Senior Legal Counsel

Our client is seeking a Senior Legal Advisor to develop and drive the successful delivery of the Legal and compliance strategy and the effective running of the function, ensuring the attainment of objectives internally and externally through provision of sound legal and compliance expertise.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Laws degree
• Master's degree in commerce, Business Administration, Management, Law or related field
• Admitted Legal Practitioner

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant senior management experience, leading a function, interacting with and providing advisory to executive management.

Key Performance Areas/Tasks:

• Proactively direct and oversee the compliance function, ensuring that the organisation remains compliant with all relevant legal prescripts including legislation, regulations and directives.
• Collaborate with the executive management team to provide legal advice to and advance the company's interest.
• Provide strategic advice and counsel to the company in terms of the legal impact of strategic plans and actions - locally or internationally.
• Participate in the development of the company's overall strategy.
• Develop and implement legal and compliance framework, strategies, policies, ensuring alignment with the overall organisational strategy.
• Develop the function's operational plans and monitor implementation thereof.
• Provide legal services and guidance to the organisation as needed on matters including contracts, short term insurance, labour law and company law among others.
• Provide general legal advice pertaining to organisational decisions regarding scope, mandate and shareholder interactions.
• In collaboration with the executive management, manage various complex legal projects.
• Collaborate with external legal counsel and other stakeholders to facilitate and ensure attainment of organisational objectives.
• Analyse new legislation and regulation and advise the company on how it will impact its operations.
• Assume overall accountability for the adequate legal and compliance risk management framework.
• Ensure that the framework for Legal and compliance risk management is in alignment with the company's enterprise risk management.
• Implement leading practices and processes in the compliance management fraternity.
• Conduct compliance risk and vulnerability self-assessments within the company's business units.
• Ensure the company's delivers on its compliance related reporting obligations.
• Provide management reports on compliance operations and progress, on a regular basis, and/or as directed or requested by Line Manager, to keep Management informed of the operation and progress of compliance efforts.
• Implement adequate compliance management tools/technology to effectively and efficiently deliver on functional mandate.
• Managing Contracts and Service Level Agreements.
• Drive the reduction of Corporate Risk by ensuring all Contractual Relationships are done in compliance with the company's and legal requirements.
• Ensure appointment and management of the panel of attorneys.
• Represent the company in regulatory forums (e.g. SAIA legal committee).
• Compile and manage functional budget and forecasts.
• Manage legal costs and where applicable oversee the taxation of costs.
• Ensure adequate capacity resourcing for the function to successfully execute its mandate.
• Recruitment and development of skilled staff.
• Oversee, support, coach and develop performance of direct reports, ensuring agreement of performance targets, measuring performance against agreed goals and dealing with non-performance accordingly.
• Talent management of direct reports, including career developments and paths for all staff and succession planning for key positions.
• Ensure that the working environment contributes to improving staff morale and increasing productivity.

Desired Skills:

• Insurance
• Commercial Law
• Legal Advice
• Legal and compliance strategy
• Compliance
• Contract Management
• Contracts

Desired Qualification Level:

• Masters