Company Secretary & Director, Legal Services at Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited (NCWSC)

Broad Role

To provide corporate secretarial and legal services in an efficient, effective and timely manner that enhances compliance with legal and statutory requirements. Appointment to the position shall be for a period of five (5) years, renewable once, subject to satisfactory performance and business needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Company Secretarial Services:

This role involves implementing the Company’s continuing obligations and provision of efficient, professional and informed Board secretariat services and corporate governance support to the Board in line with constitutive documents, applicable codes of corporate governance, the Companies Act and best practice. It includes:

• Providing guidance to the Board on their duties and responsibilities and on matters of governance.
• Assisting the Board in carrying out the following:
  • Board induction and training;
  • Updating the Board and committee charters;
  • Preparation of Board work plans;
  • Board evaluation;
  • Governance audit; and
  • Implementation of the code of conduct and ethics.
• Ensuring timely preparation and circulation of Board and committee papers and minutes.
• Proper use and custody of the company seal and accounting to the Board for its use.
• Maintaining and updating the register of conflicts of interest.
• Ensuring that Board members are aware of all relevant laws affecting the organization.
• Facilitating effective communication between the organisation and the shareholders.
• Ensuring that annual returns and statutory notices are promptly filed with the relevant authorities.
• Convening and attending the meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees in consultation with the Managing Director.
• Preparing for and attending all annual and extraordinary general meetings of the Company in consultation with the Managing Director.
• Any other company secretarial duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Managing Director

Legal Services:

This role entails providing legal services in an efficient manner in order to enhance compliance with legal and statutory requirements and ensuring effective resolution of cases and disputes in a timely manner. It includes:

• Attending to disputes involving the Company.
• Management of court cases: ensuring compliance with court decisions; and adequate representation of the Company in court.
• Handling contractual matters: preparation and review of contracts, memoranda of understanding, deeds, leases, and other legal papers of a routine nature.
• Legal advisory services: researching on relevant statutes, rulings and precedents to be used as a basis for answering requests for legal opinions; providing legal advice with a view to ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements on matters relating to business operations; reviewing and formulating legal policies, procedures and regulations; reviewing recent legislation, court cases, correspondence and publications pointing out matters of note or which necessitate management action.
• The Managing Director may assign any other duties relating to legal services from time to time.

Requirements

Education, Professional Qualifications and Work Experience:

• Master’s Degree in Law (LLM).
• Bachelor’s Degree in Laws (LLB).
• Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
• Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid current Practicing Certificate.
• A member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in good standing with a valid current Certificate of Good Standing.
• A registered CPS (K) member of the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) of Kenya in good standing, with at least five (5) years’ experience as a Certified Public Secretary.
• Certificate in Strategic Leadership Development Program from Kenya School of Government or its equivalent.
• A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience, five (5) years of which must be in senior management.
• Experience in Public Sector Management.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Strong management and negotiation skills.
• Computer literacy and familiarity with standard office computer applications.
• High level of integrity and commitment to ethical standards.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; and
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.