Deputy General Counsel and Deputy Head of Department at South African Reserve Bank

Brief description

• To support the General Counsel and Head of Department in providing leadership and strategic direction to the Legal Services Department (LSD) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the provision of legal services to the SARB Group.

Detailed description

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following key performance areas:

• Develop a departmental strategy and policies aligned to the SARB strategy and ensure common understanding amongst LSD managers on its objectives thereby ensuring strategically-aligned legal services and support to the SARB Group.
• Take primary responsibility of the operational management of the department’s functions, and to act as the General Counsel and Head of Department (GCHoD) when required.
• Manage the value chain, structure and resources required to deliver on the objectives of the LSD.
• Define and oversee the implementation of legal systems and relevant frameworks, including the governance, risk and compliance framework (GRC).
• Create a healthy work climate where employees are adequately motivated and empowered.
• Manage the performance and development of staff in the LSD.
• Take responsibility for talent management by identifying appropriate talent in key positions, on- boarding, succession management and retention of key talent within the LSD.
• Oversee and guide the negotiation, drafting and implementation of complex legal agreements relating to the work of the SARB Group.
• Support the GCHoD in the provision of high-level legal advice to the SARB Board, Governors’ Executive Committee (GEC), and top management to ensure that decisions taken are legally correct and that the SARB Group’s interests are protected.
• Manage high level internal and external stakeholders and represent the SARB Group at meetings with relevant bodies to ensure that the legal aspects of decisions are fully considered.
• Represent the SARB Group on litigation matters to ensure that its interests are effectively safeguarded and that it can execute effectively on its constitutional mandate.
• Oversee the development and management of the annual budget for the LSD and ensure that appropriate financial controls are in place.
• Oversee the preparation of management information and reports e.g. on legal risk management, litigation, external legal panel relationships and instruction allocation.
• Maintain an awareness of developments in the legal field which might affect the SARB Group and prepare reports on relevant matters for consideration by the top management of the SARB Group.

Job requirements

To be considered for this position, candidates must have:           

• A Masters Degree in Law or equivalent qualification plus admission as an Advocate/Attorney.
• A minimum of 10 – 12 years of experience in Legal Services and Advocacy, with at least five (5) years in general management.

Additional requirements are as follows:

• Industry, organisational and business awareness knowledge and skill
• Quality assurance knowledge and skill
• Continuous improvement knowledge and skill
• Continued learning and/or professional development knowledge and skill
• Legal Practice/Advocacy
• Relevant Legislation
• Central Banking
• Relevant Policies and Procedures
• Contract Management
• Project Management
• Corporate Governance
• Financial and Banking Regulations
• South African Financial System
• Procurement
• Research Methodologies
• General Management
• Computer Literacy

Additional requirements are as follows:

• Leading change
• Establishing focus
• Driving results
• Promoting team work
• Developing and growing others
• Service & stakeholder focus
• Effective communication
• Building & maintaining relationships
• Impact & influence
• Interpersonal sensitivity
• Analysing & problem solving
• Planning & organising
• Judgement & decision making
• Strategic thinking
• Conceptual thinking