A statutory council with a national mandate is seeking to strengthen its institutional capacity by recruiting a senior professional to lead its legal function. The position is critical to the achievement of the Council’s mandate and plays a central role in governance, regulatory compliance, litigation management, and provision of strategic legal advice. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the formulation, implementation, and review of legal strategies, policies, and frameworks that safeguard the interests of the Council while ensuring alignment with applicable laws, regulations, and government directives.
This opportunity is suitable for an experienced legal professional with strong leadership capability, a sound understanding of public sector governance, and the ability to manage complex legal, regulatory, and institutional matters. The role is senior in nature and requires close engagement with the Board, Board Committees, management, external legal stakeholders, and regulatory authorities.
The position is being advertised for placement on a third-party job board, and interested applicants are encouraged to review the detailed job description below to understand the scope, responsibilities, and expectations associated with the role.
Position Title: Head of Legal Services / Director, Legal Services (or equivalent senior legal leadership role)
Department: Legal Services
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Chief Executive Officer and provides secretarial and advisory support to the Board and Board Committees
Role Overview
The Head of Legal Services is responsible for providing overall leadership and strategic direction to the legal function of the Council. The role involves coordinating the formulation and implementation of legal strategies, overseeing litigation and dispute resolution, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and providing authoritative legal advice on corporate and governance matters. The position also entails managing departmental resources, supervising staff, and ensuring that the legal services unit operates efficiently, ethically, and in alignment with the Council’s strategic objectives.
The role demands a high level of integrity, professionalism, discretion, and the ability to balance legal risk management with the operational needs of the Council. The successful candidate will be expected to proactively identify legal risks, develop preventive strategies, and represent the Council’s interests in legal and regulatory fora.
Key Job Responsibilities
Legal Strategy, Policy, and Framework Development
The role is responsible for coordinating the formulation, implementation, and periodic review of the Council’s legal strategies and guidelines. This includes ensuring that the legal strategies support the Council’s mandate and long-term objectives while safeguarding institutional interests. The position oversees the development of relevant legislation, regulations, and policies that are necessary for effective execution of the Council’s functions.
The Head of Legal Services will oversee the development and continuous improvement of the Council’s legal and regulatory framework. This responsibility ensures that the framework remains responsive to emerging legal issues, policy shifts, and regulatory changes at national, regional, and international levels. The role requires active engagement with policy developers and regulatory authorities to align institutional frameworks with statutory requirements.
Board and Governance Support
A key responsibility of the role is to provide secretarial services to the Board and Board Committees. This includes coordinating Board meetings, preparing legal briefs and advisory notes, ensuring proper documentation of Board resolutions, and facilitating compliance with governance requirements. The role ensures that Board and Committee decisions are implemented in accordance with applicable laws and governance best practices.
The position provides technical input into the development and implementation of governance frameworks that foster achievement of the Council’s objectives. This includes ensuring compliance with corporate governance principles, relevant statutes, government policies, and circulars. The role also involves monitoring governance and statutory compliance across the Council’s operations and advising management and the Board on corrective actions where necessary.
Litigation and Dispute Management
The Head of Legal Services coordinates the representation of the Council in courts and other judicial or quasi-judicial authorities. This includes overseeing litigation processes, liaising with external advocates, and ensuring that the Council’s interests are adequately protected in all legal proceedings.
The role is responsible for coordinating litigation activities and reviewing the progress of outstanding cases. This involves providing guidance on litigation strategy, monitoring case timelines, and ensuring timely reporting on legal matters to management and the Board.
In addition, the position coordinates the development of dispute management strategies and oversees dispute resolution and litigation management processes. This includes negotiating disputes with the objective of resolving matters out of court where appropriate, thereby minimizing legal exposure and associated costs to the Council.
The role also involves liaising with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure adequate legal representation of the Council in matters where such representation is required. This coordination ensures alignment of legal positions and effective handling of cases involving public interest considerations.
Legal Compliance and Audit
The Head of Legal Services oversees the formulation and review of the Council’s policies to ensure alignment with relevant laws, regulations, and government circulars. This responsibility ensures that institutional policies are legally sound and enforceable.
The role oversees the conduct of legal audits to assess the Council’s level of compliance with various legal requirements. These audits are intended to identify gaps, risks, and areas for improvement, and to inform corrective measures that enhance compliance.
In addition, the position oversees legal audits relating to compliance with national, regional, and international legal requirements. This includes monitoring adherence to treaties, conventions, and regional agreements that may have implications for the Council’s operations.
Contracts, Leases, and Legal Documentation
The role oversees the drafting, review, vetting, negotiation, and execution of leases, contracts, licensing frameworks, service level agreements, memoranda of understanding, and other legal documents. This responsibility ensures that all legal instruments comply with statutory requirements and adequately protect the Council’s interests.
The Head of Legal Services provides oversight in the formulation and review of contractual arrangements to ensure clarity, enforceability, and alignment with institutional objectives. The role also ensures that contractual risks are identified early and managed appropriately.
Risk Management and Legal Advisory
The position provides leadership in ensuring the Council’s compliance with statutes, regulations, and internal procedures. This includes advising management on legal implications of operational decisions and ensuring that legal risks are mitigated.
The role coordinates the execution of risk management policies and strategies within the department. This involves ensuring that robust systems and processes are in place for accountability, internal controls, business continuity, and risk management.
The Head of Legal Services provides advice on legal and corporate matters through interpretation of laws, regulations, and legal documents, and by preparing written legal opinions. These advisory services support informed decision-making by management and the Board.
The position also provides technical input on legal risks facing the Council, with the objective of averting errors of omission and commission while safeguarding the Council’s reputation. This includes identifying emerging legal risks and advising on mitigation measures.
Preventive Legal Strategies
The role is responsible for developing proactive and preventive legal policies and strategies aimed at forestalling disputes, controversies, and litigation. This preventive approach supports operational efficiency and reduces exposure to legal liabilities.
The Head of Legal Services identifies potential legal risks across the Council’s operations and advises on appropriate mitigation measures. This includes working closely with other departments to embed legal compliance and risk awareness into day-to-day activities.
Gazettement and Regulatory Processes
The position coordinates the formulation, drafting, and facilitation of gazettement of legal notices for the Council. This responsibility ensures that statutory and regulatory actions undertaken by the Council are properly formalized and legally effective.
The role also coordinates functional areas in relation to legal requirements that must be complied with and legal obstacles that must be overcome to achieve the Council’s targeted results. This involves cross-departmental collaboration and provision of legal guidance to operational units.
Departmental Leadership and Management
The Head of Legal Services oversees the formulation, implementation, and review of the department’s annual work plans, budgets, procurement plans, and asset disposal plans. These activities are aligned with the Council’s performance targets and strategic plan.
The role provides leadership in nurturing competencies within the department and promotes a working environment that optimizes individual and team potential. This includes fostering professionalism, ethical conduct, and continuous improvement.
The position oversees the development and implementation of corruption prevention and mitigation strategies within the department. This responsibility supports institutional integrity and compliance with anti-corruption frameworks.
The role also oversees the implementation of a robust performance management system within the department. This includes providing oversight of the delivery of annual performance contracts and alignment with the Council’s strategic plan.
Staff Supervision and Development
The Head of Legal Services provides leadership, supervision, coaching, mentoring, training, and development of departmental staff to ensure an effective, motivated, and high-performing team. This includes setting performance targets, developing work plans, and conducting performance reviews.
The role coordinates the day-to-day administrative and operational activities of the department, ensuring efficient service delivery and adherence to internal procedures.
Representation and External Engagement
The position represents the Council in legal fora, stakeholder engagements, and negotiations. This includes articulating the Council’s legal position and safeguarding its interests in various engagements.
The role involves interpreting legal documents on behalf of the Council and advising relevant stakeholders on their implications. This ensures consistency and accuracy in the application of legal provisions.
The Head of Legal Services also monitors governance and statutory compliance for the operation of the Council and advises management and the Board on compliance status and required interventions.
Conclusion
This position offers an opportunity to play a central role in shaping the legal, governance, and regulatory environment of a national Council. The role requires a high level of professional competence, strategic thinking, and leadership ability. It is suited to an individual who can operate at senior level, manage complex legal matters, and provide trusted legal counsel to the Board and management.
Interested candidates who meet the expectations outlined in this job description are encouraged to submit their applications through the designated application platform.
