Senior Legal Manager: Africa at Pearson

Main Purpose

• Based out of South Africa and leading a team of two lawyers and one paralegal, the Senior Legal Manager will be in charge of providing professional and specialist legal and compliance preventive and reactive services to Pearson South Africa (PSA), Pearson Education Africa (PEA) and Pearson Institute of Higher Education (PIHE), ensuring efficient advising, monitoring and reporting on matters of commercial, operational, and compliance interest throughout the Group.

Reporting

• Into Senior Vice President Legal for International Markets (ex. UK)

Key Responsibilities

Commercial and Operational Engagement

• Lead and develop the legal team on the ground, ensuring Africa is truly part of our global legal function.
• Build the right level of business acumen in order to be able to effectively partner and engage with PSA, PEA and PIHE businesses teams on commercial and operational legal matters, including advising on, drafting and negotiating with external parties, of commercial and operational agreements, and other legal documents as needed.
• Give accurate and timely counsel to senior leadership in a variety of industry specific legal topics
• Collaborate with senior leadership team on matters of mutual interest, including dealing complex legal matters with stakeholders
• Partner with HR in order to be able to provide general labour employment support.
• Continuously implement technology tools aiming to improve efficiency and turn around time as well as support the deployment of Global initiatives in such sense, such as the growth of our Global Transactional Services Center.
• Monitor and proactively communicate changes in legislation.

Compliance

• Partner with Pearson Global and Local Compliance Officer
• Organize and provide training on ABC, anti trust, required policies and any other required compliance matters or relevant legal themes.
• Research and evaluate different risk factors regarding business decisions and operations
• Apply effective risk management techniques and offer proactive advise on possible legal issues

Core Competencies

• People Management and Development Skills
• Strong drafting, reviewing and negotiation skills in respect of legal documents
• Business acumen – familiar with supporting business, curious to learn and support different business models, and experienced in managing a legal function from a budget and technology perspective.
• Strong communication skills and good interpersonal relations, including in interactions with senior members of the organizational, in order to develop and manage key internal business relationships and communicate clearly and accurately
• Analytical mindset and strong planning and organising skills
• Mobility to travel to other regions of Africa for meetings on a need to be basis.
• Experience in supporting other regions outside of South Africa is preferable

Core Behaviours

• Promotes a sense of urgency and makes decisions in the context of data and key industry trends and conditions.
• Builds the right level of business acumen and is able to assert its own position and ideas with confidence and enthusiasm. Addresses and resolves conflict directly and constructively.
• Cares about people and developing the team and others and is guided by a clear moral compass to act with integrity and fairness; treats people honestly and with compassion, regardless of level, personality or background, and expects others to do the same.
• Sets high standards of performance for self and others to achieve team goals, and creates an appropriate sense of urgency for self and others. Demonstrates composure and resilience under difficult and challenging circumstances.
• Forward-thinking, explains the rationale for initiatives, linking them to the broader vision and strategy. Understands the global business vision and strategy, and links it to their own and other’s work.
• Actively supports new ideas and initiatives. Assesses and communicates the financial impact of new initiatives. Engaged to routinely try out new methods, processes and technologies. Keen eye to recognize situations when innovation is required.
• Relationship-builder: Encourages collaboration and teamwork within and across groups around the world. Seeks input and involves others in shaping plans that affect them.

Qualifications

• 10 plus years progressive experience as a practicing attorney, in-house legal counsel or adviser in the field of law
• Demonstrated experience in managing people and leading a legal department
• Demonstrated experience in working with and advising on commercial, operational, and other legal matters
• Demonstrated experience in regulatory compliance and driving compliance plans/projects to completion

Req ID: 2002342