Legal Counsel Operations

**BAT is evolving at pace into a global multi-category business. With products like VELO, VUSE and GLO we are on a mission to decrease the health impact of our industry**

**To achieve our ambition, we are looking for colleagues who are ready to Be The Change. Come, join us on this journey**

**British American Tobacco** **South Africa** **has an exciting opportunity for a Legal Counsel: Operations** **in Heidelberg, Gauteng**

Ensure proactive timely delivery of legal counselling to BAT’s operations within the SABN Cluster of Markets and to efficiently implement and complete the Legal functional strategy and objectives.

To take ownership in advising the relevant BAT entities on all legal matters pertaining to BAT South Africa's Heidelberg factory, procurement and supply chain whilst also supporting HR on labour law related matters and representing the Legal department in the Operations Functional Leadership Teams.

**Your key responsibilities will include**:
**Operational/Professional/Business**
- Supply to the development and execution of the Legal & Security functional strategy.
- Supervise and interpret the legislative environment, to ensure that the business understands and meets its legal obligations.
- Leverage digital opportunities and platforms for the management, tracking and reporting of the contract life cycle and litigation.
- Maintain, update and rollout the regulatory compliance cycle plan for the Heidelberg tobacco factory.
- Maintain a detailed understanding of upstream, predominantly supplier-side regulatory issues and the regulatory framework in which the business operates and take ownership for the development of informed solutions enabling the business to respond to and deal with regulatory constraints.
- Driving the management of operations, procurement, supply chain and union, factory related employment matters.
- Ensuring efficient management of External Counsel.

Management
- Participate and supply to cross functional business projects and initiatives to assess, monitor, and anticipate potential threats to minimize legal risks and ensure achievement of business objectives.
- Supervise so that proactive legal advice and support is provided on manufacturer’s statutory obligations, labour laws, health and safety at work regulations and leaf growing marketing legislation.
- Draft, negotiate and review contractual documentation and develop as appropriate standard formats to optimise efficiencies within the legal sub-function..
- Optimally, communicate across functions and within the department to keep all collaborators advised and to find solutions for problems of mutual interest.

**What are we looking for?**

Experience Required
- Proven experience in a private legal practice and ideally an additional demonstrated ability in a corporate environment and competence in providing legal advice to internal stakeholders.
- Strong background in Operations, Logistics and Procurement legal counseling experience with a multi-national or similar scale business in South Africa and ideally in other African markets.
- Detailed knowledge of local substantive and procedural laws relevant to areas of responsibility e.g. commercial law, labour laws, land laws, factory/manufacturing regulations, EHS legislation, etc.
- Strong negotiation, written and verbal communications skills.
- Ability to act on their own initiative, lead others and work well with peers and senior management.

Skills Required

Innovation
- Continually optimise and build improved systems and work process to drive efficiency and reduce costs.

Leadership Skills
- Implement and achieve the strategic plans and objectives
- Powerful and effective communication to the business on the relevance and strategic business importance of the area of responsibility of this role.
- Identify new initiatives and proposals in line with the business strategy and values to ensure legal operates at the heart of the business and as effective risk managers and business partners.
- Continuously develop technical and managerial skills as identified and agreed in personal development plan.
- Build and maintain good relationships with authorities in the legal field.
- Map out internal and external partners and build those relationships to optimise effectiveness of legal actions.

Education / Qualifications / Certifications Required
- A recognized legal qualification

**What we offer you?**
- Our range of benefits varies by country and includes diverse health plans, initiatives for work-life balance, transportation support, and a flexible holiday plan with additional incentives
- Your journey with us isn't limited by boundaries; it's propelled by your aspirations. Join us at BAT and become a part of an environment that thrives on internal advancement, where your career progression isn't just a statement - it's a reality we're eager to build together. Seize the opportunity and own your development; your next chapter starts here.
- You'll have access to onlin