General Manager - Legal Corporate Services at MTN

Job Description

• The core purpose of a General Manager: Commercial Legal is to oversee all Commercial legal affairs, ensuring the necessary legal risk management practices are implemented to comply with laws and regulations, while minimizing risks and protecting the company's interests
• To develop and ensure implementation of the commercial legal strategy in alignment with MTN SA strategy and MTN Group Legal strategies and play a leading consultative role across SA operations in proactively mitigating risk

Responsibilities
Commercial legal Strategy:

• Define and develop commercial legal strategy in alignment with MTN SA commercial strategy and MTN Group legal strategies, and ensure that department PPP’s and structures are aligned and valid
• Define strategy in line with cross-functional practices and in alignment with corporate governance and delegated authorities. Ensure that the strategies are successfully implemented and followed.
• Provide direction and strategy in the commercial legal department including frequent review of structure, policies, processes, procedures and quality of work delivered.
• Ensure effective resource analysis and recruitment of suitably skilled staff for the department. Brief other departments on compliance of their PPP’s with corporate governance, good legal practice and contract management.

Legal operational:

• Provide general legal and commercial advice on all new projects / ventures / opportunities.
• Brief the Exco on OPCO issues – ensure that the Executive is made aware of issues at hand, risk involved and providing advice on ramifications and possible action.
• Provide advice regarding the structuring of projects/ventures in order to proactively mitigate risk
• Ensure continuity and management of legal risk.
• Advise senior management on corporate governance issues.
• Handle negotiations on the more complex multi-functional and international projects

Legal Framework:

• Provide strategic input into changes in the Legal Framework
• Provide input into new developments in the legal field in the broader industry context and advise on where changes need to be made in systems and processes to meet and comply with new or amended requirements.
• Attend relevant professional workshops, seminars, etc.
• Ensure ongoing development of knowledge of the telecommunications environment and industry, including technical, operational, legal and regulatory knowledge and share do knowledge transfer.

Commercial contracts:

• Drafting commercial contracts of a complex nature
• Taking instruction during negations with relevant stakeholders and clients
• Drawing up relevant contracts
• Ensuring all supporting documentation is received and approved

Negotiation and consultation around contracts:

• Negotiation and consultation around contracts and representation of the company regarding legal matters at a high level Negotiate with relevant company stakeholders and clients to finalize terms of contracts and manage risk and compliance.
• High level review of contract – review contracts, effect amendments and negotiations with counter-parties and finalise as required

Negotiation and consultation around contracts (cont..):

• Finalise reports, documentation and board papers - Vet and amend reports, documentation etc prepared by team and prepare reports for OPCO, EXCO for monthly review
• Provide strategic input on litigation matters - Provide input on the way forward on litigation matters and advise staff on litigation issues of a more complex nature
• Provide strategic directions on legal risk management campaigns for the commercial legal department to ensure that the organisation is made aware of how to utilize their services optimally within the organization. Find ways to demonstrate the expertise of the department to the organisation by adding value wherever possible.
• Assist in fulfilling the strategic BEE requirements for MTN and ensure risk mitigation strategies are in place for MTN.
• Identify commercial legal risk areas and provide risk mitigation strategies throughout the group.

Financial Management

• Develop budgets and plans for BU and collaborate closely with finance business partners and executives in the process
• Collaborate closely with finance team in budgeting exercises
• Forecast, plan, develop and review the budget and secure the necessary approvals
• Manage and optimise the budget, ensuring all expenditure is in line with the agreed budgets
• Monitor costs and determine initiatives to increase efficiencies and optimize resources - maximise cost/benefit ratios
• Ensure that BU and departmental financial targets are met

Continuous Improvement

• Play a critical role in creating thought leadership (Area-specific trends , industry best practice) within the BU space
• Research and keep abreast of new legal developments and innovations, identify and share leading practices, concepts and benchmarks on a continual basis with own teams
• Participate in communities of practices and conferences to facilitate knowledge sharing and positioning of MTN’s intellectual property and employer of choice brand towards the external marketplace
• Monitor true-value metrics to measure the impact and benefit of the function to MTN SA

Governance, Policies and Procedures

• Ensure effective implementation of (and compliance towards) company policies, processes, and procedures. Put effective methods and standards in place in alignment with aforementioned
• Manage and provide solutions to escalations that have multiple processes / functions impact on critical path of service delivery
• Ensure effective and efficient service escalation processes are in place regionally and central integration
• Continuously review key risks, issues and dependencies and set mitigation actions

People Leadership /Management

• Set integrated goals and objectives for the Commercial Legal team within MTN in order to achieve a future-focused, future-fit high-performing organisation
• Provide technical, procedural and policy guidance to staff, colleagues , partners and vendors
• Attract, develop and retain appropriate talent. Build talent by identifying and developing new leaders for the respective environment
• Create and implement personal development plans
• Define the KPAs and KPIs that will be cascaded down to each area
• Manage Performance and identify training needs. Coach and guide subordinates
• Enable and model healthy employee relations and collaborative teamwork
• Manage diversity, develop, and embed an Employment Equity plan for the business area
• Contribute to building a culture of continuous evaluation and improvement. Drive a culture of high performance, accountability and consequence management
• Act as an ambassador for the team by living the Brand values and vital behaviours and changing and influencing employees’ behaviour

Qualifications
Education:

• 4 year tertiary qualification in Law/LLB (Commercial/Business) or related MBA/Masters Advantageous
• Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years’ post admission experience including:
• Senior Management track record of 10 years or more; with at least 7 years within the telecommunications environment
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies
• Proven track record of Commercial Legal management in global/multinational company