Head of Legal

**Overview**:**
Purpose**

Reporting to the Executive: Legal Counsel, the incumbent will be responsible to provide expertise to the agriculture manufacturing function, with regards but not limited to patents, intellectual property, product registration, research and development as well as drafting of contracts and legal documents pertaining to the business.

**Qualifications**:**
Qalifications**
- Degree in Law (LLB) or relevant qualification
- Master’s degree / MBA or suitable post graduate degree will be an advantage

**Experience**:

- A minimum of 8, preferably 10, years’ experience in a senior role.
- Proven experience as Head of Legal at a JSE listed company will be an advantage.
- Experience with corporate governance and compliance.

**Duties**:**
Key Areas of Responsibility**
- Provide legal services and guidance to the organisation locally and internationally
- Assist with client contracts, draft legal documents, and contracts
- Provide guidance with regards labour matters and workplace disputes
- Provide general legal advice pertaining to corporate decisions regarding growth, mergers and acquisitions
- Manage various complex legal projects
- Acts as counsel on issues involving company compliance with complex governmental and regulatory standards.
- Reviews legal documentation and provides advice on appropriate action.
- Oversees legal matters requiring external legal assistance.
- Provides work leadership, functional advice, and training to less experienced attorneys and senior managers.
- Take responsibility for providing specific elements of the organisation's legal service with guidance from senior colleagues.
- Write and edit material for various target populations, tailoring the tone and content to match the needs and expectations of each audience.
- Develop and/or deliver a plan for significant aspects of internal communications with guidance from senior colleagues.
- Develop and/or deliver a plan for significant aspects of external communications with guidance from senior colleagues.
- Recommend changes to policies, processes, standards, and practices that would improve operational support.
- Identify and evaluate complex, expertise-led solutions against a range of criteria to find the ones that best meet business needs.
- Manage relationships with internal clients and act as a business partner to them, building high levels of professional credibility and mutual trust, and managing the deployment of appropriate internal and/or external resources to support in delivering business strategy and plans.
- Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
- Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
- Plans and prioritises work to meet commitments aligned with organisational goals.
- Applies knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organisation's goals.
- Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organisation moving forward.
- Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
- Steps up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said. For example, shares own ideas and points of view openly, regardless of potential criticism or risk; shows conviction when faced with adversity and challenges; raises difficult topics to be sure they are addressed.
- Knows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement
- Uses compelling arguments to gain the support and commitment of others.
- Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

**Job Competencies**:**
Knowledge, Skills and Competencies required**:

- Excellent knowledge of trademarks, patent laws and intellectual property
- Excellent knowledge around laws governing research and development within a manufacturing environment
- Excellent knowledge of contract law
- Excellent knowledge of national and international law within the manufacturing environment
- Good knowledge of governance, risk, and compliance within a manufacturing environment
- Sound judgement and decision making
- Risk Averse
- Proven negotiation skills.
- Strong leadership and organisational skills
- Excellent communication and people skills
- Leadership and management
- Stakeholder relationship management
- Strategy and innovation
- Presentation Skills

**General**: