Legal Specialist - (6 Months Contract) at West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC)

Job Objective:

We are seeking an experienced Legal Specialist to join the Legal Department on a six-month fixed-term contract. The successful candidate will support the full spectrum of legal activities across the WIOCC Group. Reporting to the Director, Legal, the role combines corporate and company secretarial responsibilities with commercial contracting, transaction support, and compliance activities across multiple African jurisdictions. The successful candidate will be responsible for drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements; supporting financing and project-related activities; and providing clear, practical legal advice to internal teams and senior stakeholders. The role also requires maintaining accurate statutory, contractual, and matter records across the Group.
Reporting Line: Director, Legal

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare statutory filings for Group entities and maintain statutory registers and corporate records across multiple jurisdictions
• Provide legal support on intra-group agreements, corporate approvals, entity restructuring initiatives, and other governance matters
• Assist with financing transactions and project-related activities, including reviewing facility agreements, security documents, and related finance documentation; managing conditions precedent; and supporting due diligence exercises
• Coordinate transaction workstreams with lenders, investors, external counsel, and internal stakeholders, ensuring the maintenance of complete closing files and post-completion records
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including customer service agreements, supplier and procurement contracts, non-disclosure agreements, and framework agreements
• Advise internal stakeholders on contractual risks and practical mitigation strategies, while supporting the development and maintenance of standard templates and playbooks
• Assist in managing disputes and claims, including preparing case summaries, coordinating with external counsel, and maintaining the disputes register
• Support compliance activities, including data protection reviews, anti-bribery and anti-corruption programmes, and counterparty due diligence processes
• Maintain accurate matter records, contract registers, and precedent databases, while supporting departmental reporting and knowledge management initiatives

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Law (LL.B) from a recognised institution
• Postgraduate Diploma in Law and admission to the Bar
• A minimum of three (3) years' relevant experience as in-house legal counsel or within a reputable law firm

Experience and Skills

• Strong experience in corporate and company secretarial matters, with demonstrable involvement in financing transactions or other corporate transactions
• Proven commercial contract drafting, review, and negotiation skills. Experience within the telecommunications, data centre, infrastructure, or technology sectors will be an advantage
• Experience working across multiple African jurisdictions and/or within a multinational organisation is highly desirable
• Exceptional drafting skills, with the ability to produce high-quality legal documentation requiring minimal review
• Sound commercial judgement and the ability to provide clear, practical legal advice in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, competing deadlines, and complex transactions
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgement while recognising when matters should be escalated
• High levels of professionalism and discretion when engaging with senior stakeholders, external counsel, and confidential or commercially sensitive information
• Demonstrated ability to quickly understand the Group's business operations, commercial objectives, and legal implications
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and build effective working relationships across all levels of the organisation