Director, Legal Services (1 Position) at Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA)

Job Description

Duties and responsibilities will entail:-

• Coordinating the development, implementation and review of the Authority’s legal policies, strategies, procedures and plans;
• Providing legal advisory services to AFA to ensure compliance with existing laws and regulatory requirements;
• Coordinating the drafting, reviewing and vetting of legal instruments and advising management and the Board;
• Carrying out regular legal audits in the Authority to ensure compliance;
• Coordinating representation of the Authority in court matters and managing litigation on behalf of the Authority;
• Identifying and monitoring areas of risk in Legal compliance within the
• Authority and recommending precautionary measures to avoid noncompliance;
• Coordinating identification of legal and compliance risks and advising on risk mitigation;
• Researching, reviewing, analyzing and interpreting laws, regulations and advising management and the Board accordingly;
• Drafting and reviewing legal pleadings, attending court and quasi- judicial tribunals, compiling documentary evidence, coordinating witness preparation, receiving court pleadings, instructing external legal counsel and monitoring the progress;
• Coordinating Board secretariat services;
• Preparing reports on use of the AFA Seal;
• Preparing and monitoring the Department’s budgets and expenditures;
• Ensuring evidence, witnesses and statements on all cases filed against the Authority are provided on time;
• Coordinating governance and legal audits and preparation of reports; and
• Managing the Divisions legal registry including updating legal documentation, regulations, ordinances, policy manuals to ensure compliance.

Person Specifications

• For appointment to this grade, candidate must have:
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years cumulative relevant work experience with a relevant organization, five (5) of which must have been in a senior management position;
• Masters Degree in any of the following disciplines: Law, Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution;
• Bachelor’s degree in Law from a recognized institution;
• Post graduate diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law or such similar qualification from a recognized institution;
• Be an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a member of the Law Society of Kenya in good standing;
• Certificate in Leadership course lasting not less than six (6) weeks from a recognized institution;
• Proficiency in computer applications;
• Demonstrated competence in work performance; and
• Fulfill the requirements of Chapter Six (6) of the Constitution.