Snr. Legal Advisor: Product Specialist & Insurance Commercial: Job Grade: 13: SLS: Legal Services at Sanlam Group

Core Tasks:

• To lead and provide strategic legal advice and business support, on complex insurance (including reinsurance), retirement funds and other financial services matters to various business units within the Sanlam Life and Savings and Fintech clusters, enabling sustainable business growth, managing legal risk, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• The role involves stakeholder engagement, policy influence, and oversight of legal frameworks across the organization.
• Strategic legal advisory: advise executive leadership on legal implications of strategic business initiatives, product development and market expansion.
• Lead legal input into the design and rollout of insurance, retirement funds and financial services products.
• Reviewing product development material and providing legal sign-off where required.
• Advising on product related queries from business and control functions.
• Governance and regulatory engagement: represent Sanlam at required internal and external stakeholder engagements including in engagements with ASISA, FSCA, PA.
• Legal Risk management: identify emerging legal risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Contractual and commercial leadership: Oversee negotiation, drafting of high value and complex contracts including reinsurance, distribution, transaction agreements.
• Leadership and mentorship: mentor junior legal advisors and contribute to legal team development.
• Collaborating, as necessary, with other units in the Legal Centre of Excellence.
• Interpreting legislation and advising on the impact of relevant legislation on the business. 
• Draft, review and vet complex legal documents, including contracts.
• Analyse disputes – consider, negotiate, implement and manage appropriate solutions.
• Assisting with complaints by providing legal advice and guidance.

What will make you successful in this role?

• Deep knowledge of legislation impacting Sanlam Life including the FSRA, Insurance Act, PFA, FAIS, CISCA, FICA, POPIA and related regulatory frameworks
• Exposure to new product development in the financial services industry
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of contract negotiating and drafting.
• Computer skills (MS Office)