Legal Counsel at GardaWorld

Job Outline

The incumbent will be responsible for the provision of expert legal advice in the capacity of Legal Counsel to the team in East Africa and more broadly to GardaWorld IPS as required. Reporting to the General Counsel, this role provides senior level guidance and stakeholder management across the following key areas of responsibility:

• Offer counsel on a variety of legal issues and advise the team on matters which may pose significant risk to the company;
• Direct and lead KK on matters of internal corporate governance, corporate secretarial matters and external compliance to include anti-corruption, and human rights;
• Provide guidance on corporate transactions and legal arrangements with teaming and joint venture partners, vendors and suppliers, and other third parties;
• Negotiate, draft, analyze and explain a wide variety of commercial agreements and contracts including service agreements, subcontracts, teaming agreements, joint ventures, and employment contracts;
• Review specific contractual items relating to the RFP and Bid process and provide of legal advice to those involved in the commercial process;
• Assist in evaluating, structuring and closing acquisitions and partner relationships;
• Negotiate and draft leases as tenant and landlord;
• Assist Human Resources in labor and employment law matters;
• Oversee litigation and dispute resolution processes;
• Liaise with intellectual property counsel on company trademarks and other matters;
• Represent KK as corporate counsel on external legal matters, and liaise with or appoint external legal representatives to assist with legal matters as required;
• Assist in risk management/insurance matters involving company insurance program and coordinate as required with Director Insurance GardaWorld;
• Lead and manage the legal components of the of PSC1 / ISO 18788.

Competencies

• Demonstrated capability to translate complex legal terminology into everyday language for commercial purposes;
• Ability to make prompt, clear and considered legal decisions involving operations across the East Africa;
• Ability to review and draft a wide variety of documents;
• Well-developed understanding of legal issues affecting Kenya and other jurisdictions within which KK operates (Tanzania, Malawi, Burundi, DRC, Uganda, Rwanda)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to convey complex messages across a wide ranging audience, both internally and externally to clients – high level command of English is a pre-requisite;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethics and ensures these principles cascade down to all operational areas;
• Ability to lead others to manage conflict in a positive manner;
• Ability to translate legal requirements into strategies that can be implemented across all relevant areas in a timely and cost effective manner;
• Ability to provide advice to numerous internal and external stakeholders simultaneously;
• Ability to initiate and lead client interaction where appropriate to resolve complex legal matters, often involving international rulings and legal technicalities’
• Must have advanced knowledge of Microsoft office and IT in order to present and accurately maintain internal and external reporting requirements;
• Demonstrated understanding of end to end business resilience practice and processes;
• Ability to forge and maintain strong relationships with colleagues and clients.

Accountability

The Legal Counsel is accountable to the General Counsel for their responsibilities stated in this job description. These responsibilities will be monitored and managed through the mid-year and annual performance review and supported through the monitoring of their KPIs.

Authority

As directed and delegated by General Counsel.

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years’ legal experience gained from either a reputable legal firm or as in-house counsel within an international corporate environment;
• Juris Doctorate from an accredited Law School in Kenya, other relevant African nation, the UK, USA or equivalent environment;
• Practising member of the Bar in the relevant jurisdiction of practice;
• Demonstrated capacity to deliver senior level legal advice in a law firm, government agency or mid to large corporation;
• Demonstrated knowledge and management of legal processes and requirements within international operating regions;
• Experience with developing and managing relationships at a senior level with clients, international government authorities, parent company management and investor/shareholders