Legal and Governance Manager

About This Role

JOB PROFILE

This job profile is a living document and job description of Legal and Governance Manager. Performance Contracts must be derived from the job profile by the Manager and the incumbent.

POSITION INFORMATION SUMMARY
*JOB TITLE (as per Structure):*	Legal and Governance Manager
PLACE OF WORK	Centurion
INCUMBENT
DEPARTMENT /UNIT:
REPORTING LINE:
CONTRACTUAL STATUS:	Fixed Term Placement

JOB PURPOSE / SCOPE

The Legal and Governance Manager is responsible for providing strategic legal advice, governance oversight, compliance management, and legal risk mitigation across Higher Health. The incumbent will ensure that the organisation operates in accordance with applicable legislation, regulatory requirements, governance frameworks, and best practices while promoting a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct.

The position serves as the principal legal advisor to management and governance structures and plays a critical role in supporting the Board and its Committees through effective company secretariat functions, policy development, compliance monitoring, and governance administration.

The role requires a highly experienced legal and governance professional with demonstrated expertise in legal advisory services, contract management, risk management, compliance oversight, and stakeholder engagement within the public, higher education, health, development, or non-profit sectors. The incumbent must be capable of operating strategically while ensuring operational excellence and regulatory compliance across the organisation.

Requirements & Qualifications

COMPETENCIES / SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE INDICATIONS
QUALIFICATION(S):	Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree. *Advantageous:* Admission as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa. · Postgraduate qualification in Corporate Governance, Compliance Management, Risk Management, Company Secretariat Practice or a related field.
EXPERIENCE:	· Minimum of seven (7) years' relevant experience in legal, governance, compliance, risk management or company secretariat functions. · Demonstrated experience in providing legal advisory services to executive leadership and governance structures. · Experience in contract drafting, negotiation and management. · Sound experience in policy development and governance administration. · Proven experience in compliance monitoring and regulatory reporting. · Experience working within the higher education, health, public sector, development or non-profit environment will be advantageous. · Strong report-writing and stakeholder management capabilities.
ATTRIBUTES:	· High level of confidentiality · Exceptional organisational, administrative, and effective communication skills · Pro-active, able to exercise discretion and independent decision-making · Ability to work well under pressure and to maintain effectiveness during changing conditions · Attention to detail · Flexible working hours (some work over weekends and overtime may be required) · Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills · Ability to utilise available data to provide appropriate recommendations · Ability to multi-task combined with an ability to prioritise tasks and to learn quickly

Responsibilities

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

KPA 1: Legal Advisory Services and Legal Risk Management

KPA 2: Contract Management

KPA 3: Corporate Governance

KPA 4: Board and Committee Secretariat Support

KPA 5: Compliance and Regulatory Management

KPA 6: Policy Development and Review

KPA 7: Stakeholder Management and Regulatory Liaison

KPA 8: Ethics and Integrity Management

ACCOUNTABILITY / RESPONSIBILITY AREAS

Note: The following Key Performance Areas and job activities are not exhaustive. Higher Health may instruct the employee to carry out additional duties or responsibilities, which fall within the ambit of the job or in accordance with operational requirements.

1. Legal Advisory Services and Legal Risk Management

· Provide strategic legal advice and guidance to the CEO, Board, Executive Management and business units.

· Interpret legislative and regulatory requirements affecting organisational operations.

· Draft legal opinions, memoranda and recommendations on organisational matters.

· Monitor legislative changes and advise on organisational implications.

· Manage litigation, disputes and legal matters in conjunction with external legal service providers.

· Identify, assess and mitigate legal and regulatory risks.

· Establish and maintain legal risk registers and mitigation plans.

2. Contract Management

· Draft, review, negotiate and manage contracts, service level agreements, memoranda of understanding, donor agreements and partnership agreements.

· Ensure contractual provisions adequately protect the interests of Higher Health.

· Maintain an effective contract management and records system.

· Monitor contractual compliance and obligations.

· Provide legal guidance on contractual disputes and risk exposure.

3. Corporate Governance

· Promote compliance with King IV Corporate Governance Principles and organisational governance frameworks.

· Develop and maintain governance policies, procedures and reporting frameworks.

· Ensure governance structures operate effectively and efficiently.

· Advise management and the Board on governance-related matters.

· Monitor governance compliance and recommend corrective actions.

4. Board and Committee Secretariat Support

· Serve as Company Secretary or provide Company Secretariat support to the Board and its Committees.

· Coordinate Board and Committee meetings.

· Prepare annual governance calendars, agendas and meeting packs.

· Record and maintain accurate minutes and resolutions.

· Facilitate implementation and monitoring of Board and Committee resolutions.

· Maintain statutory records and governance documentation.

· Ensure compliance with statutory and governance reporting requirements.

5. Compliance and Regulatory Management

· Develop, implement and monitor compliance management frameworks.

· Ensure compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements, including:

· Companies Act

· Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)

· Labour legislation

· Non-Profit Organisation requirements

· Tax legislation and governance reporting obligations

· Donor and funding compliance requirements

· Conduct compliance assessments, reviews and audits.

· Prepare compliance reports for Executive Management, Committees and the Board.

· Promote compliance awareness throughout the organisation.

6. Policy Development and Review

· Lead the development, review and implementation of organisational policies and governance frameworks.

· Ensure alignment of policies with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

· Provide policy interpretation and implementation guidance.

· Monitor policy compliance across the organisation.

· Facilitate policy awareness and training initiatives.

7. Stakeholder Management and Regulatory Liaison

· Establish and maintain productive relationships with regulators, government departments, legal practitioners and strategic partners.

· Represent the organisation in legal, governance and regulatory engagements.

· Coordinate submissions and responses to regulatory authorities.

· Provide support during external audits and governance reviews.

· Facilitate effective stakeholder communication on legal and governance matters.

8. Ethics and Integrity Management

· Promote ethical leadership and organisational integrity.

· Support ethics awareness and governance programmes.

· Facilitate conflict of interest declarations and related processes.

· Advise management on ethical governance practices.

· Assist with governance investigations where required.

· Foster a culture of responsible corporate citizenship and accountability.

Legal and Governance Manager

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