Deputy Director, Legal Services at Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority

Job Specification

• Officers are responsible to the Head of their Directorate for providing Board Secretarial and related services to the Board of Directors and ensure effective and efficient management of contract administration, company insurance, legislative drafting and compliance with legal and regulatory legislation including provision of legal advice to members of management.

Duties and responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with national, county and international legal instruments governing metropolitan transport affairs, including monitoring implementation and providing periodic compliance reports and advisory.
• Provide strategic legal and corporate advisory services to the Board and Management, including interpretation of laws, preparation of legal opinions and timely guidance on legal and regulatory matters.
• Provide effective Board secretariat services, including coordinating Board business, preparing and maintaining records of proceedings, and implementing or facilitating decisions as directed by the Board.
• Develop, review and maintain the Authority’s legal and regulatory framework, including policies, codes, rules, regulations, guidelines, by-laws, directives and treaties, and facilitate their approval and gazettement.
• Coordinate and oversee the Authority’s representation in courts, tribunals and other judicial or quasi-judicial bodies, safeguarding the Authority’s interests and ensuring effective defence of its legal position.
• Manage all litigation and dispute-resolution matters, including monitoring outstanding cases, instructing and supervising external advocates, and ensuring that legal proceedings are handled in the Authority’s best interests.
• Establish and oversee the Authority’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) framework, including promoting preventive legal strategies, building stakeholder capacity and facilitating engagement with national and international ADR mechanisms.
• Draft, review, negotiate and vet contracts and other legal instruments, including leases, licences, service-level agreements, memoranda of understanding and business transaction documents, to protect the Authority’s interests and manage contractual risks.
• Undertake legal due diligence and provide legal advice on proposed transactions, approvals, licences, partnerships, leases and other relationships involving the Authority, its tenants, licensees, partners and third parties.
• Conduct and coordinate legal and regulatory compliance audits and risk assessments, identify potential legal risks and ensure that appropriate mitigation and corrective measures are implemented.
• Establish and maintain legal and statutory registers, including the Legal Registry, Securities Register, Lease Register, Licences Register and Register of Codes, Regulations, Rules, Guidelines, By-laws and Treaties.
• Advise on and oversee legal relationships concerning the Authority’s assets, including preparation, vetting and management of leases, licences and other contractual arrangements with tenants and stakeholders.
• Provide legal guidance on enforcement, regulatory approvals and operational requirements, including maintaining records of enforcement and compliance activities and establishing appropriate legal accountability mechanisms.
• Promote legal awareness, ethics and governance across the Authority, including interpretation and dissemination of legal requirements, staff training, implementation of Mwongozo and the Code of Conduct and Ethics.
• Liaise and collaborate with the Attorney-General, external advocates, law-enforcement agencies, regulators and other stakeholders, while coordinating with internal functional areas to resolve legal issues, facilitate compliance and support achievement of the Authority’s strategic objectives.

Person Specifications

For appointment to this grade, an officer must have:

• A minimum of ten (10) years in relevant work experience and at least four (4) years in management in the Public or Private Sector;
• Bachelor of Laws degree or equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution;
• Master’s Degree in any of the following disciplines; Law, Metropolitan transport or equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution;
• Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law;
• Admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya;
• Hold a valid practicing certificate;
• Member of the Law Society of Kenya; and
• Management course lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognized institution.