Head of Legal at Optiven Limited

Job Purpose Statement:

The job holder is responsible for managing the legal affairs of the organization and providing leadership to the legal team and support staff, including:

• Leading the development and implementation of legal procedures and policies for compliance.
• Drafting, negotiating, and vetting contracts and agreements.
• Conducting legal training for staff.
• Representing the company in legal proceedings.
• Identifying and mitigating legal risk.

Key Responsibilities:

Advisory

• Ensure full compliance with all statutory obligations.
•  Keep management informed of any legal changes that may impact company operations.
•  Perform legal research, analysis, and prepare legal opinions on emerging issues.
•  Conduct legal reviews and provide advice on key documents, agreements, policies, and procedures.
•  Monitor and follow up on all cases involving the company to secure timely and favorable outcomes.

Contract Management

• Draft and develop contract clauses that align with the company’s needs and requirements.
• Create templates for new projects and ensure they are uploaded into the ERP system for use.
• Review contracts to ensure the inclusion of essential clauses.
• Approve contracts for signature, both internal and external, ensuring they adhere to negotiated terms and that thorough due diligence has been completed.
• Approve all Sale Agreements before they are forwarded to clients.

Legal Operations

• Oversee the effective operation of departmental activities.
• Assign tasks and responsibilities to staff members.
• Serve as a liaison between management and the department.
• Manage the backup of departmental data, ensuring it is safely stored weekly (including customer inquiries and relevant information
• Safeguard the company’s seals, stamps, and directors’ stamps.
• Ensure accurate and clear data entry to facilitate the generation of detailed reports.

Dispute Resolution and Case Management

• Respond promptly to all court summons, pleadings, and demand letters received by the company.
• Maintain a schedule of all ongoing court cases, including hearing dates.
• Ensure the company is represented in court by qualified advocates.
• Safeguard and organize all documentary and other evidence, ensuring files are up-to-date and managing the overall litigation process.
• Prepare and submit monthly litigation progress reports to the Directors.

People Management

• Uphold and promote the company’s rules, vision, and mission.
• Manage employee performance, discipline, conduct, and compliance.
• Ensure that all department members fully utilize systems.
• Assess training needs for the legal department.

Training

• Provide training to staff on the legal requirements relevant to their roles within the company.
• Educate staff on business principles and other company policies

Qualification and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B).
• Master of Laws (LL.M) or a Master’s degree in a related field (e.g., Corporate Law, Real Estate Law) will be added advantage.
• Postgraduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law.
• Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid practicing certificate.
• Minimum of seven (7) years’ experience as in-house counsel, preferably in real estate, property development, or construction sectors.
• Strong expertise in conveyancing, including title searches, land transfers, and lease agreements.
• Proven experience in litigation and dispute resolution relating to property, tenancy, or contractual matters.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic legal advisory support to senior management and the Board.
• Hands-on experience in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and drafting or negotiating high-value contracts.
• Strong understanding of Kenyan land laws, planning regulations, and real estate transactions.

Competency Requirements

• Supervisory Skills: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage a legal team effectively.
• Organizational Skills: Strong capacity to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Emotional Intelligence: Ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion, empathy, and professionalism.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent relationship-building and communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Computer Proficiency: Competent in legal research tools, MS Office Suite, and relevant corporate software.
• Detail Orientation: Strong focus on accuracy, thoroughness, and precision in legal documentation and analysis.
• Language Proficiency: Fluent in both English and Swahili, with strong written and verbal communication skills.