Senior Legal Counsel at Voltalia

About the job

Our Development Business Line is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel for the African Region, who will have the following responsibilities:

• Manage and supervise a variety of regulatory and commercial matters across the African region to support the business in the development of the projects and in the expansion of the new opportunities in this market;
• Provide legal guidance and innovative solutions to different internal teams;
• Support the business line development teams and the different teams involved in the drafting and negotiation of the documents supporting their activities and the development of the projects, including drafting, negotiating and advice on commercial agreements as land options, leases, connection agreements, PPAs, tender documents, etc.;
• Accompany the projects through financial close, requiring review and drafting of loan agreements, security agreements, common terms, liaising with lenders legal advisors, etc.;
• Review and advise on legally binding documents, follow-up and advise on negotiations;
• Support preparation and revision of public tenders and submission of documentation;
• Support and advise development managers in the analysis of new markets;
• Contribute to the strategic and budgetary planning process of the business line;
• Contribute to the risk assessment of the activities of the business unit, its business partners, suppliers and other business stakeholders;
• Draft and negotiate other contracts such as LoIs, NDAs, MoUs, GTC, etc.;
• Identify and maintain a network of legal partners capable of globally support the needs of the business unit in terms of local legal advice.

REQUIREMENTS

• Education in business law;
• Extensive knowledge in renewable energy projects, international tenders and mini-grids;
• Specific experience in African RE projects, having dealt with BEE compliance;
• Experience in the negotiation of power purchase agreements;
• Experience in project finance process;
• Proven track record of complex commercial regional negotiations;
• Some background in M&As matters is a plus;
• Must have international experience, with a commercial profile;
• English proficiency.

SOFT SKILLS :

• Ability to communicate legal risks and recommendations to senior managers in the company;
• Problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, judgement, communication, and interpersonal skills;
• Flexibility
• Proactive and creative legal analysis will be key.