CORPORATE LEGAL EXECUTIVE - DurbanFull job descriptionJob ID: 83866Date Posted: Posted 2 months agoLocation: DurbanJob Title: CORPORATE LEGAL EXECUTIVE – DURBAN – KWAZULU NATALMain Responsibilities(summarize in short sentences the key responsibilities and tasks that require 5% or more of the time of the incumbent)As part of the Executive Committee (Exco), you will:support the formulation of the Company’s future direction and business strategy, to optimise the value created for customers and stakeholders, and secure a sustainable future for Client.Contribute to the setting of corporate standards and ensure alignment between the Corporate Strategy and the service unit delivery plan.Promote and progress a collaborative culture in the business unit and across Client, leading and driving the overall approach to legal, corporate governance, and business support.Identify opportunities to reduce cost, and contribute to the efficiency pipeline, ensuring a commercial mindset is developed and embedded across the team.Role model the Client values, creating and encouraging a culture of learning, where employees are able to flourish, perform, and achieve.This role will set the direction for Client legal, governance, and business support services.LegalLeading the Legal Team to ensure compliance with new and current legislation.Ensuring secure compliance with all statutory, legal, and policy requirements arising from the Company’s activities.Providing high quality legal advice in a broad range of disciplines and applying appropriate judgement to decide which matters require legal input, and whether this should be provided internally or externally.Drafting, revising, and supporting the negotiation of contracts, ensuring that contractual terms provide compliance with relevant regulations and legislation, but also considering commercial factors.Ensuring senior management are appraised of legal issues, including new legislation which may have an impact on Client’ activities and objectives.Advising on the mitigation of risk, and on regulatory, compliance, data protection, and all relevant legislation.Handling potential and actual disputes, in coordination with internal and external resources.Information governanceLeading the POPIA Compliance Team (Information Governance) to ensure compliance with data protection laws.Developing and managing the data protection strategy, including but not limited to POPIA.Ensuring that monitoring and reporting provisions are in place to capture changes to relevant information governance best practice.Maintaining an effective relationship with the Senior Information Risk Owner.Corporate governanceLeading the Corporate Governance function to ensure that Client is compliant with applicable legislative and administrative requirements, in order to safeguard the Company, its shareholders, and employees.Delivering strategic corporate governance and company secretarial advice, and guidance to all levels across Client.Establishing and ensuring the effective delivery of Company secretariat services for the Board, Committees, and shareholders of Client.Business supportLeading the Legal Team as a business support functions to achieve a consistently high standard of service delivery for Client.Developing and implementing communication mechanisms to ensure that all stakeholders are informed and engaged in the delivery of the business support strategy.Working flexibly and effectively with the Team, to promote and facilitate joined up thinking and action.Education and Qualification(What is the minimum qualification or education that would be required for this role)Degree in Law (LLB or equivalent)Be an admitted attorney or advocate or be a corporate lawyer at a reputable legal practice or at a reputable technology or other corporateHave at least 7–10 years’ experience as a practising attorney, advocate, or in-house legal counsel/corporate lawyer.A stellar academic record: CLIENT seek to recruit candidates who have achieved excellent academic grades consistently throughout their education. The work of a Corporate Legal Executive is intellectually rigorous, demanding and you must be able to show that you have the intelligenceand ability to absorb, assimilate and analyse complex material very quickly.Must be an admitted attorneyStrong academics alone will not make a successful lawyer and other skills, interests and hobbies may indicate that a candidate is a well-rounded individual who will be able to cope with the demands of the job.Knowledge and Skill(what kind of knowledge and skill is required in this role – basic skills, technical skills, specialized, analytical)KnowledgeAdvanced knowledge of South African LawAdvanced knowledge of Labour legislation and practicesUnderstanding of sugar, logistic & poultry industries (FMCG sector)Group policies and proceduresSkillsComputer literacyContract draftingVerbal and written communication / report writingInterpersonalNegotiationAnalytical skillsProblem solvingAdministrative and organisationCollaboration and influencing skillsLeadership and project management skillsCommercial AcumenIt is essential for the Corporate Legal Executive to also fulfill the role of sound business advisor. Commercial awareness is essential and the Corporate Legal Executive is expected to appreciateExperience and Training(What kind and how many years of experience must the incumbent have had in order to be proficient in the role)Minimum of 7 years post-articles legal experience or in a corporate environment as in-house counselA deep understanding of the business and Group Policies are advantageous.Problem Solving(What kind of problems is the incumbent likely to need to solve?)Technical or analyticalOwn area or across divisions • The job holder is expected to understand business objectives and legal complexities. He/she is responsible to guide, support, and facilitate solutions which would achieve the desired results within the parameters of company policies and laws.It is always necessary to reduce complexity and manage costs without compromising quality in relation to legal solutions implemented in the Group.The Corporate Legal Executive fulfills a critical control function and collaborates with colleagues and other assurance providers to ensure the integrity of governance and compliance within the Group.A commercial client will be less interested in the technical meaning of legal terminology, but she will be deeply interested in the impact that it may have on the transaction at hand. Legal advice always takes on a business element and the Corporate Legal Executive needs to be commercially aware, so that you he / she will be able to contextualise legal advice.Customer Relationships(To what degree is the role holder interacting with internal and external people. Explain the nature of their interaction with internal and external people)InternalColleagues and ManagersInternal customersExternalExperts and service providersSuppliers and customersDecision Making(Describe the type of decisions the job holder would make, what level of discretion do they need to apply?)Time frame of his decision impact Dual role:Independent advisor and control function; giving advice when required;Guide and direct managers and colleagues to deal with complexity and uncertainty; plays an important role in the decision-making process; move around the business and must understand what is required and how he/she can help.Leadership / SupervisionHow many Subordinates does the incumbent have?(Does the incumbent have subordinates?Is the incumbent responsible for coordinating and / or allocation of work and /or supervision and or direct management the work activities of subordinates?)No direct reports.The Corporate Legal Executive is often required to collaborate within teams. The ability to relate and interact with others in such a way as to engender confidence, form lasting relationships and explain complex issues in a clear manner is integral to the role of the Corporate Legal Executive. It is often expected of the Corporate Legal Executive to take the lead and to facilitate responsible decisions and execution thereof.Competencies(What competencies or leadership standards does the incumbent require in order to perform role? Leadership standardsJudgement, drive and influenceBehaviour StandardsBe brilliant at the basicsLead with integrity, respect and energyBe curious and challenge changeTake accountability for results and peopleAttributesHonesty, decisiveness and integrityBeing objective in a matterBeing able to distinguish facts from irrelevant detailConfidenceThe ability to solve problemsExceptional communication skillsDiscretion, diplomacy and tactWorking well under pressureCommunicationWhat communication, verbal and or written does the incumbent need to carry out in order to perform the job.Being able to communicate clearly and effectively on paper or face-to-face or over the telephone underpins the role of the Corporate Legal Executive. This is because the role largely involves being able to advise and negotiate effectively. The use of clear and succinct language is valued by clients, colleagues and service providers.Client care is fundamental and possessing excellent communication skills will help to communicate ideas and advice to internal clients.
