Legal Officer at Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC)

Purpose of the Job

This position is responsible for the provision of legal services in relation to litigation, contract preparation, perfection of securities and general legal advisory services to the Company.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Legal Officer is expected to meet the above objective, which will entail, without limitation, performing the following tasks: –

1. Timely and accurate preparation of agreements, legal documents and other documents in relation to the Company’s business.
2. Ensuring the efficient and proper perfection of all the Company’s securities as well as maintenance of its collateral.
3. Review of legal reports pertaining to properties to be taken as collateral and advising on issues related to stamp duty; registration of documents, etc, as part of due diligence on the property related documentation.
4. Providing support for company secretarial functions, including preparation of board papers, board action logs, correspondence and matters for attention in a professional and timely manner;
5. Accountability for the safe keeping of physical and electronic records including confidential and sensitive Company documents;
6. Resolution of complaints/claims from third parties regarding any legal dispute on collateral, loan agreements and any other legal documents.
7. Drafting, drawing up and reviewing contracts, Service Level Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding, leases and other legal documents to ensure compliance to statutory requirements and the Company’s policies;
8. Following up on renewals or termination of agreements;
9. Coordinating and ensuring representation of the Company in courts or other judicial authorities – including liaising with external lawyers on the execution of assigned tasks.
10. Conducting legal research and providing advice on legal and corporate matters to the Company through interpretation and writing legal opinions;
11. Ensuring that Legal Audit Compliance is carried out to confirm legal compliance with national, regional and international legal, statutory and regulatory requirements;
12. Developing and reviewing a relevant legal and regulatory framework for the better implementation of the Company’s mandate;
13. Reviewing and providing advice on legal risk at the Company;
14. Litigation management and reviewing progress of outstanding litigation; and
15. Provision and interpretation of legal information, conducting of training and dissemination of relevant legal requirements to staff.

DELIVERABLES

The position holder is expected to perform the above-mentioned tasks on an ongoing basis during the term of the assignment, to the satisfaction of the Head of department, within the guidelines set out herein and based on best industry practices. Quarterly key performance indicators will be set for the above-named officer by the Head of department against which performance will be measured during the course of the assignment.

The Legal Officer’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) will be evaluated taking into account the following criteria:-

• Academic and professional qualifications;
• Knowledge of the relevant industry/sector as well as regulatory requirements affecting the relevant sector;
• Knowledge of the legal environment for banking and general business/commerce in Kenya;
• Knowledge of the lending practice for financial institutions, particularly mortgage lending;
• Ability to Plan, organize, implement and evaluate assigned goals;
• High standards of integrity and ethical practice;
• Ability to prioritize tasks and deliver deadlines;
• Problem solving and decision-making abilities;
• Effective communicator with the ability to handle both internal and external communication;
• People management and conflict resolution skills; and
• Knowledge in use of MS office packages.

REPORTING MECHANISM

The Legal officer will enter into a contract with the KMRC PLC and report to the Head of the Legal Services Department.

DURATION OF CONTRACT

The contract will be for a period of twelve (12) months with a possibility of renewal, based on performance.

DATA, LOCAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY CLIENT

KMRC PLC will provide office working space at its Headquarters in Nairobi.

* Required Degree

Bachelor of Laws

PROFILE

The ideal candidate to fill the role of Legal Officer should possess the following qualifications and experience:

Qualification

• A Bachelor of Law degree with a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies from the Kenya School of Law;
• Membership to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) with a valid and current practicing certificate as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

Experience

• A minimum of (three) 3 years demonstrated professional experience in legal practice, particularly in security perfection and review of commercial transactions.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is essential.