Legal Advisor

Title

Legal Advisor

JOB PURPOSE

To proactively manage and provide legal services in accordance with the relevant OPCO and Altron Group Legal mandates, including but not limited to contract and records management, privacy and regulatory compliance.
 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide Legal Expertise:

• Contribute to the development of the OPCO’s overall legal management, vision, strategy and policy

• Provision of sound legal advice and opinions to the OPCO

• Management of legal risk

• Keep abreast of industry specific knowledge and key developments and changes in the legal landscape

• Ensure efficient and effective stakeholder engagement, including but not limited to all internal OPCO departments, the Altron Group and external third parties

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Contribute to the development of the OPCO’s overall legal management, vision, strategy and policy

• Work in close collaboration with the OPCO’s executive committee (exco) to define the OPCO’s approach to the legal strategy and obtain sign off from Altron Group Legal where necessary.

• In alignment with the overall approach, develop and implement the specific legal management approach for, and in alignment with, the OPCO’s business.

• Drive the process of setting the legal appetite in the OPCO by facilitating between the exco and Altron Group Legal, the definition of key legal matters, defining the tolerance thresholds, control framework and the approach to dealing with these matters.

• Monitor legal compliance and conduct legal compliance audits to ensure compliance with all applicable legislation.

• Provide legal review and drafting in respect of Requests for Proposals (RFP), Requests for Information (RFI), Requests for Tender (RFT) and Requests for Quote (RFQ).

• Peruse, draft, vet, advise on, and at times, negotiate, legal correspondence, standard and commercial agreements and provide advice and assurance to various OPCOs where requested thereby mitigating contractual and legal risk by taking into consideration South African Law and legal principles applicable for the legal protection of the OPCO and the Altron Group.

• Assist in the drafting and regular updating of standard draft agreements which pertains to the business of the OPCO

• Conduct ongoing research, keep abreast of new legislation, and maintain current knowledge of changes in legislation and developments as they pertain to the business of the OPCO and implement these changes as applicable.

• Assist with the development of company policies and procedures to mitigate risk.

• Manage litigation matters in conjunction with the Altron Group Executive: Legal and external service providers, as applicable.

• Participate in Group legal initiatives, including but not limited to Records Management and Contract Management projects.

• Attend to instructions relating to other OPCO’s and Altron Group legal matters allocated to the candidate from time to time by the Altron Group Executive: Legal

Provision of sound legal advice and opinions to the OPCO

• Manage or be involved in project work related to the relevant agreements e.g. new product developments, updating and amendment of templates for agreements and attestations etc.

• Represent the OPCO in industry working groups and/or committees, as applicable.

• Comment on impact of legislation on the OPCO and provide feedback to the exco, highlighting areas of concern and providing appropriate recommendations.

• Educate and train staff on current and new legislation, as applicable.

• Keep abreast of local and international developments with regards the relevant agreements and ensure that this knowledge is filtered through to the rest of the business.

Management of Legal Risk across the OPCO

• Assess on an ongoing basis, the OPCO’s standard documentation and agreements to ensure that they are of a high professional standard.

• Coordinate and drive the process to unpack legal and business concerns in a solution-orientated manner, with acceptable smart risk as opposed to total risk elimination approach.

• Proactive identification, investigation and solution of legal issues and/ or inefficiencies presented from time to time.

• Proactive identification, investigation and escalation of operational legal risks and/ or inefficiencies presented from time to time.

• Develop action plans to address any legal risks, liabilities and losses recovery.

Ensure efficient and effective stakeholder engagement

• Proactively develop and manage relationships with key external stakeholders including external legal counsel relevant to the business and external regulatory bodies to ensure effective management of legal or potential legal issues/disputes and regulatory compliance.

• Build and develop relationships across the OPCO and the Altron Group with various stakeholders to maximise business growth.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal:

• Altron Group Legal & Compliance including Privacy and Risk, Human Capital, CoSec, Treasury and Corporate Finance

• OPCO unit heads

• Managing Director of OPCO

Reasons for Interaction:

• Alignment with Altron Group’s strategy

• Offering legal support as required

• Query resolutions

• Offering legal counsel

External:

• Regulatory bodies

• Customers

• External legal advisors

Reasons for Interaction:

• As per industry requirements

• Purposes of contracting and resolution of issues/disputes

• Purposes of litigation etc

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:

Educational Qualifications:

• Minimum LLB degree

• Admission as an Attorney or as an Advocate

Years of Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ post admission qualification

Other requirements

• Legal advisory & interpretation knowledge and experience

• Knowledge in law & regulatory frameworks

• Legal research knowledge and experience

• Risk & compliance knowledge and experience

• Fluency in English is mandatory

• Strong oral and written communications skills

• Organisational and prioritisation skills

• Excellent administrator with strong attention to detail

• Technology and systems savvy

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment whilst still maintaining high levels of accuracy

• Ability to maintain supreme levels of ethical behaviour and confidentiality

• Ability to identify opportunities for improvement

• Ability to work in a team structure

Behavioural Competencies

The incumbent is required to have demonstrated the following competencies:

• Delivery: Translates business objectives into practical, prioritised and organised action plans; ensures plans are accurately, timeously and successfully implemented. Makes effective use of resources when executing; ensures processes are in place to achieve outcomes aligned to operational excellence standards.

• Teaming: Communicates ideas, information and business objectives effectively and persuasively, resulting in desired actions/outcomes. Promotes, collaboration information sharing and learning within and across team members boundaries, whilst embracing autonomy. Focuses on ensuring stakeholder satisfaction by building mutually beneficial healthy business relationships with stakeholders.

• Attitude: Positive, high performance culture driven with an obsession for customers.

Education

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