Legal Counsel

Dhl Germany; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a skilled legal advisor to join their dynamic team. This role offers the chance to provide critical legal support to a leading logistics company, focusing on contract management, dispute resolution, and compliance with legal standards. You will work closely with various departments and contribute to the company's strategic goals while ensuring legal risks are minimized. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are passionate about making a significant impact, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Flexibility

International Work Environment

Learning Opportunities

Tempting Compensation and Benefits

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in a commercial legal role.
• Ability to work autonomously under pressure and manage priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive legal service, including contract negotiations and dispute resolution.
• Manage litigation and liaise with external legal counsel.

Skills

Legal Analytical Skills

Negotiation Skills

Conflict Management

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Law

Admitted/Qualified Attorney in South Africa

Job description

About DHL and Legal Services: Deutsche Post DHL (DHL Group) is the logistics provider of the world with over employees in more than countries and territories.

We are an organization that is not just moving goods around; we have a very clear purpose: Connecting People.

Improving Lives.

We provide challenges and opportunities for personal and professional development, recognizing the difference you bring to our business and sharing the pride of building one of the largest world leaders in logistics and supply chain. DHL Legal Services offers all business partners worldwide solution-oriented legal advice.

We provide comprehensive support in contracts, negotiations, and processes with customers and suppliers as well as in general litigation and commercial law matters. In a matrix organization, Legal Services is organized according to regions and global cross-sectional topics.

Job Purpose:

Support to develop and administer legal processes and procedures to identify and mitigate legal risks, protecting DHL's legal and business interests in line with business needs, established legal framework, standards, applicable laws, and regulations. Providing legal support to DHL Supply Chain Africa while operating within the larger GBS Legal sphere.

You will be part of the Supply Chain Legal Services team, a division within GBS (the in-house services arm of DHL).

You will assist the Head of Legal for Africa and advise the business on day-to-day legal matters (including contract drafting and review; dispute resolution; company secretarial) within the region, liaising with legal colleagues in other regions on cross-border arrangements as necessary. Travel may be required to meet business needs.

Your tasks:

1. Legal Advice and Services

Assist in providing a comprehensive legal service to DSC by advising on all legal aspects relating to the business of DSC, including the review of tender processes, negotiation of contracts, and post-contract interpretation and possible disputes.

Where a dispute arises, meaningfully explore alternatives to litigation and manage any alternative dispute resolution process successfully. Draft and review commercial documents in line with commercial expectations and advise on commercial transactions from a legal perspective.

Maintain up-to-date and proper records and action all legal correspondence. Manage systems and processes to ensure efficiency in the administration of the legal function. Advise DSC on legal aspects affecting its business and answer all ad hoc queries raised by DSC.

Ensure compliance by DSC with applicable group policies and procedures, including ensuring that contracts with service providers and clients comply with the Company's contracting standards and Commercial Expectations. Identify potential areas of risk and liability, advising on strategies for avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation, and escalate any material issues within the business and legal department where required.

Provide legal updates and training to DSC on recent legal developments. Liaise with other departments (legal or otherwise) as necessary, e.g., Company Secretarial, Corporate Real Estate, Risk and Insurance. Liaise with other business units both in South Africa, the UK, and overseas as appropriate to facilitate the conclusion of transactions and other projects.

Manage litigation: Liaise and assist in managing external legal counsel and monitor and minimize legal spend. Liaise with all external lawyers to ensure timely representation, manage court disputes, and provide accurate monthly reporting to the business.

Provide legal training and contract education to DSC, e.g., data protection regulations and the application of the Deutsche Post DHL Data Privacy Policy.

1. Company Secretarial

File company changes such as directorship changes, resolutions, annual returns, and changes in ownership or shareholding. Train on corporate governance and advise the board and board committees on matters affecting the company.

Responsible for resolution processes for authorized signatories and maintaining statutory books and registers. Act as the key corporate secretarial support for statutory meetings. Proactively manage corporate governance and statutory compliance administration. Report to and consult country management on legal questions/issues.

Ensure corporate housekeeping is maintained and facilitate due process in company searches and other government inquiries. Conduct legal research and draft legal opinions. Approve on BCA and Contracts Database portals, ensuring adherence to standards.

Departmental Support and Growth

Be an integral member of the GBS Legal Services UKIEEMEA team (MEAT Region). Attend various team meetings, know-how and training sessions, and conferences. As part of shared legal services, support the needs of other Business Units in the region as workload permits.

Liaise closely and work with the Group Corporate Data Protection Officer and the Data Protection Advisor(s) as needed.

Finance & Projects

Assist in designing and delivering legal training courses on relevant legal topics. Assist with budget preparation for the legal function in your area of responsibility.

Required Experience:

Understanding of DPDHL's business operations, goals, and strategies in your area of responsibility. Commercial, pragmatic, and decisive in approach. Self-confident with the ability to work autonomously under pressure while managing priorities efficiently.

Hardworking, detail-oriented, and well-organized to engage and interact with team members. Team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Legal analytical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to negotiate and settle transactions and disputes. Able to work under pressure, manage volumes, and meet tight deadlines. Conflict management skills and mitigation.

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience/qualification - Law Degree and preferably Admitted/Qualified Attorney in South Africa. Suitable level of experience working in a commercial legal role (at least 3 years minimum).

Ideally, experience of working as an in-house or corporate legal advisor.

We offer:

Great opportunity to work for the biggest logistics company in the world. International and virtual environment. Flexibility and great opportunity to learn. Tempting compensation and benefits.

If this is something you would like to do, don't hesitate and start your application. DHL is an equal opportunity employer.

We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.