Senior Legal Specialist - Community & Permitting

C40 Cities; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

An international organization in Johannesburg is seeking a Senior Legal Specialist in Community & Permitting to provide comprehensive legal advice on permitting matters. The ideal candidate is an admitted attorney with experience in South African law, especially in mining law. Key responsibilities include advising business units, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing community relationships. This role offers a hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years of post-admission experience.
• Understanding of South African law, especially mining law.
• Ability to navigate property law and lease agreements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee safety and health principles.
• Advise on community and permitting matters.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Skills

Legal drafting skills

Communication skills

Relationship-building skills

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Admitted Attorney

Tools

Legal software

Job description

Senior Legal Specialist - Community & Permitting

Overview

The Legal Specialist (Community & Permitting) provides comprehensive tenure and permitting advice to support the organisation's business objectives. Serves as the primary advisor to business units on tenure, permitting, and related community matters, enabling strategic decisions that meet regulatory and operational standards and facilitate timely project advancement.

Responsibilities

• Safety: Oversee consistent application of Safety & Health principles in all discipline interactions and take personal responsibility for safety of self and others to ensure zero harm and elimination of fatalities.
• Performance and Delivery: Provide comprehensive community and permitting advice; manage relationships with key internal stakeholders on community and permitting matters; advise on legal issues impacting business strategy related to community and permitting; recommend improvements to legal systems and strategies for managing community and permitting risks; implement risk mitigation initiatives for community and permitting transactions; monitor and communicate changes to indigenous laws, permitting laws and human rights policies affecting the organisation; complete reporting obligations on community and permitting promptly, following legal policies.
• People & Teams: Implement a purpose-driven, high-performing culture that is aligned with company values, is inclusive and promotes diversity, supports engagement and fosters continuous improvement to work processes.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with internal and external regulatory, legislative and permitting requirements.

Qualifications

• Admitted Attorney with a minimum of 4 years of post-admission experience.
• Understand South African law, with emphasis on mining law; industry experience is beneficial but not essential.
• Recognise the permitting and community impact of legal scenarios and decisions.
• Apply knowledge of environmental, health and safety, mining, social security law.
• Navigate property law and lease agreements effectively.
• Demonstrate strong technical ability as a lawyer with precise drafting skills and attention to detail.
• Drive best practices in the speciality area and exhibit excellent communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
• Manage and regulate workflows efficiently; apply strong organisational, transaction management, and analytical skills.
• Interface and influence key stakeholders effectively; showcase excellent legal drafting and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in legal software and platforms; ability to contribute to a team in complex legal projects, ensuring timely delivery; ability to identify intricate legal risks.

About the job

• Contract Type: Perm
• Focus: Commercial Law
• Workplace Type: Hybrid
• Experience Level: Associate
• Location: Johannesburg
• Industry: Legal
• Salary: Negotiable

Job details

• Job Reference: D7J0HN-E76F61A1
• Date posted: 7 February 2025
• Consultant: Angela Reilly