Senior Legal Officer at Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI)

VPI.11

Ref. No : KVVI- 001/2016

Job Summary: Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Senior legal officer shall be responsible for assisting the Chief Executive Officer to ensure that corporate governance is observed within the Board and Committees, facilitating Board meetings ensuring actions are adequately documented and followed up and compliance with statutory duties required of a public institution in addition to, ensuring effective management , the institute’s continuing obligations are observed in line with Mwongozo, the code of Corporate Governance, the Companies Act and best practice.

The duties and responsibilities shall include:

1. Providing guidance to the Board on their duties and responsibilities and matters of governance;
2. Assisting the Board in carrying out the following; induction and training, updating of board and committee charters, preparation of board work plans, board evaluation, governance audit, implementation of the code of conduct and ethics;
3. Coordinate on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer (BoM Secretary) all affairs of the Board of Management including arrangements of full Board meetings
   and Standing Committee meetings, timely preparation of Board
   papers and circulation of minutes.
4. Except in exceptional circumstances, ensure that the Board and Commitee papers are circulated in advance of any meeting;
5. Maintain and update the register of conflicts of interest;
6. providing secretarial services to the Board and advising the Board and the Management on relevant laws affecting the institute;
7. Interpretation of relevant Acts of Parliament and advice on their legal implications.
8. facilitate effective communication between the institute and the shareholders;
9. ensure annual returns are promptly filed with relevant authorities
10. preparing departmental budget and ensuring proper control systems;
11. Advising on the preparation of business contracts between KEVEVAPI and its clients.
12. Advise the Institute on drafting of Licence on Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) among other legal documents.
13. Ensuring proper custody and reviewing of Institute’s legal documents.
14. Handling legal matters affecting or that may affect the Institute, including representation in law courts, where necessary
15. Ensuring the formulation of guidelines and implementing functional Intellectual Property policies on registration and patenting of services, products, technologies and innovations developed by the Institute;
16. reviewing legislation and legal documents/instruments;
17. Follow-up on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer on issues that the Board of Management may recommend.
18. Preparation and implementation of the unit’s strategic plans and objectives; performance appraisal systems and contracts and instituting operational accountability.

Qualifications and experience

1. Have a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from a recognized Institution;
2. Postgraduate Diploma in legal studies from the Council of Legal Education;
3. Masters degree in law from a recognized Institution
4. Have a current practicing certificate
5. Be registered as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya;
6. Holder of CPS (K) and registration with the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya will be an added advantage.
7. Meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 on Leadership and integrity.

Core competencies:

1. Demonstrate excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills and a clear understanding of strategic leadership, management and business skills;
2. Ability to portray and uphold positive national image;
3. Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity to and respect for diversity;
4. Have a clear understanding of manufacturing and commercial principles in a public sector setting;
5. Have an understanding of the structure and functions of the public sector;
6. Demonstrated managerial, administrative and professional competence in work performance and results.
7. Being a visionary and result oriented thinker;
8. Be computer literate.