Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary
Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary
Agaciro Development Fund
About The Job
The Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary is responsible for providing oversight and management
of the legal aspects that affect the Agaciro Development Fund through spearheading legal, regulatory, and policy compliance and ensuring that at any given time the Fund is legally protected. This role is also
responsible for fulfilling secretarial responsibilities for both the Board of Directors and Management team
Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary
Responsibilities & Duties
- Oversee and manage all legal matters, including investments, corporate governance, compliance, risk management, and the legal aspects of acquiring and divesting companies.
- Provide legal expertise in structuring, negotiating, and managing investments and divestitures.
- Ensure the Fund's operations adhere to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies.
- Partner with investment teams and manage all legal aspects of a deal to assess, manage, and mitigate legal implications, ensure alignment with Fund objectives, and protect fund interests.
- Oversee the review, drafting, and negotiation of contracts to safeguard the Fund's interests and mitigate legal risks.
- Lead complex negotiations aimed at representing the Fund's interests effectively from a legal perspective and resolve intricate issues and matters.
- Liaise with external legal counsel, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders such as co-investors, government, and subsidiary companies on legal matters.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of complex contracts and agreements, particularly transactional documents (e.g., shareholders agreements, joint venture agreements, financing agreements, shareholder loans, etc.).
- Provide legal guidance, advice and opinion on all regulatory business matters and decisions within the Fund
- Supervise external legal counsel when engaged by the Fund
- Advise executive management on legal risks and opportunities.
- Oversee the Legal department by managing the performance of direct and indirect reports. This includes defining workforce requirements, recruiting, training, and developing talent to ensure competent, qualified, and highly motivated staff.
- Organise board meetings including but not limited to developing meeting agenda and ensuring accurate recording and signing of the minutes and their subsequent dissemination.
- Oversee the archiving and proper filing of legal and regulatory documents, including annual reports and financial statements.
Educational Requirements
- Masters’ Degree in Business Law, Corporate Law, or any related field; or
- Bachelors’ Degree in Business Law, Corporate Law, or any related field with more than eight years’ experience in a business-oriented institution
- Relevent Professional qualifications (e.g., Charted Governance Professional (CGP) and Certified Corporate Secretary (CCS)) is an advantage
- Possess membership of the Rwanda Bar Association and in good standing
Professional Experience & Skills
Experience:
- At least 10 years of relevant and demonstrated commercial law experience with a minimum of 3 years' experience in management
- Demonstrate at least five years of in-depth transactional experience including investments, divestitures, and acquisitions
- Demonstrated experience in corporate law, contract law, regulatory compliance, and other pertinent legal domains related to investment management and investment transactions.
- Comprehensive legal knowledge and experience across various areas including general corporate/commercial, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and other relevant practice fields.
- Extensive experience in drafting and negotiating contracts particularly transactional documents like shareholders agreements, joint venture agreements, financing agreements, and shareholder loans.
- Proficiency in identifying legal issues, assessing risks, and devising practical solutions that align with business objectives.
- Demonstrated capability to negotiate complex commercial agreements and forge strategic partnerships.
- Strong track record of leading successful negotiations.
- Extensive experience in providing company secretary services.
- Familiarity with Rwandan law, especially commercial law.
- Proven track record in conducting legal due diligence for investment deals.
- Fluency in English (mandatory), Kinyarwanda (mandatory), French (preferred).
- Ability to work autonomously with a strong sense of accountability and ownership.
- Strategic and problem-solving mindset and strong focus on results
- Proficient in handling pressure and effectively managing multiple concurrent projects.
- Adept in effective verbal and written communication skills across various levels of people and functional roles.
- Possession of a learning mindset and critical thinking skills.
- Dedication to economic development and impact in Rwanda with a service-oriented mindset.
- Strong organizational leadership skills with demonstrated ability to align people behind organisational priorities
- High level of analytical and critical thinking skills
- Demonstrated problem solving, conflict management and decision-making capability
- Ability to effectively manage resources
- Ability to coach, mentor and develop talent
- High emotional intelligence and diplomatic sensitivity
- Demonstrated ability to build strategic relationships and network
Job Location
Rwanda
Apply To
All interested applicants should submit their detailed Curriculum Vitae at recruitment@hcsolutions.rw