Overview
Legal Advisor Jobs in Harare, Zimbabwe at Pyxus International, Inc.
Title: Legal Advisor
Company: Pyxus International, Inc.
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Position: Regional Legal Advisor for Africa
Location: Zimbabwe
Reports to: Regional Legal Officer
SUMMARY
To provide legal advice and guidance to business functions across the region in legal and compliance issues, so as to mitigate risks and support business objectives. This advice shall be rendered to Pyxus affiliates mainly in Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa, with regional travel expected as part of the job.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
These shall include but not be limited to the following:
- Research and acquire knowledge on the applicable laws in each origin regarding corporate governance, operations, accounting, taxation, industrial relations, litigation, health safety and environment, immigration, start-up, investment, liquidation, and other relevant areas that impact the operations of the company or Group, while flagging any relevant new changes in legislation.
- Consult the Regional Legal Officer for alignment on interpretation of the law and required actions, within the bounds of the Operating Guidelines.
- Provide legal advice, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer, to the Country Managing Directors, General Managers, Department Heads, or other officers and employees, upon request.
- Engage, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer, with external legal counsel and experts as deemed appropriate on specialist matters.
- Draft any legal agreements as required, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer.
- Review new and existing agreements and contracts for adequacy and inherent risks, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer.
- Raise any legal risks that may impact the Company, Group and Global Covenants, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer.
- Ensure all Operating Guidelines are complied with before signatures.
- Maintain an updated register of all legal cases across the region and ensure timely quarterly litigation reports are received from external counsel.
- Review and provide guidance on the legal cases, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer.
- Engage with external counsel on litigation matters and participate in strategy formulation with external legal counsel to ensure the best possible outcome, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer.
- Refer all relevant issues to Regional Legal Officer for consideration and determination.
- Share and communicate relevant legal issues across the region to avoid recurrence.
- Liaise closely with the Corporate Compliance Officer on all compliance issues, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer.
- Serve as Local Compliance Manager in the origin where operating. Provide guidance to the other Compliance Managers in each origin on matters that may arise, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer.
- Advise the Corporate Compliance Officer and Compliance Managers of any emerging local issues, in consultation with the Regional Legal Officer.
- Review all company secretarial records and ensure they are properly maintained.
- Ensure that all company secretarial filings are up to date and compliant with legislation.
- Ensure that all Company Directors are adequately appointed and are conversant with their duties and responsibilities.
- Ensure all annual returns are filed as required to maintain company legal status.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
- Degree in Law
- Bar admission or its equivalent
- Member of a Law Society
- 3 to 5 years of practice with a reputable or international law firm or a multinational company.
- Corporate and Commercial Law
- Litigation, dispute resolution and debt collection
- Labour Laws
- Company Secretarial
- Drafting Agreements & Contracts
- Taxation
SKILLS AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
- Good analytical skills and attention to detail
- Good communication skills
- Software skills – Microsoft 365 tools including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Competence with AI Assistants like Copilot or other legal technology
- Collaborative spirit and ability to work with cross functional teams.
- Self-supervision, ability to work with minimal direction and execute in a timely manner.
