Legal Officer - Ref no: LO/25/01/2024 at National Heritage Council of South Africa

Ref no: LO/25/01/2024 

About the job: 

• The NHC has a vacancy for a Legal Officer who will be responsible to provide legal services within the National Heritage Council ensuring compliance to all relevant legislation. 
• The position is a 2 year fixed-term contract, based at Hatfield, Pretoria. 

Key responsibilities: 

Legal services to the NHC: 

• Define and guide the legal management requirements, standards for the NHC 
• Assist in ensuring the application of standards in the NHC units 
• Facilitate the interpretation of all new regulations and legislation, providing NHC interpretation and workshopping with the business unit teams 
• Assist in reviewing all the legal documents 
• Upskill and where applicable, provide training to business units in practical application of existing legislation 
• Provide legal advise organisation wide 
• Review, investigate and advise or escalate high risk defences and allegations made against the NHC 

Contract Management: 

• Draft and negotiate contracts, MOU’s, SLA’s in support of business activities 
• Vet received contracts 
• Create standard contract templates 
• Manage and report on all changes to outsourced relationships with the company 
• Monitor compliance to the signed agreements and contracts 
• Maintain a contract register 

Compliance and Corporate Governance: 

• Keep abreast of all legislative and regulatory developments that may impact the NHC 
• Provide compliance and support organisation wide 
• Responsible for the drafting and reviewing of Compliance Framework, Compliance Policy and Regulatory Universe. 
• Provide input into changes to policies, processes and procedures 
• Contribute and assist in managing related NHC compliance responsibilities 
• Develop and maintain tracking registers 
• Responsible for developing an annual compliance monitoring plan. 
• Conduct Legislative Compliance Assessments in line with the compliance monitoring plan in order to determine the level of compliance with legislation within the organization. 
• Issue compliance reports to MEXCO and Audit & Risk Committee in line with the compliance policy. 
• Assist the NHC to implement remedial action following Compliance Audits 

Continuous improvement: 

• Participate in continuous improvement of self and role outputs/services 
• Continuously learn and keep up to date with new developments and changes within own role, the department, organisation and industry as a whole 
• Actively share the workload and responsibilities of the team when required, working collaboratively and supporting team members 
• Maintain ownership for own work, performance management and development 
• Maintain optimum quality of work outputs 
• Maintain open and honest communication 
• Engage in problem solving and continuous improvement processes that optimise role outputs and services 
• Efficiently utilise the NHC resources 
• Comply to NHC policies and procedures 

Qualifications, skills and experience: 

• LLB, B. Com Law or relevant NQF level 7 qualification 
• Post Graduate Diploma in Compliance/ Certificate in Compliance will be advantageous 
• General understanding of South African law 
• Project management 
• Lobbying 
• Compiling strategic documents 
• Organizational communication effectiveness 
• Networking 
• Negotiation skills 
• Facilitation skills 
• Presentation skills 
• Planning and organizing 
• Mitigating risks 
• Computer Skills 
• Knowledge of the Companies Act, PFMA, Contract law, Commercial law, all relevant Legislation, Case Law and Common Law 
• At least 5 years’ relevant experience in a similar role 
• Admitted Attorney or Advocate of the High Court of South Africa attorney will be advantageous. 
• Ability to read, analyse, and interpret technical journals, reports, and documents.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. 
• Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. 
• Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. 
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions and percentage. 
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. 
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. 
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to be mobile. 
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. 
• Travelling 
• Driver’s License