Chief Legal Counsel/Chief Legal Officer (Head of Legal Services) at Roads Agency Limpopo SOC (RAL)

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) a must. Admission as an Attorney / Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. Registration as a member in Good Standing with the Legal Practice Council.
• Master’s degree will be an added advantage 10 years’ post-admission experience as an Attorney / Advocate /Legal Advisor, of which must have been in, or (in the case of a practising attorney) rendering professional legal services to the Public Sector. Experience in drafting, interpreting and managing contracts.
• Experience in public procurement laws and procedures, litigation management, land use management, contract law, corporate law and alternative dispute resolution. Driver’s licence. Computer skills (MS Office software programmes).

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS AND MAIN TASKS (BUT NOT LIMITED TO):

• Provide confidential legal advisory services to support the Chief Executive Officer. Conduct routine legal research and compile legal briefs and legal opinions. Drawing up documents (including correspondence, policies, reports and contracts). Budgetary planning and reporting on the divisional expenditure.
• Liaising with appropriate internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, as well as legislative and regulatory requirements. Carry out requests for information from attorneys and internal stakeholders to answer related questions and concerns and collate requisite information. Attend to consultations with Attorneys and Advocates, as and when required.
• Rendering of legal services pertinent to the nature of business of RAL. Administration and management of contracts. Management of legal claims and litigations to which RAL is a party. Update the contracts register, and schedule of claims and litigations on a monthly basis Constantly evaluate, monitor and update the existing legal processes in RAL to optimise legal advisory services rendered to the entity and to management and make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer, where inefficiencies are identified.
• Provide business units with legal advice, following the appropriate procedures. Prepare legal opinions for consideration by the Chief Executive Officer. Understand and ensure adherence to contractual and regulatory frameworks applicable to RAL. Provide legal advice on disputes with external third parties.
• Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Develop and review draft contracts Ensure that RAL and its service providers discharge their contractual obligations. Review and update the contract register on a quarterly basis. Ensure that all contractual obligations arising from the appointment of service providers are complied with.
• Ensure relevant and timeous recording of legal information (updating and diarizing on each file). Draft and update RAL’s policies and procedures insofar as they relate to Legal Services. Ensure that Executive Management are aware of any relevant legislation or regulation affecting RAL. Peruse, review and vet agreements RAL concludes with external third parties. Liaise with attorneys representing RAL in legal matters and give them instructions.
• Participate in negotiations between RAL and external third parties, as and when necessary. Prepare quarterly and annual schedules of claims and litigations and present these to the relevant Committee of the Board. Update, on a quarterly basis, the Legal Services contracts register. Ensure alternative dispute resolution with service providers rendering services or selling goods to RAL. Manage legal risks. Handle audit findings relating to the Office of Chief Legal Counsel.
• Render legal advisory services to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Management. Manage litigations to which RAL is a party and MVA claims lodged by motorists using RAL roads. Draft charge sheets. Represent the employer at disciplinary enquiries/CCMA. Carry-out workplace investigations and recommend resolutions to employee problems, issues, and concerns.
• Provide expert testimony in legal proceedings related to Labour relations or Labour contracts. Assess the divisional structure of the Office of the Chief Legal Counsel and recommend changes thereto, where necessary. Ensure qualified staff, with the right mix of skills is appointed in the unit. Ensure efficient reporting structures are in place.