Chief Legal Officer (Legal Counsel)

SUMMARY:
Lead Legal Services as principal legal adviser to the Managing Director and Executive Management Team

POSITION INFO:
PURPOSE: Lead Legal Services as principal legal adviser to the Managing Director and Executive Management Team and, when duly mandated, the Board. Protect the company''s legal interests across operations, contracts, procurement, litigation and major projects; manage legal risk, counsel, expenditure and privilege; and enable lawful, ethical and sustainable public transport delivery. KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS ARE BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING Strategic legal leadership: Lead legal strategy; provide independent, practical advice and legal opinions to the MD, EMT and duly mandated Board structures. Contracts and procurement: Draft, review and negotiate agreements; advise on tenders and transactions, undertake legal due diligence and support lawful contract remedies. Litigation and external counsel: Direct disputes, claims and settlements within delegated mandates; manage counsel, evidence, deadlines, court orders and legal costs. Compliance and legal risk: Monitor legislative changes; advise on regulatory obligations, policies and corrective action; coordinate authorised regulatory responses and escalate material risks. Employment and investigations: Advise HR and Employee Relations on complex labour matters, investigations, procedural fairness and consequence management; coordinate representation within approved mandates. Operations and green mobility: Advise on transport operations, passenger liability, property, fleet, electric buses, charging infrastructure, energy arrangements and major projects. Legal governance and knowledge: Protect privilege and confidentiality; maintain matter, opinion and litigation registers, precedents and legal knowledge; provide controlled legal reporting. Department leadership: Manage people, performance, budgets, external expenditure and stakeholders; build legal capability, continuity and responsive services, and drive improvement. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE An LLB degree at NQF Level 8 recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Admission as an Attorney or Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, with good standing with the Legal Practice Council (LPC), as applicable. A valid driver''s licence and willingness to travel to the company sites, courts, regulators and stakeholder offices. At least ten years'' progressively responsible legal experience after obtaining the LLB, including at least eight years'' post-admission legal practice or in-house counsel experience. At least five years at management, senior management or legal leadership level, responsible for people, budgets, external counsel and material legal risk. Demonstrable experience in commercial contracting, public procurement, litigation and dispute resolution, regulatory interpretation and executive legal advice. Advantageous Qualifications and Experience Advantageous: a relevant Master''s degree or postgraduate qualification in commercial, public, municipal, procurement, labour, transport, environmental or corporate law; corporate governance; or management. Strongly advantageous: experience in a municipality, municipal entity, state-owned company, public entity, regulated utility, transport organisation or similarly complex operational environment. Advantageous: experience supporting major infrastructure, fleet, technology, energy, environmental or organisational-change projects. Skills & Core Competencies Knowledge of the Constitution, Companies Act, MFMA, Municipal Systems Act, National Land Transport Act, King V and municipal-entity governance. Knowledge of procurement, commercial, administrative and employment law (LRA, BCEA, EEA), litigation and dispute resolution; POPIA, PAIA, electronic transactions, cyber, consumer and competition law. Knowledge of road traffic, passenger transport, safety, property, environmental and energy law; legal privilege, professional conduct, conflicts of interest and public-sector accountability. Executive legal judgement, statutory interpretation, drafting, negotiation and commercial acumen; strategic thinking, independence, integrity and confidentiality. Stakeholder influence, people leadership, financial discipline, digital legal fluency, attention to detail and sound judgement under pressure.