Senior Legal Advisor

Hollard; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance company in Pretoria is seeking a Legal Manager to oversee legal risk management, ensure compliance, and provide legal advisory services. The candidate will manage a team, build relationships with stakeholders, and handle contract negotiations. This role requires a law degree and significant experience in legal compliance and stakeholder management. Competitive compensation and benefits available.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing legal risks and compliance.
• Proven track record in contract negotiation.
• Ability to lead and mentor a legal team.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing the group legal function and strategy.
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders.
• Draft and negotiate contracts and provide legal interpretations.

Skills

Legal compliance management

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Team mentoring

Education

Law degree

Job description

Job Purpose : The role is focused on supporting the business in managing legal risk, ensuring compliance, and providing strategic and operational legal support.

This includes managing contractual, litigation, regulatory, and IP‑related risks, while also serving as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders.

The role combines both leadership responsibilities (managing a team of 4‑5 resources) and hands‑on legal advisory functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Head of Legal in managing the group legal function and strategy.
• Build long‑term, trusted relationships with all stakeholders (business units, central functions, group compliance, finance, marketing, human capital, specialist divisions, etc.).
• Act as the liaison for designated business units, fully understanding their operations and providing tailored legal support.
• Manage and mentor junior legal advisors and administrators.
• Provide technical legal training and coaching to stakeholders across the business.
• Monitor and report on legal and contractual compliance in collaboration with compliance and senior leadership (special focus on Life Insurance).
• Interpret and embed new laws and regulations, providing guidance, impact summaries, and communication to the business.
• Ensure compliance with group legal and governance policies.
• Support Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) initiatives and customer service standards.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts, including commercial, policy wordings, and regulatory agreements.
• Provide legal interpretation on contracts, legislation, policy wordings, and complex claims.
• Maintain effective contract management systems.
• Manage litigation matters by appointing attorneys, monitoring progress, and controlling legal costs.
• Represent the legal function at internal forums (e.g., claims, policy wording, adjudicator forums).
• Lead or project manage special ad hoc projects requiring legal expertise.