Senior Manager Legal & Compliance at Bidvest International Logistics

Job Purpose    

• Assist with the contract drafting, review and finalising of all contracts for the organisation  compliance and risk activities of the business, including insurance,claims, SHE and quality of output. Litigation activities including managing external attorneys, depose to necessary affidavits and deal with any letters of demand or summons served/received. Obtain Board Resolutions from Bidvest secreterial where necessary and ensure accuracy. Proactively support and grow key collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders and manage legal and claims staff and their development and report to the Head of Legal.

Qualifications & Experience    
Qualifications:

• LLB Degree
• Admitted Attorney or Advocate

Experience:

• At least 10 years corporate legal experience post admission
• At least 4 years at Senior Management level.

Key Responsibilities    
Key responsibilities of this role:

• Legal - contracts, claims and company secretarial
• Risk - management, compliance monitoring
• Insurance - cover, and  claims
• SHEQ - compliance, certification, sustainability
• Report drafting.

Main activities of this role:

Legal:

Contract -

• Review & authorise all new leases
• Review & approve major new service provider contracts or amendments to existing contracts
• Draft and /or review all client agreements
• Assist  negotiations with contacts/agreements with clients.

Litigation -

• Deal with any letters of demand or summons served/received
• Instruct  and manage external attorneys
• Depose to necessary affidavits.

Company Secretarial -

• Obtain Board Resolutions from Bidvest secretarial where necessary and ensure accuracy thereof
• Obtain up to date company legal documentation from Bidvest Secretarial and make available
• Draft minutes of the Executive Committee or Risk Committee meetings.

Risk Management - 

• Maintain Business Risk Register
• Monitor the company’s progress on risk reduction objectives and targets
• Quarterly report to the Risk Committee & attend the meeting
• Assist with the preparation of the quarterly report to the Bidfreight Risk Committee & attend the meeting.

Compliance -

• Keep up to date with applicable legislative changes applicable
• Communicate updates on legal and risk management requirements where appropriate
• Arrange training on legislative changes where necessary.

Insurance & Claims:

Insurance -

• Management of claims team
• Deal with general insurance queries
• Compile insurance requirements for new assets, properties and clients in colaboration with the Head of Legal
• Ensure contracts comply with insurer’s requirements.

Claims -

• Oversee claims process is followed and claims dealt with expeditiously 
• Assist with communication to third parties and / or clients where necessary
• Report on claims (including progress and management).

Compliance -

• Practical experience in the implementation and embedding of integrated compliance program at a large organisation
• Assist with and oversee sustainability measures and reporting. 

Safety, Health, Environment, Quality:

SHE -

• Assist the Head of Legal on reporting on SHE relating to business. Liase with National SHEQ Manager
• Assist with and oversee sustainability measures and reporting.

Other:

People -

• Proactively support and grow key collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders
• Manage legal and claims staff and their development and report to the Head of Legal.

Budget -

• Monitor departmental expenses to ensure they are within the annual budget parameters.

Skills & Competencies    
Knowledge:

• Sound knowledge of corporate governance, risk and sustainability principles
• Insurance knowledge and expertise, in particular marine liability and cargo 
• Strong commercial legal understanding, preferably in the logistics, insurance or freight industry
• Working knowledge of SHE legal requirements and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability principles
• Strong knowledge of the Companies Act and corporate governance.

Skills:

• Contract drafting and vetting
• Insurance expertise and knowledge
• Communication, including negotiation and presentations
• Prepare presentations and reports
• Strong organisation and legal skills.