Permanent

Legal and Contracts Executive - Midrand, Gauteng - Job ID 3955

The Legal and Contracts Executive is the head of the legal division and is responsible for the legal affairs of the entire organisation. This role includes providing legal counsel to the Chief Executive Officer and other senior management. The Head of Legal and Contracts must possess strong initiative, as well as excellent management and leadership skills and strong business acumen. Further, they must drive the development and implementation of best practice legal and contracts strategies, frameworks, and practices for the company as well as advice and litigation support.

Requirements: 8 to 10 years relevant experience, general knowledge of law which includes corporate law, civil law, interpretation of statutes, constitutional law, administrative law, commercial law, international law and labour law. Merger and acquisitions (support to shareholders) and structuring of the company’s constitutional documents experience. Technical knowledge of legal structures within rail/construction industry. Knowledge of relevant acts affecting the company. Admission as an Attorney as well as a Degree in law (LLB) and MBA or MBL.

**Position details**:
Type: Permanent
Reports to: CEO and Chairperson of the Board
Job titles of direct reports: Legal and Contracts Manager, Variations Manager Legal Assistant

Job description / core competencies:
Strategy and Execution

Responsible for key oversight over main contractual agreements entered into by and for the company.

Responsible for the preparation of and overseeing compliance to contracts by all parties.

Cultivate and manage objective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including external attorneys and Legal Services to ensure that the business is in a position to obtain expert opinion on specialist areas of Law.

Translate strategies into actionable goals and execute relevant projects / initiatives aligned to strategic objectives with specific performance measures and control systems to track progress.

Governance

Comply with governance in terms of legislative and audit requirements.

Identify and communicate current and anticipated legal issues or risks.

Compliance

Design, implement and enforce the compliance strategy.

Remain abreast of new legislation and industry best practice (SA/International).

Review the companies’ compliance IRO legislation.

Inform relevant Heads of the impact of the legislation and recommend action.

Develop and implement compliance related campaigns in order to create awareness of importance of compliance as well provide staff with knowledge and skills related to compliance.

Specific Responsibilities

Preparation and negotiation of contracts, variations, and agreements, including company templates.

Provide general legal advice to all internal business stakeholders (Service Delivery, Maintenance, HR, Finance, SHEQ, CEO).

Interpretation and Analysis of the company’s key agreements.

Preparation of answers to incoming documents and correspondence, which have legal implications.

Global tender participation.

Competition law analysis for the sector.

Merger and acquisitions (support to shareholders) and structuring of the company’s constitutional documents.

Manage and preparation of the legal budget in consultation with the CEO and CFO the Legal Budget.

Renew and or manage external legal counsel/consultants within Budget.

Represent the company against third parties/ and or the Union.

Represent the company on industry bodies and forums where necessary.

Member of the Executive Committee.

Member of the Board of Directors as Legal Executive and Company Secretary.

Member of the company’s local tender and procurement committee.

Member of the company’s pension and provident fund committee.

Staff management.

Ensure company compliance with laws, regulations and standards.

Ensure that legal plans, rules, policies and procedures are enforced, audited and reviewed.

Provision of expert legal advice to support business stakeholders and to ensure legal compliance.

Coaching and training staff in respect of legal Policies and Procedure and legal risk impact to business.

Conduct legal research where legal opinions may be required by business stakeholders or the board.

Management and closure of all external litigation/disputes.

Management and finalization of all insurance related matters in favour of the company, its customers and the company group.

Participation and decision making in relation to all aspects of the business.

General Staff management and managing all relate people aspects.

Setting the organisational strategy and goals.

Influence the financial performance of the company.

Risk identification and mitigation thereof.

Company Secretary Role

Implementation of the decisions of the Board of Directors.

Acting as an advisor to the Board of Directors.

Handle company share transactions, arranging dividend payments and observing all legal r