General Counsel - Africa50

• Position title: General Counsel - Africa50
• Grade: NA
• Position N°: NA
• Reference: NA
• Publication date: 15/07/2015
• Closing date: 31/08/2015

Objectives

Africa50 is a landmark investment vehicle, focused exclusively on Africa’s infrastructure development opportunities. It is an independent, profit driven, commercially managed entity. It will provide a means for private sector investors to bring fresh capital to infrastructure development while securing a return. The result should be a significant boost to efforts to ensure sustained economic growth on the African continent. Africa50 will focus on large scale, transformative, commercially and developmentally sustainable infrastructure projects. Africa50 will target investments in high-impact national and regional projects in the energy, transport, Information Communication Technology and water sectors. 

Duties and responsibilities

The General Counsel will direct the legal and compliance activities of Africa50’s business, including those activities relating to Africa50’s operations to ensure that the business is in compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements. This includes working with the business teams in managing the legal resources on individual transactions. The General Counsel will also work with other members of the Senior Management Team in developing and implementing the strategies for Africa50. This position will report to the Africa50 Chief Executive Officer.

Africa50 seeks to appoint the General Counsel to undertake, but not limited to, the following activities: 

• Manage Africa50’s strategic and legal documentation;
• Act as Company Secretary to the Board and monitor and provide opinion on corporate governance;
• Provide legal advice (and managing external legal counsel if appropriate) on commercial, financial, civil and corporate matters related to Africa50’s activities;
• Working with the CEO, to ensure that all activities and operations are performed in compliance with applicable regulations and laws governing business operations;
• Manage the Compliance function to ensure Africa50 meets international best practice in terms of compliance;
• Work with the transaction teams to ensure that Africa50’s requirements are incorporated into any documentation, and assisting in the management of any external legal resources on transactions;
• Establish processes and prepare any necessary legal reports for the Board and Shareholders and regulatory bodies;
• Provide internal training on legal, regulatory and compliance topics to ensure the business is kept current on all issues, and to enhance individual legal and fiduciary responsibilities;
• Supporting the risk function in quantification of potential legal liabilities;
• Ensuring that operational risk is managed effectively within his/her areas of responsibility, and that his/her teams comply with all approved operational risk controls;
• As a member of the Senior Management Team, assist the CEO in the management and development of Africa50 to ensure a smoothly functioning, and efficient organization.
• Ensure the Department is performing well and provide good and timely services to other Departments.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

Applicants must have:

• Qualifications and practice or experience in Civil and/or Common Law.
• Admission to a bar.
• Knowledge and Experience of compliance matters in financial institutions.
• Experience of current trends, developments, and theories in finance and legal matters, and infrastructure development in Africa.
• Skills to foster and cultivate business opportunities and partnerships.
• Ability to recognize and be responsive to the needs of all clients of the organization, including funding organizations, the Board of Directors, governments, and employees.
• People management skills to supervise staff, including regular progress reviews and plans for development.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Apply online

Apply for this position

To apply for this position, you need to be national of one of AfDB member countries.

Only applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit an online application, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV). The AfDB President reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply: www.afdb.org/jobs