LEGAL MANAGER

Key Responsibilities

Legal Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement the legal strategy and annual legal plan aligned with business objectives and operational requirements in The Gambia.
• Lead the legal function, establishing clear processes, controls, approval thresholds, and service standards.
• Advise management on legal risks, regulatory changes, and compliance obligations.
• Ensure legal activities are conducted ethically, transparently, and in accordance with company policies and applicable Gambian laws.
• Develop legal budgets and monitor expenditure against approved plans.

Contract Management & Commercial Transactions

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including service contracts, supply agreements, lease agreements, MOUs, and partnership agreements.
• Manage the contract lifecycle, ensuring compliance with Gambian law and company policies.
• Provide legal support for procurement transactions, tenders, and supplier negotiations.
• Advise on commercial terms, liability, indemnities, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Maintain complete and accurate contract documentation and audit trails.

Corporate Governance & Compliance

• Ensure the company complies with all statutory and regulatory requirements in The Gambia.
• Advise on corporate governance best practices and assist in the formation and management of subsidiary companies.
• Manage relationships with external counsel, regulatory bodies, and government agencies.
• Oversee the maintenance of statutory books and corporate records.
• Ensure compliance with anti-bribery and corruption laws, anti-money laundering regulations, and data protection laws.

Risk Management & Dispute Resolution

• Identify potential legal risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Manage pre-litigation disputes and coordinate with external counsel on litigation matters.
• Conduct legal due diligence on potential partners, suppliers, and contractors.
• Develop and implement internal legal policies and procedures.
• Manage insurance claims and risk transfer mechanisms.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Ensure accurate use of legal management systems and contract databases where applicable.
• Improve legal workflows, controls, reporting, and automation.
• Develop standard legal templates, contract review tools, and compliance dashboards.
• Promote best practices and legal capability development across relevant teams.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Country Director / Managing Director.

Strategic Advisory

• Provide timely, accurate, and strategic legal advice to the executive team on business decisions.
• Monitor changes in Gambian legislation and advise on the impact on the business.
• Support HR and Finance departments on employment law, tax matters, and data protection issues.
• Advise on regulatory compliance and reporting requirements.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from a recognized university.

• Master of Laws (LL.M) in Commercial Law, International Business Law, or a related field is an advantage.

• Qualified to practice law in The Gambia and in good standing with the Gambia Bar Association.

• Fluency in French is required; strong English communication skills are an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of 7–10 years' post-qualification experience in legal practice or corporate legal advisory.

• At least 3–5 years in a legal management or senior legal role, preferably within a large, multinational, infrastructure, services, construction, waste management, or operational environment.

• Demonstrated experience in contract drafting, negotiation, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution.

• Experience managing legal operations in The Gambia or a comparable West African market, with knowledge of local legal and regulatory environments.

• Experience with legal research tools and contract management systems.

• Experience managing multiple legal matters, sites, and competing operational priorities.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong legal drafting, contract negotiation, and commercial analysis skills.

• Excellent French communication skills, both written and spoken is an advatantage.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.

• High level of integrity, confidentiality, attention to detail, and commitment to ethical legal practice.

• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Ability to work under pressure, manage deadlines, and make sound commercial decisions.

• Proactive mindset with strong risk-management and continuous-improvement orientation.

• Demonstrated expertise in cross-border transactions and international commercial law.

• Proven ability to manage external counsel and regulatory relationships across multiple jurisdictions.

• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.

• Proficiency in legal research tools and contract management software.

• Cross-cultural competence and ability to work effectively across diverse legal systems.