The SAMRC’s Legal & Compliance Services Department currently requires the services of a Senior Legal Advisor with an LLB degree who is an admitted Attorney / Advocate in South Africa.

Job Description

The SAMRC’s Legal & Compliance Services Department currently requires the services of a Senior Legal Advisor with an LLB degree who is an admitted Attorney / Advocate in South Africa. The Senior Legal Advisor will report to the General Counsel: Legal, Compliance, Public Policy and Governance and oversee, Legal advisors and the legal secretary and will be permanently based at the SAMRC Cape Town offices. Candidates must be able to understand the business and operations within which he or she will be operating, show and possess financial acumen and demonstrate sound knowledge of corporate governance principles and obligations applicable to public entities, be equipped with good managerial skills, excellent negotiation and communication skills, presentation skills, business and legal drafting skills, as well as dispute resolution skills and importantly, the ability to work under pressure.

Responsibilities include:

Understanding of the strategic operational co-ordination and integration of the SAMRC business areas and strategies and ensuring that the required legal resources are provided to these areas.

Initiating, designing, developing new initiatives / programs aimed at enhancing the value proposition of the legal / compliance fraternity to growing the SAMRC statute in the medical / health research realm.
Regulatory compliance management, executes board-approved compliance management policies and procedures.
Deputise to or act as General Counsel when internal processes so require.
Recommend to General Counsel, the appropriate client units service strategy / approach.
Provide guidance to science leadership (e.g. Unit Directors, Principal Investigators, etc);
Managing, supervising or mentor all employee’s junior to SLA within the legal department and its related work requirements.
Holding professional knowledge on how a public entity operates, what are its related business needs, requirements, and limitations, how it interacts with other organs of state, institutions and with departments and or the required disciplines to support these requirements.
Interpreting the overall SAMRC business plan into required best practices, systems, rules, regulations, and where applicable budgets to achieve the SAMRC business goals.
Structuring legal advice to enable the business to accomplish the strategic objectives set.
Providing relevant legal advice and / or written opinions to Directors and Senior management.
Negotiating contracts including commercial agreements in collaboration with project teams.
Drafting, vetting, and amending contracts and commercial agreements independently.
Managing litigation (initiating or defending) where so instructed on behalf of the SAMRC in matters pertaining to it.
The demonstration of and employment of excellent legal research skills.
Monitoring public policy and legislative developments relevant to the MRC and engaging policy developers and enforcement / regulatory agencies.
Developing SAMRC internal policies / protocols / precedents / frameworks.
Conducting presentations and training on legal issues and legislation.
Labour Relations including individual and organised dispute resolution proceedings.
Duration:

Permanent

Remuneration:

R 1,111,367 per annum (CTC)

Job Requirements Core requirements:

Bachelor of Laws degree
Admission as an attorney or advocate in terms of the applicable law
8 years post-admission experience in legal practice or in-house legal function
Willingness to relocate and be based permanently in Cape Town.
Advantageous:

Successful Pupilage / Articles and professional examinations would be considered advantageous.
Post-graduate one year diploma / certificate in health / medical law; or
Certificate in Public Policy Development and Legislative Drafting; or
Module / Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Consumer Protection Law, Commercial Transactions Law, Competition law or Intellectual Property Law
Certificate in Corporate Governance
Willingness to travel and work irregular hours and be in possession of a valid Code B driver’s license.

Please send your resume/CV