting practices.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of contract templates and provide corporate legal support at both hub and portfolio level.
• Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda on commercial, regulatory, and cross-border legal issues, where required.
• Support the preparation and submission of regulatory applications, including to the South African Reserve Bank.
• Liaise with legal advisors in the portfolio to identify and track litigation matters being managed locally.
• Assist in compiling litigation reports, highlighting key matters based on materiality thresholds and financial exposure, and ensuring alignment with SanlamAllianz's legal strategy.
• Provide legal support on mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives.
• Support the Head of Legal: Sub-Saharan Africa in day-to-day legal operations and strategic legal initiatives across the Portfolio.

Qualification and Experience

• LLB degree (admitted attorney or advocate preferred).
• 2-5 years post-qualification experience in commercial law, preferably in a corporate or multinational environment.
• Experience in contract drafting and negotiation is essential.
• Exposure to cross-border legal work or financial services is advantageous.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong legal drafting and analytical skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to deal with competing priorities and be resilient
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Analytical and conceptual thinking (solving of complex problems)
• Building and maintaining relationships with external and internal clients
• Pro-active individual with the ability to work independently as well as a member of a team
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to meet stringent deadlines
• Attention to detail

Core Competencies
Being resilient - Contributing through others
Collaborates - Contributing through others
Drives results - Contributing through others
Cultivates innovation - Contributing through others
Customer focus - Contributing through others
Build a successful career with us
We're all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future - your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters - Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office - the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.
Turnaround time
The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers.
Our commitment to transformation
The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are the key components to ensure a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa. The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.

Skills Required