Job Description

As the group's Legal Counsel, you will be a key member of the organisation's leadership team, responsible for leading and managing the legal, regulatory, and governance framework across their portfolio. The role involves providing expert legal advice, managing risk, ensuring compliance, and supporting their commercial growth.

• Lead the global legal function, aligning legal strategy with overarching business objectives and establishing group-wide legal governance and compliance protocols.
• Draft, review, and negotiate high-value contracts across trading, chartering, procurement, and financing, ensuring robust risk mitigation in cross-border agreements.
• Ensure compliance with international trade laws, sanctions regimes, AML, and anti-bribery regulations, implementing comprehensive risk mitigation frameworks across jurisdictions, including emerging markets.
• Manage litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution with external legal advisors, while serving as a trusted advisor to the board and executive leadership on legal and reputational risk.
• Provide legal guidance and support for ESG initiatives, focusing on responsible sourcing, environmental compliance, sustainability reporting, and stakeholder engagement.

15+ years of legal expertise with experience and knowledge of OHADA.Must be bilingual in English and French.

• Must have 15 - 18 years of experience in corporate law, with experience from major manufacturing, FMCG, or banking players.
• Must have experience working in West Africa, along with deep and demonstrable expertise in OHADA laws.
• Must be bilingual in English and French, demonstrating proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking both languages.
• Willingness to travel to Africa.

Leading commodity trading and logistics company, committed to responsible and sustainable practices. With a strong footprint across Africa and the Middle East, the organisation has a diverse portfolio across manufacturing, FMCG, trading, hospitality, and financial services.

• Attractive compensation package.
• Opportunity to work closely with leadership in a global organization.

Skills Required