Job Title: Legal Officer

Marie Stopes Kenya (MSK) has been operational in Kenya for over 35 years. It is the largest provider of family planning services and offers lifesaving and life-enhancing services to men and women of all ages through a range or sexual and reproductive health service through its own clinic outlets, a network of franchise outlets and the marketing of RH commodities. In addition, MSK has an MCH 24 bed nursing home in Nairobi. MSK is part of the MSI global partnership which operates across Africa and Asia and is headquartered in London.

This post reports to the Director – People and Development. The Legal Officer’s role will be to ensure that Marie Stopes Kenya conducts its activities and manages its relationships with the wider Marie Stopes International, donors and its partners in compliance with the law.

This position is responsible for providing high quality legal advice to teams within Marie Stopes Kenya on a full range of legal and challenging operational issues, in accordance with the following principles: instil and foster a culture of legal compliance, advocate for Ethics & Compliance across all levels within the organization and build relationships with an external panel of legal advisors.

Key Responsibilities
Legal risk
1. Regularly analyze the actions and decisions of the organization in order to identify problem areas, suggest alternative courses of action and mitigate risk as much as possible
2. Review, edit and provide commercial legal advice on MoUs, Contracts, Agreements and tender documents.
3. Review and actively manage current litigation cases in order to reduce costs, facilitate
settlements where appropriate and provide feedback to the organization to reduce future exposure to litigation risk..
4. Liaise with relevant departments, including our London Support Office, to ensure that where legal risks have been identified, appropriate courses of action have been taken.
5. Where required, instruct and n liaise with external legal counsels, attend court on behalf of MSK.
6. Review legal documents on behalf of MSK and mitigate any risks therein.
7. Provide legal protection and risk management advice to the management teams.
8. Provide and interpret legal information; conduct training and disseminate appropriate legal requirements to staff in line with Kenyan law and MSI Global programs.
9. Oversee the use of the MSK Logo and Trademarks in conjunction with the London legal team
10. Complete and keep the Governance Register of MSK and its related entities up to date
11. Act as Company Secretary

Policy development
1. Review and advise management on legal implications of internal policies and procedures.
2. Draft and review contracts, agreements and internal policies and ensure that they are compliant with statutory or legal requirements.

Litigation management
1. Review progress of outstanding litigation and liaise with and manage external lawyers.
2. Manage an up-to-date litigation register and provide updates as and when required
3. Identify legal needs and develop efficient resource-smart solutions including developing networks of outside counsel and pro-bono relationships
4. Instruct external counsel and assist in their procurement and onboarding process.
5. Manage relationships with external counsel including but not limited to management of their contracts, attending meetings, assisting in legal audit processes, following up on cases and processing payments for services rendered.

Regulatory compliance
1. Formulate legal compliance checklists to be used for the purpose of ensuring that all information required by Marie Stopes International and external parties is provided accordingly.
2. Manage the MSI Litigation Toolkit
3. Continuously monitor compliance with statutory obligations and advise management accordingly.
4. Prepare monthly and quarterly reports for the department for management meetings.

Contract negotiation
1. Review all contracts or any other documentation where Marie Stopes Kenya has committed itself and assess legal implications that need to be brought to the Management Team’s attention.
2. Prepare, review and modify contractual instruments to assist and support various organizational activities.
3. As needed, provide guidance on contract matters to managers or other operational staff.
4. Develop and implement procedures for contract management and administration in compliance with Marie Stopes Kenya’s policies
5. Negotiate, review and draft documentation for business transactions and prepare and advise on the necessary checklist to be adopted to ensure information is submitted on time.

Operational functions
1. Assist the People & Development department in various Human Resource activities that require legal support.
2. Draft minutes, memos, notices as required by the People & Development department.
3. Manage legal correspondence from external parties by sending responses or referring to external legal counsel as need may be.
4. Liaise with Insurance companies on legal matters that are covered by the insurance companies to ensure adequate representation.

Knowledge skills and attitude
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from a reputable university with a Diploma in Legal Studies (Kenya School of Law)
Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid practicing certificate.
At least two years’ post-qualification experience in the provision of legal services in a reputable law firm or the legal department of an international or leading organization.

Skills and Experience:
• Knowledge of applicable laws, rules and regulations within the operating environment of MSK
• Excellent written and verbal communication both internally and externally
• Knowledge of share point and/or strong willingness to adopt new technology critical
• Confident in providing information as requested and taking initiative as required
• Strong negotiation skills
• Proven discretion
• Pro-choice

Attitude / Motivation:
• Initiative
Thinking ahead and taking action to make the most of opportunities by finding the optimum solution
• Innovative
Thinking creatively and outside of the box so that ideas generated create a positive outcome
• Effective Communication
Communicating through active listening and good questioning techniques, using appropriate body language, ensuring information is clear and concise.
• Responsive
Being responsive to changing priorities and demands
• Working Efficiently
Planning, prioritizing and organizing work to ensure work is accurate and deadlines are met
• Sharing Information
Sharing information and knowledge whilst maintaining confidentiality
• Focus on Learning
Taking responsibility for keeping knowledge and skills updated and for seeking opportunities to develop further
• Commitment
Awareness and understanding of goals, vision and values and how your role impacts on this and going the extra mile to meet role requirements
• Driven
Drive and determination to deliver results
• Accountable
Taking responsibility for appropriate decisions that you make, and the actions and behavior you demonstrate
• Embracing Change
Openness to embracing change within the organization and being able to adjust plans/activities accordingly
• Motivated
Motivation towards achieving quality results to maximize potential
• Team Player
Working as part of a team by being supportive, flexible and showing respect for each other

How to Apply
Suitable and qualified candidates should email one document combining an application letter and CV to pd@mariestopes.or.ke on or before 5th August, 2021. The subject of the email should read Legal
Officer. Do not attach certificates and testimonials. Marie Stopes Kenya is an equal opportunity
employer and does not ask for fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Successful candidates must
abide by MSI’s Antifraud & Bribery Policy and Safeguarding Policy, including protection of children
and vulnerable adults. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.