General Manager - Legal Affairs & Commercial

MTN Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1 609 000 - 2 415 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecommunications company is seeking a General Manager: Legal Affairs for its Johannesburg office. This role is responsible for providing legal leadership and oversight for digital financial products. Key responsibilities include developing legal frameworks, ensuring compliance with regulations, and advising on complex legal matters. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of experience in commercial law, with 4-5 years in a senior leadership position, preferably in fintech or financial services. Fluency in English is a must, and knowledge of additional languages is beneficial.

Qualifications

• 10+ years experience in commercial or corporate law is required.
• 4-5 years in a senior legal leadership position is essential.
• Experience in financial services or fintech is preferred.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of other languages is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal oversight for fintech operations including disputes.
• Develop legal frameworks and policies to support product delivery.
• Monitor legal performance and manage compliance with regulations.
• Collaborate on defining the Legal Affairs strategy.

Skills

Commercial law expertise

Legal risk management

Negotiation skills

Knowledge of fintech regulations

Leadership

Multi-country operational experience

Education

Minimum 4-year tertiary degree in Law

Postgraduate qualification (LLM, MBA, or equivalent)

Job description

The General Manager: Legal Affairs (Commercial Functions) is responsible for providing proactive, commercially aligned, and scalable legal leadership to MTN Group Fintech. The role supports the Chief Legal Officer in defining and executing the Group Fintech legal strategy, while enabling the safe and compliant delivery of digital financial products and services across multiple markets.

The role provides legal oversight and advisory support across payments, lending, overdraft, savings, and remittance products, ensuring that legal risk is effectively managed without constraining innovation, speed to market, or commercial growth.

The General Manager oversees the delivery of legal services, development of legal frameworks and policies, management of disputes and litigation, and the interpretation and implementation of legislative and regulatory requirements impacting Group Fintech operations.

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Provide input into the Group Fintech strategy to ensure legal considerations are embedded in business planning and execution.
• In collaboration with the Chief Legal Officer, define and execute the Legal Affairs strategy aligned to Group Fintech priorities and growth ambitions.
• Develop legal frameworks, policies, and standards that support scalable product delivery across OpCos.
• Regularly review the Legal Affairs strategy and roadmap to ensure alignment with evolving regulatory, commercial, and technology landscapes.

Operational Delivery

Functional Leadership

• Establish, monitor, and align the direction, strategy, and outcomes of the Legal Affairs function across Group Fintech.
• Drive an integrated legal advisory and problem‑solving approach that supports product innovation and commercial execution.
• Monitor legal performance metrics to assess the impact and value of the function to Group Fintech.
• Drive continuous improvement in legal processes, standards, and service delivery.

Legal Advisory & Commercial Enablement

• Provide legal advice and support to Group Fintech business units on commercial, contractual, and strategic matters.
• Oversee drafting, review, and negotiation of contracts relating to products, platforms, partnerships, APIs, vendors, and technology providers.
• Define and maintain standard legal templates, clauses, and contracting frameworks to enable faster execution across markets.
• Provide legal input into new product development, partnerships, and market entry initiatives.

Legal Risk, Disputes & Litigation

• Lead the management of legal risk across Group Fintech operations.
• Define and oversee the litigation and dispute resolution framework, including engagement and management of external counsel.
• Support resolution of disputes in a manner that balances legal, financial, reputational, and operational considerations.
• Monitor emerging legal risks and regulatory developments and advise management accordingly.

Regulatory & Legislative Monitoring

• Monitor changes in legislation, regulation, and public policy impacting digital financial services.
• Assess the impact of regulatory developments on products, platforms, and partnerships and provide guidance to leadership.
• Support OpCos and Group stakeholders on legal and regulatory interpretation as required.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years post‑qualification experience in commercial or corporate law.
• At least 4–5 years’ experience in a senior legal leadership role.
• Experience within financial services, fintech, banking, or digital platforms preferred.
• Proven experience operating in multi‑country or multinational environments.
• Exposure to complex commercial transactions, partnerships, and regulatory environments.
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in defining and executing legal affairs strategies, policies, and frameworks in a scalable/large‑scale Financial Services and/or Consumer Finance multi‑country environment.
• Considerable exposure and participation in negotiations and drafting of highly complex transaction documents (locally and internationally).
• Deep understanding of the Fintech & digital ecosystem, players, business models and industry related best practices.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, self‑driven and ability to motivate a fast‑paced team.
• English speaker. French, Portuguese, Zulu, Swahili, and other African languages a plus.

Functional Knowledge

• Legislative Management & Monitoring
• Legal Risk Management
• Corporate & Commercial Law
• Litigation – General/ Class action / Investigation
• M&A Legal advisory
• Legal Due Diligence
• Negotiation & Deal review
• Legal Analysis
• Dispute Management
• Labor & Employment law
• IP law & Legislation
• Minimum 4‑year tertiary degree in Law
• Postgraduate qualification (LLM, MBA, or equivalent) advantageous
• Admitted Attorney / Advocate with relevant professional registration

General Manager Legal Affairs, Commercial • Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa