Job Details

Job Description

The job is responsible for providing, leading and co-ordinating senior level project legal services in the major Company and the subsidiaries in the CEC Group and is the point of contact to major project legal matters.

The role is responsible for providing expert legal advice that supports major corporate projects, commercial transactions and strategic initiatives.

This is a strategic role in the Legal function involving complex project-related contract negotiations, mitigating risks and ensuring project executions align with the Company’s business objectives and strategies.

The job holder will be reporting to the Chief Legal Counsel/Company Secretary

Key Accountabilities

1. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Serve as the primary level point of contact for and lead legal activities related to contract negotiation for projects. Collaborate in the provision of the project legal services with cross functional project teams including project managers, engineers, finance, procurement and other functionaries to ensure legal considerations are integrated into project planning and execution and identified risks mitigated.
• Lead legal project finance activities including structuring, negotiating and documenting transactions with lenders and investors, mitigating risks and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Collaborating with internal project leads and handling corporate legal tasks related to obtaining certificates, licences, approvals, consents and permits. Lead, attend and provide legal support at project meetings.
• Drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on a wide range of complex project specific agreements including SPVs, joint venture agreements, power supply/purchase agreements, O&M agreements, construction contracts.
• Ensuring all project contracts and legal arrangements are commercially sound and align to the Company’s legal and business interests and objectives.
• Providing expert and strategic solution orientated legal advice to senior executives, project teams, business units and key internal stakeholders on a wide range of project legal matters throughout the project life cycle from commencement to completion including but not limited to construction and infrastructure laws, environmental laws, securities, power purchase agreements, power trading arrangements, transmission use of system, regulatory matters and industry standards.
• Manage external counsel and other experts as may be required, ensuring cost effective and high quality professional services are provided to the projects in compliance with the agreements/legal arrangements in place for the contracted services.
• Manage for resolution complex project legal challenges and disputes related to project execution.
• Lead settlement negotiations and manage arbitration and litigation proceedings for the projects.
• Identify, assess and mitigate potential legal and commercial risks associated with projects, offering practical solutions that align to the Company’s risk appetite.

2. LEGAL SERVICES – GENERAL

• Conduct legal research on the day to day operations of the Company and provide legal opinions and advice to the Group companies.
• Provide guidance and input on a wide array of legal matters impacting on the business.
• Providing commercially sound legal advice across a variety of practice areas relating to the Company’s commercial and corporate ventures and transactions.
• Periodically monitor, review, interpret and advise, executives and relevant employees, on various legislation relevant to the business to ensure compliance as and when required.
• Provide training to executives and other Company employees on substantive legal topics.

3. COMPANY SECRETARIAL

• Manage Board and committee activities by supporting the Chairperson to set agenda, prepare and present papers to the Board and Committee.
• Minuting meetings, advising on Board procedures and ensuring compliance.
• Maintain all company statutory registers and records, completing and return of statutory filing, update statutory register and minute books of the Company.
• Oversee all logistics for the hosting of Board and General Meetings, to ensure that they are held and conducted in accordance with applicable law.
• Guide the Directors to ensure that the business of Board is conducted with probity, accountability and in compliance with the law. Ensure that the Board individually and collectively have regard to their responsibilities and liability at law.
• Advise the Board as arise in the Articles of Association of the Company, the Board Charter and applicable Company policies and procedures.
• Attend to all corporate governance issues relating to the Board, including rendering advice to the Directors on their duties and responsibilities, facilitating induction and training of Directors and keeping safe custody of company seals etc.

4. PEOPLE

• Demonstrate behavior in line with CEC values, policies, standards and professional expectations.
• Develop you and your team’s performance in accordance with the Company policies and systems.
• Foster a constructive and productive working environment and participate as an effective tea member in working collaboratively, with functional leader, peers and relevant others to achieve business objectives.
• Supervise the functions of the Legal Counsel, Legal Officer, Legal secretaries and other Legal support staff in relation to legal services provided to the Company and subsidiaries in CEC Group.
• Train support and mentor junior In House counsel sharing information, knowledge and skill to ensure growth and consistency in the services provided by the Legal Team.
• Support HSES compliance in the Company’s business initiatives.
• Demonstrate behaviour in line with the Company’s health, safety and environmental standards.
• Secure teams compliance with Company’s health, safety and environmental policies and standards.
• Manage departmental costs and identify and support any opportunities for cost savings.

To be Successful in this role, you will be required to have:

• Bachelor of Laws Degree, Advocate of the High Court for Zambia, Member of Law Association of Zambia. Post graduate qualifications in Project and Constructions Law will be an added advantage.
• 8 years Post-bar Qualification in a top-tier Law firm or a comparable In-House senior level managerial role and relevant working knowledge and exposure to project related legal services in the sector.
• Industry expert must possess strong knowledge of project and construction law, and international contract frameworks, working knowledge of project finance would be an added advantage.
• Advanced legal knowledge, analytical and commercial skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Strategic thinker with ability to provide practical, commercially sound legal advice that aligns with business objectives.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with ability to explain and guide on complex issues in project legal matters and related multiple disciplines.
• Proven hands-on experience in negotiating and drafting complex multiparty commercial agreements and project specific contracts, a deep understanding of project related issues and related dispute resolution processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, make strategic decisions, lead, manage, support and co-ordinate multiple projects under tight deadlines that ensures effective and efficient project execution and delivery, ability to build strategic relationships.
• Effective research, negotiation and problem-solving skills and a strategic, commercial and pragmatic attitude to project legal issues.
• Time management and Practice Management skills together with effective planning and project management skills.
• Strong drafting skills in drafting and negotiating project contracts.
• Combine practical, legal, multidisciplinary and commercial judgement to challenging situations to achieve the best overall outcomes for the business and its interests.
• Ability to provide expert counsel and advice on complex legal matters.
• Ability to negotiate, draft and review complex agreements existing and other and supporting legal documentation in a high-pressured work environment.
• Demonstrate well developed communication skills and be able to confidentially engage, network or manage other Lawyers (internal and external) and clients of all levels of seniority and in a variety of media and formats.
• Wide understanding of Zambian law and other relevant laws with advanced experience in project related legal matters.
• Sound knowledge of dispute resolution processes and practice, rules of courts and quasi-judicial institutions and alternative dispute resolution forums.