Senior Manager : Commercial Legal (Fintech) at MTN

Role Summary:

• The Senior Manager: Commercial Legal (FinTech) is responsible to manage all aspects of commercial legal requirements, transactions and initiatives within the MTN Group, with a primary focus on fintech, including mobile financial services. 
• This role will manage and provide guidance and advice on legal aspects of transactions, legal risks and other legal matters, with a primary focus on fintech, including mobile financial services.

Context (Global influences, environmental / industry demands, organisational mission etc.)
MTN is entering a new phase in its lifecycle where operational and commercial excellence has become critical for success. The urgency for change has become more heightened amidst increased competitive intensity across all markets in which MTN operates. The Group’s Commercial Legal function must therefore ensure the successful delivery in context of:

• Rapidly changing ICT environment
• The geographic complexity of MTN’s foot print across Africa and the Middle East
• Management of executive and local shareholder expectations across all 20 OpCos
• Achievement of top quartile operating efficiency and effectiveness through scale and common processes
• Driving growth through business intelligence and standardization to maximize business impact
• Management of customer and supplier expectations 
• Enhance MTN position as a leading network and system provider
• Constant dynamics and local challenges in the economic, regulatory and legal environments

Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)

• The Senior Manager: Commercial Legal will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:
• Draft, negotiate and formalise legal aspects of commercial arrangements concluded by the MTN Group in implementing its strategy relating to Fintech, including where acquiring new financial services partners and customers, investing in new technologies, or establishing joint ventures.
• Manage and provide legal advice and opinions.
• Manage and participate in various projects and initiatives undertaken by different departments, including liaison with other stakeholders
• Management of litigation and active engagement in the resolution of on-going disputes.
• Draft and update contract templates in line with best practices
• Draft and update legal policies and procedures in line with best practices
• Conceptualise and deploy innovative methods for contracting for digital products and services
• Provide support, guidance and advice to MTN Operating Companies, where requested or required, regarding legal aspects of transactions, legal risks and other legal matters relating to fintech (including mobile financial services) and related technologies
• Manage legal relationships between Operations, and management of legal relationships between MTN and its trade partners. 
• Effective negotiation, drafting and reviewing of quality contracts.
• Attend to all legal queries from various departments.
• Liaise with, and collate feedback from, various internal stakeholders and departments for purposes of transactions, initiatives and projects
• Ensure that input of relevant internal stakeholders and departments is addressed and reflected in transaction documents and in policies and procedures
• Advise management and stakeholders on new legislation and the impact thereof on the business.
• Monitor and keep abreast of legal and industry developments
• Knowledge sharing and providing training to members of the legal team and other stakeholders on legal and industry developments
• Liaise with, and manage, external law firms 
• Ensure all agreements, letters of intent and contracts comply with company policies and procedures  
• Assist in selection and evaluation of contractors and tendering processes.
• Identify possible risks, and manage the implementation of mitigating strategies.
• Participate and contribute to RFPs, RFQs and procurement activities and evaluate responses from Vendors 
• Ensure all vendor responses and details are captured in the transaction documents, once the vendor has been selected.
• Track and enforce key contract terms.
• Manage non-adherence to contractual commitments.
• Ensure subject matter expert opinions and recommendations have been implemented in draft contracts and templates. 

Key Deliverables

• Draft, negotiate and formalise legal aspects of commercial arrangements concluded by the MTN Group in implementing its strategy relating to Fintech
• Liaise with, and collate and incorporate feedback from, various internal stakeholders and departments for purposes of transactions, initiatives and projects
• Provide support, guidance and advice to MTN Operating Companies, where requested or required, regarding legal aspects of transactions, legal risks and other legal matters relating to fintech (including mobile financial services) and related technologies
• Generally managing all matters and issues relevant to the legal aspects of the MTN group’s fintech activities

Role Dependencies

• Active support from the Executive: Commercial Legal and Senior Leadership
• Deep understanding of the MTN business strategy 
• Understanding of the OpCo Technology, Digital, business and Regulatory context
• Timely decision making and reporting 
• Alignment of OpCo and Group strategy initiatives

Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)

• Education:
• 4-year Academic Degree with Honours (LLB or equivalent preferred)
• Qualified attorney
• MBA / Masters advantageous
• Fluent in English
• Fluent in French (an advantage) 

Experience:

• Minimum 7 – 10 year’s of Legal Experience at a reputable law firm.
• Experience advising on matters, transactions and regulatory issues relating to mobile financial services, banking, digital payments and fintech.
• Experience drafting and negotiating transactions involving the procurement, development, licensing and support of technology products and services, and intellectual property 
• Experience managing and negotiating complex or sophisticated commercial transactions, including transactions involving multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience working with and managing multiple stakeholders
• Experience working in, or advising, entities operating in the telecommunications industry (an advantage) 
• Work across diverse cultures and geographies

Understanding of, and familiarity with:

• financial services
• payments or banking environments
• regulatory and compliance requirements and principles impacting, or relevant to, mobile financial services, banking, digital payments and fintech
• Intellectual property laws, data protection laws and anti-trust laws
• Emerging technologies
• Interest in the use of technology to deliver legal services
• Knowledge of the Telecoms industry and practices (an advantage)
• Knowledge and familiarity with procurement processes in large organisations (an advantage)

Competencies:

• Strategy Formulator, Decisive Problem Solver, Innovative Value Creator
• Culture and Change Champion, Inspiring People Leader, Relationship Builder
• Results Achiever, Operationally Astute
• Excellent drafting skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong Negotiating skills
• Management skills
• Leadership skills
• Consulting skills
• Effective communication and writing skills
• Good general commercial awareness
• Good interpretation skills
• Articulate
• Computer literate

Other:

• Regional and international travel

Authorities

• As per MTN DOA

Collaboration (Formal and Informal Relationships)
Responsibility towards:  

• Key customers: MTN OpCos, Group Chief Legal Officer, Executive: Commercial Legal, Senior Management in Mobile Financial Services and Digital Services, different departments in MTN, 3rd Parties like Vendors and trade partners. 
• Key suppliers: Key Law firms, Relevant Industry Bodies