- Job Title: Head of Legal
- Vacancies: 1 (One)
- Company: Optiven Group
- Department: Legal
- Location: Global Headquarters – Karen
- Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
- Gross Salary: KES200,000
Job Purpose Statement:
The job holder is responsible for managing the legal affairs of the organization and providing leadership to the legal team and support staff, including:
- Leading the development and implementation of legal procedures and policies for compliance.
- Drafting, negotiating, and vetting contracts and agreements.
- Conducting legal training for staff.
- Representing the company in legal proceedings.
- Identifying and mitigating legal risk.
Key Responsibilities:
Advisory
- Ensure full compliance with all statutory obligations.
- Keep management informed of any legal changes that may impact company operations.
- Perform legal research, analysis, and prepare legal opinions on emerging issues.
- Conduct legal reviews and provide advice on key documents, agreements, policies, and procedures.
- Monitor and follow up on all cases involving the company to secure timely and favorable outcomes.
Contract Management
- Draft and develop contract clauses that align with the company’s needs and requirements.
- Create templates for new projects and ensure they are uploaded into the ERP system for use.
- Review contracts to ensure the inclusion of essential clauses.
- Approve contracts for signature, both internal and external, ensuring they adhere to negotiated terms and that thorough due diligence has been completed.
- Approve all Sale Agreements before they are forwarded to clients.
Legal Operations
- Oversee the effective operation of departmental activities.
- Assign tasks and responsibilities to staff members.
- Serve as a liaison between management and the department.
- Manage the backup of departmental data, ensuring it is safely stored weekly (including customer inquiries and relevant information
- Safeguard the company’s seals, stamps, and directors’ stamps.
- Ensure accurate and clear data entry to facilitate the generation of detailed reports.
Dispute Resolution and Case Management
- Respond promptly to all court summons, pleadings, and demand letters received by the company.
- Maintain a schedule of all ongoing court cases, including hearing dates.
- Ensure the company is represented in court by qualified advocates.
- Safeguard and organize all documentary and other evidence, ensuring files are up-to-date and managing the overall litigation process.
- Prepare and submit monthly litigation progress reports to the Directors.
People Management
- Uphold and promote the company’s rules, vision, and mission.
- Manage employee performance, discipline, conduct, and compliance.
- Ensure that all department members fully utilize systems.
- Assess training needs for the legal department.
Training
- Provide training to staff on the legal requirements relevant to their roles within the company.
- Educate staff on business principles and other company policies
Qualification and Experience Requirements
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B).
- Master of Laws (LL.M) or a Master’s degree in a related field (e.g., Corporate Law, Real Estate Law) will be added advantage.
- Postgraduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law.
- Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid practicing certificate.
- Minimum of seven (7) years’ experience as in-house counsel, preferably in real estate, property development, or construction sectors.
- Strong expertise in conveyancing, including title searches, land transfers, and lease agreements.
- Proven experience in litigation and dispute resolution relating to property, tenancy, or contractual matters.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic legal advisory support to senior management and the Board.
- Hands-on experience in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and drafting or negotiating high-value contracts.
- Strong understanding of Kenyan land laws, planning regulations, and real estate transactions.
Competency Requirements
- Supervisory Skills: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage a legal team effectively.
- Organizational Skills: Strong capacity to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
- Emotional Intelligence: Ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion, empathy, and professionalism.
- Interpersonal Skills: Excellent relationship-building and communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
- Computer Proficiency: Competent in legal research tools, MS Office Suite, and relevant corporate software.
- Detail Orientation: Strong focus on accuracy, thoroughness, and precision in legal documentation and analysis.
- Language Proficiency: Fluent in both English and Swahili, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
Deadline: Applications close on 31st January 2026.