General Counsel at DRA Global

The position is responsible for overseeing legal matters within the EMEA Region for DRA. This will include leading and directing a team of senior legal professionals in the EMEA region both internally and externally, reporting to the Global General Counsel based in Australia and the SVP Finance, EMEA.

Establishing strong stakeholder relationships with relevant business units (BUs), including DRA Projects, Minopex, Nexus, and SENET will be a key focus in this role

Key Responsibilities will be:

• Manage and be fully accountable for legal services to DRA in EMEA, focusing on non-dispute-related matters. This will include the provision of legal advice & services on a range of business operational matters, such as:
• Reviewing and negotiating a range of engineering and construction contracts such as professional services contracts (including feasibility studies), EPCM, EPC, construction, operations and maintenance, and procurement and supply contracts
• Drafting downstream subcontract/supply special conditions for various projects for tender and post-award purposes
• Advising on legal matters arising from time to time during project administration
• Assisting the Global General Counsel with general corporate matters
• Developing contract registers and legal precedents
• Implementing and managing observance of group-wide legal and compliance policies throughout EMEA
• Protecting intellectual property rights
• Advising on general commercial and insurance matters within the business units.
• Giving accurate and timely counsel to executives in a variety of legal topics (contracting, labour law, partnerships, international ventures, corporate finance, etc.)
• Collaborating with management on significant corporate initiatives, efficient defense strategies, managing and resolving disputes with minimum impact to business either through mediation or litigation
• Enforcing specified internal contracting guidelines and governance policies (set by Corporate) and regularly monitor compliance, ensuring that the three BUs always operates fully within the law, with special reference to its methods of business, its contractual relations, and its process of negotiation
• Applying effective risk management techniques and offer proactive advice on possible legal issues regarding business decisions and operations
• Communicating and negotiating with external parties (regulators, external counsel, public authority, etc.), creating relations of trust
• Building collaborative and productive working relationships across the three BUs and with key external stakeholders, representing the three BUs at external legal and risk forums
• Drafting and solidifying agreements, contracts, and other legal documents to ensure the three BUs’ full legal rights
• Dealing with complex matters with multiple stakeholders, including support in negotiations and achieving closure on the details of transactions
• Reviewing and negotiating critical, non-routine contracts and transactions entered into by the three BUs
• Developing and retain the legal intellectual capital of the three BUs and provide clarification on legal language or specifications to everyone in the organization
• Managing and overseeing the legal and compliance resources throughout the three BUs
• Ensuring that all legislation affecting the EMEA BUs is researched, and the relevant managers, executives, and the boards of directors are informed about new or proposed legislation which may affect the EMEA BUs’ activities
• Participating in the definition and development of corporate policies in support of the Group Legal Counsel, procedures, and programs and provides continuing counsel and guidance on legal matters and on legal implications of all matters
• Be the key point of contact and facilitate timely responses for information and documents as requested by the Regional Ombudsman, and any other regional agencies with investigative powers
• Maintaining and managing relationships with external legal advisers that support the efficient and effective provision of legal services to the EMEA BUs including managing matters briefed to external lawyers
• Developing and managing training and compliance programs to promote understanding of the EMEA BUs’ legal rights and obligations and a culture of compliance
• Taking personal responsibility for the delivery of high quality, timely, and cost-effective legal services to DRA’s Group Legal Counsel and BU EVPs, including legal budgets and expenditure

Personal Capabilities

• Ability to work well under pressure, work on multiple tasks at one time, prioritising workloads, and meeting deadlines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong drafting, advisory, and negotiation skills
• Ability to mentor and supervise a legal team
• Excellent interpersonal and client management skills.
• Present and conduct oneself in a respectable and professional manner
• Ability to adapt effectively to changing plans and priorities.

Qualifications      

• Legal degree and a registered attorney in South Africa

Experience

• Legal experience in construction and commercial law with 10+ years of experience
• Familiarity and understanding of relevant legislation relating to the mining industry and/or related experience in a listed environment with 10+ years of experience
• Familiarity and experience working within African jurisdictions with 10+ years of experience
• Working in-house within resources, heavy industry, or infrastructure sectors with 5+ years of experience