Director: Law Reform at Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Requirements & Qualifications

• An undergraduate qualification (NQF7) in Law or relevant qualification as recognised by SAQA. A minimum of five (5) years’ experience at middle or senior managerial level in Law Reform. Successful completion of the Senior Management Pre-entry Programme as endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG) must be submitted prior to appointment. 

Duties

• Provide legislative support (drafting, vetting and commenting on Bills, policies and subordinate legislation) to the Department. This includes drafting and legally vetting Policies, Bills, Regulations, Notices, Strategies, Plans, Norms, Standards and related workflows.
• Review Socio-Economic Impact Assessments (SEIAS) Reports. Review Comments and Responses Reports (CRRs). Taking Bills and some sub-ordinate legislation through the Cabinet process, Parliamentary process and engagements with the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor, and Parliamentary Legal Advisors.
• Provide legal support (legal opinions/advice/research on legislation administered by the department, submissions, briefing documents, responses to the public, media statements Parliamentary questions, support to interpretation queries and subordinate legislation). Legally vet applications for exemptions, authorisations, licenses and permits.
• Manage Delegations Register for the Department. Participate and represent the Department in forums, committees, meetings, and related stakeholder platforms. Coordinate law reform and policies through the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Process. Management of the Directorate including the performance of the staff, attend management meetings and financial management. 

Candidate Profile

• Experience in the legislation and policy development process. Knowledge: public service and departmental policies, legislation and procedures; environmental, administrative and mining legislation; research methodologies and presentation skills; legal administration; strategic coordination/ planning; business planning; report/professional writing; business process management; organisation performance management; risk management; audit procedures; project management; planning and performance management legislation.
• Skills and Competencies: Advanced skills in policy formulation; advanced skills in legislative drafting; advanced negotiation skills; advanced statutory interpretation skills, adequate skills in computer use; advanced skills in financial and project management; advanced skills in respect of formal presentation and public speaking; good interpersonal relations and diplomatic skills; relationship management;
• stakeholder engagement; public relations; research; strategic capability and leadership; programme and project management; change management; knowledge management; service delivery innovation (SDI); problem solving and analysis; people management and empowerment; client orientation and customer focus;
• ability to work under pressure and long hours; ability to work individually and in a team; good interpersonal relations, ability to work with difficult persons and to resolve conflict; sense of responsibility and loyalty; objectiveness; integrity; service orientated; self-supervision; highly developed sense of honesty and protect the confidentiality of documents. Must have a valid driver’s license.