Legal Manager: Mining Regulatory

De Beers Group; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the mining sector seeks a Legal Manager to oversee regulatory advisory services. The role involves managing legal risks, supporting strategic initiatives, and ensuring compliance with mining laws. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in regulatory law, particularly in the mining industry.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' post admission experience as a regulatory lawyer.
• Experience in mining and/or environmental regulatory law is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide mining regulatory advisory services to the Upstream business.
• Manage legal risks and provide counsel on mitigation strategies.
• Design and implement a legal support framework.

Skills

Regulatory Law

Mining Law

Environmental Law

Stakeholder Management

Risk Assessment

Education

Legal Practitioner Qualification

Job description

Job Description

As a Legal Manager, you will play a crucial role supporting the Upstream business as it navigates the implementation of this strategy in fast-moving and sometimes uncertain operating landscapes.

You will manage and be accountable for the provision of mining regulatory advisory services to the De Beers Group Upstream business in the jurisdictions in which it operates and/or has an interest. This role will proactively engage relevant functional stakeholders to identify and monitor legal requirements and risks, procuring and delivering legal support to achieve business outcomes while mitigating and minimizing risks.

If you're passionate about legal excellence and eager to contribute to groundbreaking projects, we want you on our team!

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide robust and comprehensive services in respect of mining regulation, supporting the implementation of De Beers' strategy.
• Spearhead the vision, strategy, and objectives in respect of the mining regulation discipline to ensure the effective provision of legal support across the Upstream business.
• Design and implement a cohesive legal support framework for the provision of mining regulatory services to the Upstream business.
• Ensure comprehensive legal support covering mining law and licensing, environmental law and permitting, water law and rights, community, indigenous and collective title rights to mining land, social performance and community engagement.
• Foster strong relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between legal strategies and business objectives.
• Assess potential legal risks and provide counsel, suggesting mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with the Legal Manager: Dispute Resolution in any litigation or mediation processes related to mining regulation, and in respect of ESG issues.
• Continuously evaluate and refine legal processes within the discipline, aiming for increased efficiency and effectiveness.
• Drive the development and roll-out of training initiatives on mining regulation compliance.
• Collaborate with peers to refine essential resources like templates and best practice guides.
• Manage external law firm relationships ensuring cost-effective, high-quality services.
• Oversee the budget for the delivery of mining regulation legal support.
• Work with senior leadership to harmonize legal and group objectives.
• Support the Legal function:
  • Stakeholder Management: Manage internal stakeholder relationships to deliver high-quality, effective and timely advice.
  • Support Head of Legal: Assist the Head of Legal: Corporate & Upstream in addressing mining regulatory issues.
  • Risk Reporting: Report key regulatory risks and progress to the Head of Legal Corporate & Upstream.
  • Cost-Effective Support: Work with the Legal Operations Manager to develop scalable ways of providing regulatory legal support.
• People & Teams:
  • Demonstrate behaviour in line with De Beers' values, standards and a professional workplace.
  • Participate as an effective team member, working collaboratively to achieve business goals.
  • Contribute to the broader business by optimizing overall business results.
• Safety, Health & Environment:
  • Demonstrate behaviour in line with health, safety and environmental standards and with De Beers' values.
• Financial:
  • Manage the legal budget for Regulatory support.
  • Identify and address opportunities for improved cost management.
• Compliance
  • Set and adhere to organizational policies to drive performance and compliance.

Qualifications

• Qualified as a legal practitioner/admitted attorney in one or more of the jurisdictions in which the De Beers Group has operations or does business.

Minimum Requirements:

• A minimum of 10 years' post admission experience as a regulatory lawyer - experience in the mining industry is preferred.
• Specializing in mining and/or environmental regulatory law in any one or more of the jurisdictions in which De Beers operates, with exposure to community, indigenous and collective title rights to mining land, social performance, and community engagement.
• Proficiency in evaluating potential legal risks, offering counsel, and recommending mitigation strategies.
• Mastery in drafting, reviewing, and interpreting complex legal documents, ensuring clarity and coherence.
• Ability to design, develop, and roll-out specialized legal training initiatives.
• Fluency in liaising with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in leading a legal team in private practice in a major international or regional law firm (at partner or senior associate level) or in-house (at a senior level) is preferred.

Skills/Competencies:

• Operates with a high level of autonomy.
• Motivated, commits significant personal and discretionary effort to deliver future value.
• Consistently strives to exceed performance objectives.
• Displays tolerance and resilience and is not easily discouraged or deterred from achieving required outcomes.

Additional Information

The post is dependent on the successful completion of the company's pre-employment protocol such as qualification verification, relevant psychometric assessments, and a clear security clearance.

Who We Are: De Beers Group

De Beers Group is a company with a rich history and a sparkling future. Since 1888 our experts have searched the world for nature's most precious gem. Our diamonds bring beauty to the world. But we think they can do so much more. We want our diamonds, and our business, to make life brilliant - for our people, our customers, and the world around us.

Venetia Mine is part of De Beers Group Managed Operations Business which integrates mines, operations and support functions in the De Beers Group producer countries of Canada and South Africa to shape a safe, sustainable future for De Beers Group's people, shareholders, communities and partners.

Safety

Safety first is a way of life for us. We are unconditional about the safety, health and well-being of our colleagues, at work and at home, and about that of the communities where we work. We aim to lead the industry by investing in innovation to protect people, who are at the heart of our business. Our high performing teams take accountability for their own and others' actions, work collaboratively, and always show care and respect.

Background Checks

By applying for this job, you provide consent that your personal details, including your fingerprints, can be used to conduct background screening where appropriate. For more information, please visit: https://www.angloamerican.com/site-services/applicant-privacy-notice/applicant-privacy-notice-en

Privacy Statement

De Beers Group collects and processes personal data in accordance with the relevant regulations. For more information, please visit: https://www.angloamerican.com/site-services/applicant-privacy-notice/applicant-privacy-notice-en

Inclusion and Diversity

We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfil their potential.

Closing Date: 23 May 2025