Group Head of Legal

HyperionDev; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing tech startup in Cape Town is seeking a Group Head of Legal to oversee all legal aspects of the business. The role involves developing legal strategies to support international expansion, managing external legal counsel, and ensuring compliance across jurisdictions. Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of in-house legal experience and be admitted attorneys with an LLB degree. Flexible remote working options are available.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Remote-friendly organization

Impactful work in education tech

Qualifications

• Admitted attorney with an LLB degree.
• 10 years of in-house legal experience reviewing policies.
• 5+ years in a leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement company's legal strategy for expansion.
• Manage and negotiate contracts with various entities.
• Oversee compliance with global regulatory requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Contract negotiation

Compliance

Legal risk assessment

Communication

Education

LLB degree

Master's degree in Law or Business Administration

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are a rapidly expanding startup with international growth, managing complex government and university partnerships. Our legal operations involve working with multiple law firms across jurisdictions, ensuring compliance, risk management, and strategic legal guidance to support our expansion.

The Group Head of Legal will be responsible for overseeing all legal aspects of our business, providing strategic direction, managing external legal counsel, and ensuring compliance with international regulations. This role is critical in safeguarding our company’s interests while facilitating scalable and legally sound growth. As the Head of Legal at HyperionDev, you will be part of our leadership team, working directly with the CEO and Partnerships team on business expansion. You will represent HyperionDev in all legal matters, lead our preparedness for legal challenges, and provide strategic counsel to other departments.

Please note this is a full time position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop and implement the company’s legal strategy to support international expansion
• Manage and negotiate a wide range of business contracts, including agreements with government, universities, service providers, and strategic partners.
• Oversee compliance with global regulatory requirements, including data protection, local legislation and corporate governance.
• Liaise with and manage relationships with external law firms across multiple jurisdictions.
• Provide legal risk assessments and mitigation strategies to the CEO and management team.
• Lead dispute resolution, litigation management, and regulatory investigations when necessary.
• Support corporate structuring, investor contracts and any M&A activities as the company scales.
• Develop and review legal policies and procedures
• Lead and train the internal team in their contract management, compliance, legal administration and litigation tasks.

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum

• Should be an admitted attorney with an LLB degree
• Minimum of 10 years of in-house legal experience reviewing policies and procedures.
• 5+ years experience in a leadership role
• Minimum of 1 year experience with English and Welsh law cases
• Strong experience in contract negotiation, corporate law, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Exposure to working with or within fast-growing startups and international business environments
• Experience managing external law firms and legal budgets.
• Excellent leadership and management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both legal and non-legal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to analyse and solve complex legal issues.

Preferred

• Master\'s degree in Law or Business Administration
• Prior experience in a startup / tech environment
• Prior experience or knowledge in government procurement legislation
• Experience drafting shareholder agreements, Board resolutions or minutes, sale of share agreements
• Experience in matters dealing with Intellectual Property Law or trademark application/enforcement
• Strong ethical standards and commitment to integrity and compliance.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Strong writing skills and high attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and meet timelines

BENEFITS

Flexible & remote working: We are a remote-friendly organisation and offer flexible work options.

Join the heart of tech in Africa, the US, and Europe: You'll work with the best of the best and rub shoulders with the world leaders in edtech, developer education, and developer assessments. Join one of the most ambitious and highest performing tech companies in the space, with a founding team that draws their former experience from companies such as Google, Amazon, GetSmarter/2U, & Yoco.

Life-changing work: Solve real problems that make education and tech careers accessible to those who need it most: you\'re allowed to brag about it.