Manager Pretoria / Johannesburg / East London / Cape Town & Durban

Road Accident Fund; East London; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency for road safety is looking for a Litigation Manager to oversee and report on operational litigation related to constitutional issues. The successful candidate will manage the implementation of litigation strategy, supervise legal teams, and engage effectively with stakeholders. A Bachelor's Degree in Law and relevant experience in personal injury litigation with managerial responsibilities are required. The position is based in East London, South Africa and offers a comprehensive employment package.

Benefits

Comprehensive employment package

Qualifications

• 6-8 years' experience in a legal related environment, 3 years in personal injury litigation and 2 years in management.
• Knowledge of litigation management, court processes, and relevant legislation.
• Technical and behavioral competencies required include ethics, values, and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Manage and report on operational litigation regarding constitutionality.
• Implement overall litigation strategy and manage litigation risk.
• Prepare and submit regulation reports to inform management decisions.

Skills

Communication

Negotiating skills

Dispute resolution

Client service orientation

Planning and organizing

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Law

Postgraduate in a Law related qualification

Mediation certificate/course

Job description

Duties & Responsibilities

Purpose of the Job: Reporting to the Senior Manager: Litigation and Mediation, the successful incumbent is accountable to manage and report on operational litigation where issues of constitutionality are raised. The incumbent will provide support to the Senior Manager on all litigation related matters aligned to strategic objectives of the organisation as determined by the Board. We have vacant positions in the following RAF Offices: Johannesburg, Durban, East London, Cape Town. Please apply in the Office you are interested in.

Key Performance Areas

Litigation Management

• Manage the implementation of the overall litigation strategy.
• Institute and defend litigation actions for and against the RAF.
• Manage and monitor the litigation risk of the RAF.
• Manage referred claims litigation to determine if a settlement can be reached or the matter should proceed to court.
• Manage the high court and magistrate court attorneys as well as other service providers providing legal services support to the litigation unit.
• Provide continuous oversight to ensure that the Attorneys are performing their roles and responsibilities to the RAF effectively and efficiently.

Administration of Non-Litigious Matters

• Ensure requests to appoint and instruct assessors and expert witnesses are approved.
• Guide in the recommendation of a settlement.

Mediation Management

• Manage communication between two parties who are in disagreement to help guide them to a mutual agreement.
• Manage introductory meetings with disputing parties to educate them about the arbitration process.
• Handle procedural matters in a dispute resolution, including time requirements and witnesses needed.

Policy Review and Implementation

• Contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policy, procedures and processes.
• Keep up to date with effective policy and practice execution strategies.

Reporting

• Prepare and submit regulation reports as and when required to provide progress updates and/or inform management decisions.
• Develop reports/policies/procedures and guide the process through the alignment of the documents to the overall RAF's Strategy.
• Develop functional reporting systems, for management, projects or performance reporting.
• Prepare proposals, briefings, presentations, reports and other documentation and provide management information both verbally and in report format.

Stakeholder Management

• Facilitate and manage communication with relevant internal and external parties and progressively manage the relationships.
• Manage relationships with Judiciary, Head of Office of Staff Attorney and Counsel.
• Communicate with all levels of stakeholder contact.

People Management

• Ensure the sourcing, development and retention of a high-performance team.
• Manage the implementation of people management processes and procedures to control or regulate workplace conflict and/or institute corrective measures and consultation processes to address deviations from standards.
• Allocate, direct, motivate and evaluate subordinates to help them achieve their individual goals.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Law or equivalent.
• Postgraduate in a Law related qualification will be an added advantage.
• Mediation certificate/course will be an added advantage.
• Relevant 6‑8 years' experience in a legal related environment of which 3 years are related to personal injury litigation and 2 years must have been on a management/supervisory level.
• Technical and behavioral competencies required: communication, network and alliance, planning, organising and coordinating, personal mastery, judgement and decision making, ethics and values, client service orientation, coaching and mentoring, direction setting, dispute resolution, mediation and negotiating skills, knowledge of litigation management, legislation and regulatory knowledge including personal injury and third party compensation and any other associated legislation, knowledge and understanding of court processes, knowledge of laws and legislation that are applicable to the organisation, knowledge of Civil proceedings and legal process in the Magistrate, Regional and High Court of South Africa.

NB: RAF offers Total Employment Cost packages with no additional contributions from the Employer; successful candidates are required to structure their packages in a manner that will suit their needs.