Legal Specialist at Samancor Chrome

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

• To assist the Group Legal Department to provide all Samancor business units with independent legal support and advice to ensure legal risks are identified and managed in accordance with the strategy and commercial objectives of Samancor.

BALANCED SCORECARD PILLARS, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

SAFETY, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY

• Identify and assess level of issue based risk exposures in area of responsibility by considering exposures to business, financial, legal issues, people, equipment, material, environment, processes, etc.
• Consider the level of risk, apply mitigation and implement control measures for residual risk (set objectives, minimum requirements, etc.)
• Manage SHEQ compliance within the Process through effective use of the Toolbox.
• Utilise the Integrated Management System (IMS) to initiate, investigate and report SHEQ status

CUSTOMERS 

• Ensure Customer Satisfaction
• Interpret formal feedback from Group General Counsel and Company Secretary and the Group Legal department
• Inform customers of changes to legislation and the common law

BUSINESS PROCESSES 

General Legal:

• Deal with day-to-day legal issues as they arise and as instructed
• Conduct legal research and draft opinions
• Support legal department in execution of accountability for material legal issues
• Provides independent legal advice to Samancor’s functional clients on various commercial issues and dispute resolution
• Actively manage service provider relationships to optimise performance, reliability and cost
• Identifies opportunities for managing costs in an effective manner
• Ensure compliance with legislation, and internal standards and requirements, and engage and influence relevant stakeholders to ensure adherence
• Provide relevant and highly specialised technical / functional / professional support to various stakeholders to ensure achievement of objectives
• Acts as a knowledge management champion

Contracts:

• Negotiate, draft, comment on, and ratify legal agreements as required

Dispute Resolution, Litigation and Arbitration:

• Initiate, prosecute/defend, settle minor legal disputes independently
• Assist Group General Counsel and Company Secretary in the initiation, prosecution/defence, settlement of major legal disputes

Legal Training and Compliance updates:

• Develop and execute legal and compliance training to the business
• Keep the business informed of any statutory or regulatory developments

GROWTH

• Manage Continuous Improvement through Operational Excellence

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES: 

• Safety Leadership
• Innovation
• Planning, Organising & Control
• Results Orientation
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Relating & Networking
• Change Leadership
• Business Acumen

WORKPLACE COMPETENCIES:

Skills:

• Microsoft programs
• Samancor Chrome systems (IMS, EBMS, Chromedocs)
• Developed verbal and written communication (crisp, confident, clear and succinct) with personnel at all levels, including senior management
• Adaptable to embrace change, and work wells with ambiguity

Knowledge:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the South African Legal framework, including court process, case law and legislation Demonstrate an understanding of basic business principles and the environment in which it operates
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the practical application of relevant legislation
• Demonstrate an understanding of dispute resolution, litigation and arbitration processes and associated risks
• Demonstrate an understanding of procurement, commercial law and contracts
• Demonstrate and understanding of managing legal issues and solutions

Key customers: 

• Internal Customers (eg. departments services are being rendered to)
• External Service Providers (eg. legal service providers)
• General Counsel and Company Secretary, Manager, Legal and Manager, Environment and Mining Rights  

Requirements
Minimum qualifications: 

• LLB Degree
• Admitted Attorney (3-5 years post articles experience)

Additional qualifications: 

• An understanding of the South-African mineral law dispensation as well the environmental law and general mining regulatory framework would be beneficial