Legal Counsel

Job Purpose

The Legal counsel is responsible for end-to-end support of any matter coming from different functions. The responsibilities include but are not limited to providing legal advice, reviewing legal documents, risk assessment and management, provide inhouse training, and representing the company before the court of law and quasi-judicial organs. The role holder advises the business to ensure legal compliance in the day-to-day operations and review current ways of working, identify gaps, propose improved ways of working, and follow up on execution.

Key Responsibilities

Legal drafting

• Prepare template contracts for sourcing goods or services.
• Update templates and contracts to ensure compliance to new laws and developments
• Review and approve contracts, MOU’s, or any other legal documents required for the business and sign those as a witness

Legal Advice

• Research and evaluate different risk factors regarding business decisions and operations
• Apply effective risk management techniques and offer proactive advice on possible legal issues
• Communicate and negotiate with external parties (regulators, external counsels, and/or government authorities), creating relations of trust
• Provide clarification on legal language/interpretation to functions
• Maintain current knowledge of alternation in legislation

Inhouse Training

• Conduct a needs assessment for annual in-house legal trainings
• Conduct yearly or bi-annual refresher training on topics the business may find relevant

Court representation

• Prepare/review statement of claim, defense, and appeal of court cases
• Represent the company before the court of law and quasi-judicial body
• Debt Recovery
• Represent the company in tax and customs-related disputes.
• Prepare a monthly litigation overview and share it with the relevant functions

Miscellaneous

• Lead and participate in the implementation of different projects.
• Lead and participate in Speak Up and Discipline Committee investigations.
• Prepare a report of these investigations and report it to the MT.
• Administer Distributors Agreements and support distributors on need base.

Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 5+ years’ experience in consulting/business advisory, consumer goods industry or public sector.
• Experience in Customs and tax laws is advantageous
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), Ironclad, and Powerbot skills
• Strong networking & influencing skills
• Customer Focus and Negotiating Skills
• Business acumen – strong understanding of the business and ability to engage with internal senior business leaders to demonstrate the value of Legal to the business.
• Can do, engaging solution-driven mindset and attitude essential for ensuring zero business disruption.
• Ability to handle complex issues, grasp complex information, and communicate simply and sensitively.

Education

• Minimum of a first degree in Law.

Language

• Proficiency in written and spoken Amharic and English.
• Ability to speak an indigenous language is a plus.

Please Note The Below

• Interested applicants should send their application to the link
• Applications sent after the closing date will not be considered
• This is a local position for Heineken Ethiopia OpCo

FEMALE APPLICANTS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!