Legal Adviser at Solina Group

Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) is an indigenous nonprofit institution that works to accelerate positive health, social and economic reforms through high quality program design and implementation, capacity building, implementation science research and knowledge generation, as well as agenda setting and stakeholder convening across human development sectors. Our work seeks to benefit primarily disadvantaged and under-served populations. We implement transformation programs in Nigeria and are currently expanding our footprint to several West and Central African countries. We are building a competent world class management team to enable us achieve our strategic growth objective in a sustainable way.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Legal Adviser

Location: Abuja

Description and Objectives

• The Legal Adviser will provide legal input and guidance on all organizational policies, procedures and transactions, to the Executive Management Team, Board, departments and any employee who acts on behalf of the organization.
• She/he will support the development, implementation and revision of a corporate compliance program within the framework of enterprise and legal risk management.
• The incumbent will also provide contract management, negotiation, litigation and legal drafting services for SCIDaR operations.

Institutional Leadership Responsibilities
As a core part of the Management Team, the incumbent will be required to contribute substantially to organizational strategy and management in ways including, but not limited to:

• Identification and execution of institutional strategic priorities for SCIDaR that align with the mission and values, and that are responsive to the evolving trends in the human capital development sectors;
• Support for Executive Management as needed with institutional representation; legal risk assessment and mitigation; people development, and general leadership and oversight for the organization;
• Act as Company Secretary and carry out all duties necessary for that role according to company law and corporate governance and be the custodian of SCIDaR’s legal records;
• Interpret legal information and oversee the delivery of training on legal and regulatory issues, processes and policies to management and personnel;

Technical Responsibilities
1st line legal advice to Executive Management and Board:

• Research, identify and analyze legal issues that affect the organization, its operations and strategic initiatives at the local, state, federal and international levels, including but not limited to, revenue diversification, jurisdictional expansion and program development;
• Provide legal advice to management and the Board as may be required from time to time, on the legal implications of SCIDaR’s activities, ensuring appropriate measures are taken to protect the organization from legal risks;

Development / review of contracts and other legal documents:

• Legal document review:
  • Draft, review, negotiate and sign-off on a wide variety of SCIDaR’s legal documents/contracts, including program and partner agreements, MOUs, vendor agreements, grant/donation documentation, confidentiality agreements, affiliate agreements, real estate leases, and other general business contracts both domestically and internationally;
  • Draft and review sensitive and high-value legal documentation necessary for business operations, to ensure that the organization’s legal interests are duly protected in all its transactions;
  • Maintain organizational standards in the development of terms and conditions of all contracts/agreements/grants developed by the Executive Management Team;
  • Oversee the contract management system and keep records of contractual compliance, agreement-related templates; compliance checklists; agreement readings (examining the contractual and compliance elements of the schedule of the agreement, the clauses/provisions and the special requirements) and donor approval of SCIDaR’s interpretation of terms and conditions;
• Legal misconducts, disputes, resolutions and terminations:
  • Provide executive leadership with strategic and operational guidance and support in the management of potential litigation issues such as contract disputes, lodging protests, termination of contracts/agreements and product liability; co-ordinate the activities of external counsel where necessary; and approve settlements of disputes where applicable;

Compliance with statutory / legal obligations:

• Custodian of legal policies and procedures:
  • Define and develop legal and compliance policies, procedures and programs and advise management on legal implications of internal and external policies relating to SCIDaR’s operations;
  • Promote the importance of organizational ethics across SCIDaR by developing corporate ethics initiatives to prevent violations of the law in the course of SCIDaR’s operations;
  • Assume ultimate responsibility for ensuring that SCIDaR conducts its human development and non-profit activities in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
• Legal risk assessment and mitigation:
  • Work closely with the Head, Internal Audit and Compliance to ensure SCIDaR’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, which have been created internally by the Executive Management Team or externally by federal or state statutes, to maintain integrity both internally and externally (reputational risk);
  • Identify and assess potential legal risks and their impact on the organization and ensure that all of the organization’s risk management approaches are viable;
• Regulatory Compliance:
  • Ensure that SCIDaR’s annual returns, company or board resolutions and other statutory documents are prepared and filed in a timely manner, at the appropriate government agencies;
  • Process all government permits and approvals including business permits and registrations in all states and countries of operation;
  • Lead organization engagement with authorities and bodies related to legal and compliance matters such as regulatory bodies and law enforcement;

Company / Board secretariat:

• Act as an active conduit for communication between the board and executive management team, by giving proper notice of any meetings and timely distribution of materials such as agendas and meeting minutes;
• Document and track deliverables in Board meetings;
• Provide advice and resources to the board on relevant topics, such as governance matters being addressed at a meeting or a new amendment to corporate law;
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual reports for the legal department for executive meetings;

Required Competencies
Core Requirements:

• Compelling evidence of interest in and commitment to the mission of SCIDaR;
• Commitment to helping build the organization for a minimum of two years in the role;
• Strong strategic thinking, problem solving and thought leadership abilities;
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex legal concepts to non-lawyers for development of practical processes;
• Advanced computer usage skills with proficiency in Microsoft® Word, Excel, PowerPoint;
• Demonstrated expertise with legal research, using appropriate tools and software;
• Solid people manager, able to manage and promote inclusive and diverse teams within the organization;
• Fast learner, open to learning from peers, subordinates and supervisors collaboratively and at a rapid pace;
• Results oriented performer, experienced in developing and tracking self and team with clear KPIs;
• Strong verbal and written communications skills;

Education and Experience:

• Academic training: Minimum of Masters’ degree in Law, with expertise in business law;
• Professional credentialing: A member of the Nigerian Bar Association;
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years progressive experience in varied aspects of law, especially as a transactional attorney, in verifiable and reputable establishments (e.g., compliance in the international development sector, contract review and management in Nigeria and in foreign jurisdictions, contract negotiation, legal drafting, employment law, corporate governance, enterprise wide risk mitigation, intellectual property, content management and licensing); some of the recent experience must be at a senior or strategic level;

Equal employment opportunity statement

• SCIDaR is an equal employment employer. We do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable laws.

Application Closing Date
22nd July, 2019.

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