The Legal Manager manages the legal department, providing legal advice to the organisation, drafting and reviewing contracts, managing litigation, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. The Manager is responsible for providing secretarial services to the Board of Directors for efficient administration of Board Meetings.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Strategy and Planning;
• Legal Services;
• Litigation Support;
• Resource Management and Budgeting;
• Board Secretarial Services;
• Networking and Relationship Building;
• Governance Compliance and Risk;
• Knowledge Management, Learning and Sharing and;
• Coaching and Mentorship

Key Responsibilities

Main Activities

Strategy and Planning

• Contribute to the development of the Corporate Strategy and;
• Develop departmental strategy and annual workplans.

Legal Services

• Provide sound legal advice and counsel to the Board and management on matters of law, ethics and good corporate governance, which minimizes legal risk to the organisation;
• Provide the Board and management with legal opinions on any matter of policy to ensure legal tenability of such policies;
• Influence amendments to relevant legislation to allow for the implementation of those policies;
• Assist in interpreting key statutes such as the Zambia Development Agency Act (2006), the Companies Act (Chapter 388), the Investment Act (388), Societies Act Cap 119 and other pieces of key legislation which have a bearing in carrying out the organisation’s mandate within the confines of the law and;
• Manage legal disputes, collaborating with external counsel, controlling litigation budgets, and strategizing for dispute resolution and defense.

Litigation Support and all matters incidental to litigation

• Present demand notices to clients who have failed to pay their loans and grants;
• Commence legal actions for the recovery of monies owing to the organisation when and if clients fail to comply with those notices arising from failure to meet the demand;
• Prepare defense and ensure that the same is filed within 14 days of receipt of legal suits;

Resource Management and Budgeting

• Develop the departmental annual work plan budget for consolidation in the full budget and;
• Contribute to the organisation’s cost effectiveness by ensuring that legal programs and activities are always within the approved budget.

Board Secretarial Services

• Draft and review governance documents, such as charters, policies, and procedures, to establish clear governance frameworks;
• Prepare and distribute Board papers and minutes;
• Monitor corporate governance developments and regulatory changes, recommending adjustments to governance structures as needed and;
•  Facilitate board meetings, ensuring compliance with governance protocols and regulations.

Governance, Compliance and Risk Management

• Provide expert legal advice to senior management and the board on governance matters, ensuring alignment  with legal requirements and industry best practices;
• Develop and implement a comprehensive compliance program, including policies, procedures, and training, to ensure adherence to laws and regulations;
• Conduct compliance risk assessments and audits, identifying areas of potential non-compliance and implementing corrective measures;
• Provide legal guidance on compliance and risk matters to internal stakeholders, including departments and business units;
• Investigate reported compliance violations or breaches, implementing remedial actions and reporting to relevant authorities if necessary;
• Identify, assess and mitigate legal risks that could impact the organization’s reputation, finances, or operations. This includes drafting contracts, conducting risk assessments for business initiatives, and providing legal advice on risk mitigation strategies;
• Monitor intellectual property assets, conducting audits, and guiding transactions to safeguard the interests of the organisation;
• Assess legal implications of business decisions, transactions, and initiatives;
• Collaborate with teams to evaluate risks and opportunities.

Knowledge Management, Learning and Sharing

• Establish and manage legal reporting, tracking legal matters, litigation outcomes, regulatory changes, and compliance;
• Analyze legal data to identify patterns, trends, and opportunities.
• Enhance reporting processes and analytics tools for efficiency and accuracy.

Coaching and Mentorship

• Effectively communicate legal concepts to Clients and Staff.

Qualifications Experience and Skills

Considerable competence at management level is required to understand and apply advanced policies, practices, procedures, concepts, and principles;

General Education:
Full Grade Twelve (12) Certificate

Professional/Academic Qualifications:
Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB)
Advocate of the High Court of Zambia
Professional and valid membership to relevant professional body (LAZ)

Relevant Job Experience

Minimum of 5 years’ post qualifying experience in a cross-cultural environment institution at management level preferably in financial services.
Experience in corporate legal services.
Experience working with donor programming, rules and regulations

Skills

• Team building;
• Conflict management;
• Interpersonal skills;
• Decision making skills;
• Conceptual skills; and
• Highest standards of integrity
• Strategic management skills;
• Organization and coordination skills;
• Administrative skills;
• Influencing/persuasion/judgement;
• Performance management and development;
• Developing, motivation and coaching;
• Mentoring and counseling and;
• Strategy formulation and execution.
• Deep understanding of Zambian legal framework;
• Knowledge of Global Legal landscape;
• Corporate Law Skills:
• Quantitative and financial modelling skills with Advanced Excel;
• Knowledge of statutory Legal and regulatory requirements;
• Sound business and commercial acumen;
• Comprehensive legal risk management skills encompassing the governance, risk and compliance landscape;
• Data analysis and interpretation skills;
• Project management skills;
• Change management skills and;
• Knowledge of the full MS Office suite