Legal & Risk Manager at African Management Services Company (AMSCO)

Main responsibilities include:

Strategic

• Contributing strategic thinking, coordinating decision making and execution thereof with the ExCo (Executive Committee).
• Assisting the GCEO (Group CEO) through the coordination of strategic initiatives for the Group.
• As member of ExCo, assisting the ExCo in the development of operational strategy through co-ordination of ExCo meetings, provision of general and specific advice on both legal and operational matters, taking note during board meetings, and of ExCo strategic decisions and assisting in the implementation of same through the mapping and coordination of both internal and external resources.
• Analyzing strategic risks and advising the GCEO (Group CEO) and ExCo on the prevention, mitigation and management of same.
• Determining, developing, implementing and maintaining the legal structure of the Group.

Compliance

• Ensuring that the Group adheres to relevant laws, regulations, business rules, contracts etc.
• Maintaining optimal legal structure of the Group and registering additional vehicles as and when may be necessitated by operations.
• Ensuring compliance by the Group with legal and regulatory requirements as placed on it across its countries of operation.
• As and when required, providing preventative legal guidance and compliance training to staff.
• Develop and recommend improvements with regards to contractual processes and policy. 

Risk Management

• Identifying/predicting, analyzing and managing/reacting to risks that could hinder the Group in achieving its objectives.
• On an ongoing basis, analyzing operational and compliance risks encountered or to be encountered by the Group in both its internal and external activities, and advising on the prevention, mitigation and management of same.
• As required, preparing and rendering opinions on legal, regulatory and operational matters for the Group.
• Preparing (internal) and reviewing (external), as the case may be, all legal instruments which bind the Group, noting the legal implications that need to be brought to executive management attention.
• Advising and reporting to the Group Audit & Risk Committee on a regular basis.
• Preparing and rendering legal opinions to the GCEO, CMD’s (Country Managing Directors) and AMSCO personnel as requested. This includes examining legal information to find out the advisability of defending lawsuits. 
• Providing legal advice to the different units, particularly with respect to negotiating and finalizing contracts with potential AMSCO Clients, Consultants and Expatriate Managers, with the primary objective of ensuring that the contractual relations with the potential Clients/Expat Managers/Consultants are concluded efficiently in a manner acceptable to all parties and with minimum risk to AMSCO. 
• Review and clear all service provider contracts, ensuring compliance with Procurement Policy.

Governance

• Developing principles and processes governing the internal and external operation of the Group to ensure operational efficiency and legal and regulatory compliance.
• Advising the Holding Company Board, as well as the boards of all subsidiaries, on best practice and good corporate governance principles.
• Designing, developing, improving and maintaining internal policies and procedures governing the conduct of staff across all Group activities.
• Monitoring staff compliance with various operational and legal processes.

General Advice/Services

• Preparing, reviewing and modifying legal templates to assist and support various business activities.
• Providing legal advice to all business units, particularly with respect to negotiating and finalizing, as well as exiting contracts with clients, partners and service providers.
• As required, conducting training and disseminating legal and operational information to staff.
• As required, managing the enforcement of all legal instruments to which the Group is party.
• Initiating and defending legal action on behalf of the Group, including debt collection.

Policy Development

• Review and advise management on legal implications of internal policies and procedures.
• Review and draft contracts, agreements and internal policies and ensure that they are in compliance with all statutory or legal requirements.

Contracts

• Managing the enforcements of all contracts (both AMSCO and ATMS Foundation) by ensuring that all terms and conditions of the contracts are adhered to at all times, through the regional teams. 
• Providing proactive legal assistance and advice on various legal matters, for example contracts, dispute resolution, funding agreements, and governance.   Making recommendations and or drafting legal responses to matters. 
• Review all contracts or any other documentation where the Company has committed itself and assess legal implications that need to be brought to the executive management attention.
• Prepare, review and modify contractual instruments to assist and support various business activities.
• Negotiate, review and draft documentation for business transactions and advise accordingly.

Budgeting / Financial Management

• Provide input and have oversight of fiscal aspects of the company.

People Management

• Provide leadership and ensure efficient and effective management of staff and resources in the Legal and Risk Department.
• Ensure all team members’ objectives drive service delivery as well as facilitate the development and improvement of individuals and their performance.

Technical Skills / Competencies

Essential Competencies

• Analytical – ability to use rigorous logic.  Gets to the heart of complex problems and issues.
• Action Oriented – Not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning.  
• Negotiating – Can negotiate skillfully in tough situations with both internal and external group.  Can win concessions without damaging relationships.
• Strategic Agility – Can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods. Has broad knowledge and perspective.
• Interpersonal Savvy – Relates well to all kinds of people, internal and external.  Can diffuse even high tension situations comfortably, uses diplomacy.
• Collaboration – actively brings people together to deliver work.
• Integrity – a truthful individual can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner.

Essential Skills

• Must display superior verbal, written, presentation and facilitation skills.
• Advanced knowledge MS Office.

Essential

• Knowledge of legal principles and practices, specifically contract, employment and business law.
• Experience in legal practices for countries such as Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and DRC..  
• Experience, qualification, and other requirements specific to the role

Experience

• Minimum of four (4) years’ experience in a reputable legal firm and of relevant work experience in supporting Executives, project management, consulting and coordination of various teams to get to a common outcome. 
• Minimum of four (4) years post article and litigation experience.
• Understands strategy development and implementation
• Able to successfully manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• People management experience.
• Experience working with a team of high-achieving individuals who work in a pressured environment.

Qualification

• Postgraduate degree in Commercial Law, LLB or related filed.