Senior Director: Legal Services (P4) at Central University of Technology, Free State

Main purpose of the job

• To provide strategic leadership and executive legal advisory services to the University by leading the Legal Services Unit and ensuring sound governance, legal compliance, institutional integrity, and effective legal risk management.
• The role is responsible for developing and implementing the University's legal strategy, providing legal advice to executive management and governance structures, overseeing litigation and dispute resolution, the student disciplinary process, and strengthening institutional policy and regulatory frameworks, and ensuring that the University's legal affairs support the achievement of its strategic objectives while protecting its interests and reputation.

Main tasks

• Strategic Legal Leadership 
• Governance, Statutory Compliance and Institutional Assurance
• Contract Management and Legal Documentation
• Executive Legal Advisory Services
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution 6. Policy Development and Regulatory Frameworks
• Enterprise Legal Risk, Ethics and Information Governance
• Financial Management, People Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

Minimum Qualification/ Knowledge and/or Experience

• Master’s degree in Law (LLM) (NQF9).
• Ten (10) years post-admission legal experience.
• Five (5) years of experience in a senior management position.
• Admission as an Attorney or Advocate of the High Court of South Africa.
• Right of Appearance in the High Court.
• Extensive experience in Higher Education Governance and legislative
• requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in litigation, contract law and legal advisory.
• Admitted legal practitioner in good standing.
• Knowledge of Higher Education legislation and all applicable legislation. 

Desired Qualification, Knowledge And/Or Experience

• A Doctoral Degree in Law (LLD).
• Extensive experience within Higher Education or another large public institution.
• Eight (8) years' experience in a senior management position.
• Experience advising executive management, Council and governance committees.
• Experience leading legal transformation and governance modernisation initiatives
• Experience implementing legal technology solutions and contract management systems.