Senior Legal Counsel, Technology and Corporate Functions

Location: Kenya

Job Description

Reporting to the CoE Lead, Legal Services, the Senior Legal Counsel, Technology and Corporate Functions will serve as the Legal Business Partner for Technology and Corporate Functions across Safaricom, providing strategic legal guidance and compliance oversight to support innovation and operational excellence. The role offers expert legal support on technology procurement, intellectual property, cybersecurity, data privacy, cloud services, and corporate legal matters.
The Senior Legal Counsel will proactively manage legal risks, negotiate complex technology and corporate agreements, and maintain legal frameworks for key compliance areas such as data protection, cybersecurity, and corporate reporting.

Responsibilities

• Uphold the company code of conduct, policies, and procedures with integrity and accountability.
• Adhere to safety, health, and wellbeing guidelines in all decisions and actions.

Legal Advisory, Risk Management & Dispute Resolution

• Provide strategic legal counsel on technology procurement, cybersecurity, data privacy, and corporate governance matters.
• Embed compliance-by-design principles into technology projects and corporate initiatives.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks across technology operations and governance frameworks.
• Manage disputes related to technology and corporate contracts with minimal impact.

Contractual Management & Negotiation

• Draft, review, and negotiate high-value technology procurement agreements, cloud service contracts, and corporate agreements.
• Ensure agreements protect organizational interests while supporting innovation and compliance.
• Maintain and update templates for technology and corporate agreements to reflect evolving regulatory and business needs.

Policy and Legislative Monitoring & Compliance

• Monitor ICT and corporate legislation to anticipate emerging trends.
• Prepare briefs and recommendations for leadership on regulatory developments.
• Maintain compliance registers for technology licenses, audits, and governance certifications.
• Ensure timely reporting to internal stakeholders and regulators.

Stakeholder & Team Management

• Partner with Technology, Corporate Functions, Risk, and global teams to align legal strategies with business priorities.
• Foster collaboration within the Legal Services CoE and across business units.
• Provide clear strategic direction to legal and regulatory teams supporting Technology and Corporate Functions.
• Set performance expectations and ensure high-quality legal and compliance outcomes.
• Mentor junior legal professionals in technology, corporate governance, and policy advocacy.
• Foster a culture of collaboration and integrity within the Legal Services CoE.

Core Competencies, Knowledge & Experience

Customer Obsession

• Deepen team connection to customers and communities.
• Foster trusted relationships with customers and partners.
• Make customer-centric decisions and take ownership of results.
• Simplify processes through digitalisation and promote a digital-first mindset.
• Focus on priorities, make trade-offs, and execute brilliantly.

Purpose

• Create an inspiring vision that drives strategy and performance.
• Show ambition and courage, empowering teams to exceed expectations.
• Challenge teams to rethink processes.
• Prompt new thinking with “what if” questions.
• Use knowledge of the external environment to identify growth opportunities.

Innovation

• Create psychological safety to encourage impactful contributions.
• Fuel and test innovative ideas to support growth.
• Explore successes and failures with curiosity and resilience.
• Share continuous learning and personal purpose.
• Learn quickly from digital adoption to enhance efficiency and scale.

Collaboration

• Clarify the team’s role in achieving organizational strategy.
• Break silos and hold teams accountable for collaboration.
• Develop and coach others to take ownership.
• Create an inclusive environment that ensures wellbeing.
• Demonstrate integrity and live the company’s purpose.

Qualifications

• At least ten (10) years’ progressive experience in commercial and technology legislation within Telecommunications, Technology, or Corporate sectors, with at least three (3) years in senior leadership.
• Proven experience negotiating complex technology and corporate agreements and managing related disputes.
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from a reputable Commonwealth University.
• Kenya School of Law Diploma and admission as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
• Relevant certifications in areas such as Arbitration/Mediation, ICT Law, Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, Corporate Governance, or Intellectual Property.
• Master’s Degree in Law (LL.M) is an added advantage.
• High professional and ethical standards, with strong strategic and analytical skills.

How to Apply

If you feel that you are up to the challenge and possess the necessary qualifications and experience, create or update your profile on the recruitment portal and click the apply button. Remember to attach your resume.