Senior Legal Administration Officer (MR6): Legal SupportT- NEMA at Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Requirements & Qualifications

• LLB degree or relevant qualification as recognised by SAQA. A minimum of eight (8) years post qualification experience in the provision of legal services. Must have a valid driver’s licence. 

Duties

• Provide legislative support to the department (drafting, vetting and commenting on Bills, policies and subordinate legislation). provide general legal support relating to the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (NEMA) and its subordinate legislation (Legal opinions/ advice/ research on legislation administered by the Department, submissions, briefing documents, responses to the public, media queries, parliamentary questions, support to interpretation queries in terms of NEMA and subordinate legislation). Provide legal support in relation to NEMA/ Specific environmental management Acts and mining alignment support.
• Taking Bills through and assisting in the Cabinet and Parliamentary processes. Ensuring that the work produced by the Directorate is legally defensible and of good quality, and that the timelines and prescripts set by the legislation and departmental service standards are adhered to.
• Provide legislative and policy coordination support to Working Groups and subordinate structures dealing with NEMA and subordinate legislation,  and participate in law reform fora of other Departments and inputs on draft Bills, subordinate legislation, policies and guidelines with specific focus areas. 

Candidate Profile

• Knowledge of public service and departmental policies, legislations and procedures; environmental, administrative and mining legislations; 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 & 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.