Senior Manager: Legal - (REF: 10/2026/01) at Johannesburg Roads Agency(JAR)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Oversee the development and maintain a multi-year Governance and Legal Services strategy, annual operational plan, service catalogue and service standards aligned with the JRA business plan and SDBIP.
• Monitor workloads, turnaround times, matter outcomes, external legal spend, client satisfaction and implementation of legal recommendations through monthly and quarterly dashboards
• Oversee the development, implementation and periodically review JRA’s governance framework in alignment with applicable legislation, City requirements, the approved shareholder governance framework and recognised governance standards, including King V.
• Provide legal and governance input on material Board, committee and executive submissions, resolutions, policies, transactions and strategic initiatives.
• Provide or commission written legal opinions on constitutional, municipal, administrative, commercial, employment, delictual, road-infrastructure and other matters affecting JRA.
• Coordinate legal quality assurance of new and revised JRA policies and ensure alignment with legislation, City policies and JRA’s governance architecture.
• Maintain an approved legal compliance universe, obligations register, compliance calendar and monitoring plan covering all material legislation, regulations, by-laws, licences, permits, standards and City requirements.
• Coordinate legally sound responses to regulators, oversight bodies, information requests, investigations and statutory notices.
• Oversee the development and maintaining standard agreements, clause libraries, legal checklists, approval protocols and contract legal-review service levels.
• Advise on variations, extensions, guarantees, securities, insurance, indemnities, intellectual property, confidentiality, data protection, breach, penalties, termination and remedies.
• Maintain a complete litigation and dispute register, undertake early case assessment and approve matter strategies, budgets, evidence plans and settlement parameters within delegated authority.
• Appoint, instruct and manage the panel of attorneys, counsel, experts and other service providers; monitor quality, cost, progress and outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with court, tribunal and contractual deadlines, preserve evidence and pursue appropriate recoveries, cost orders and enforcement
• Provide legal support on disciplinary, grievance, collective labour, misconduct, incapacity, restructuring, policy and employment-contract matters.
• Maintain a complete claim register and ensure timely acknowledgement, investigation, evidence gathering, liability assessment, quantum review, repudiation, negotiation or settlement within delegated authority.
• Translate claims trends into preventive recommendations for maintenance, asset management, recordkeeping, customer communication and operational controls.
• Maintain the Governance and Legal Services risk register and contribute material legal and compliance risks to JRA’s strategic and operational risk registers.
• Implement and maintain fit-for-purpose matter, contract, claims, compliance and governance registers or systems with clear ownership, access controls and data-quality standards.
• Oversee the development a precedent, opinion, template and lessons-learned repository and promote consistent use across the function.
• Oversee the development of the unit operational plan, performance scorecard, annual calendar and individual performance commitments and review progress at least quarterly.
• Submit accurate, concise and decision-useful monthly, quarterly and annual reports on governance, compliance, legal advice, contracts, litigation, labour matters, claims, risks, costs and assurance.
• Set clear performance expectations, conduct performance reviews, coach employees and implement development, succession and professional-learning plans.
• Ensure lawful procurement and effective contract management of external legal services, experts, investigators and other providers.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the Board and committees through the appropriate governance channels, CEO, executive management, Company Secretariat, Finance, SCM, HR, Risk, Internal Audit, technical functions and all business units.
• Manage relationships with courts, tribunals, regulators, oversight and law-enforcement bodies, insurers, professional bodies, legal service.

REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

• LLB degree or recognised equivalent legal qualification at NQF Level 8.
• Admission as an attorney or advocate of the High Court of South Africa and current good standing.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuing professional development and maintenance of any applicable professional requirements.
• Minimum of 8 years’ post-qualification legal experience, including at least 4 years in a senior management or leadership role.
• Substantial experience across corporate governance, legal advisory, contracts, litigation or dispute resolution, regulatory compliance and legal risk management.
• Experience managing professional teams, external attorneys or counsel, legal budgets and executive-level stakeholders.