Company Secretary / Head, Legal at PZ Cussons

Job Purpose
Why does the job exist?

• To act as the senior legal advisor to PZ Cussons’ African operations, currently located in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.
• To ensure that our businesses comply with laws and regulations applicable to them.
• To advise the businesses on complex, international contracting for the procurement of goods and services as well as the sale of goods to our customers.
• Manage litigation and disputes on behalf of our businesses and ensure that we maintain an appropriate level of legal risk. To act as secretary to our African businesses and ensure timely filing of all corporate documents in accordance with applicable laws.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports to Group General Counsel & Company Secretary and dotted line to Managing Director, Africa
• Direct Report- Asst. Company Secretary/ Comp legal practitioners

Dimensions:

• Team Size: 2-3 (including potential outsourced services for elements of compliance and reporting)

Principal Accountabilities

• Provison of legal advisory services to ensure that the companies and their subsidiaries are compliant with the laws; maintenance/ protection of the company’s trademark portfolio; management of litigation and disputes; advising on complex commercial contracts and managing legal risks;
• Provision of some secretarial services, corporate governance, transaction advisory, compliance with statutory filings.
• Manage the company’s property ensuring statutory payments are made and record updated.
• Ensure compliance with Nigeria Data Protection.Regulation (NDPR) in line with data protection requirement for Nigeria business.
• Work with the Head of Ethics and Compliance to ensure the company’s Code of Ethical Conduct policies are embedded and complied with.
• Manage, working with the head of intellectual property, our IP portfolios ( Trademarks, Patents & Designs) in Africa.
• Manage the company’s corporate social responsibility vehicle (PZ Cussons Foundation)
• Establish and manage relatonships with Ministers, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and regulators that include but are not limited to te CAC, SEC, NSE and NOTAP.
• All other relevant assignment that may be assigned by members of the Board and Business leadership team.
• Support with legal advise to the Audit & Ethics and Compliance team where required.

Internal & External Relationships:

• Board and Committee Meetings
• PZ Cussons Foundation
• Regulatory bodies
• PZ Cussons Group senior management

Qualifications / Skills Requirements

• B.L, LL.B.
• Membership of Institute of Secretaries and Administrators (ICSAN)
• Be proficient with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint (Good Presentation Skills)
• 10 years’ work experience as a practicing lawyer, with international legal experience highly desired.
• Sound Knowledge of Commercial & Practice law
• Great communication skills (verbal and written). Ability to influence, impact and convince others.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience Needed:

• List any qualifications required to do the job.
• Be specific about the experience needed.
• Focus on type of experience not the time served.

Job Context & Special Features:

• Coordinates and ensures Planning and organizing of activities to achieve goals.
• Takes into account a broad range of issues in Formulating Strategies and vision for the future.
• Shows appreciation/ encouragement while working with people rather than apportioning blames.
• Gives full commitment to the Principles and Values of the company.
• Has Commercial Orientation and an Understanding of Business Issues.
• Think more broadly about impact & Action- Analysis & Decision Making
• Embraces Innovation & Changes to move the business forward
• Establish Relationship within and without the organization
• Demonstrated Personal Qualities – Drive & Resilience to achieve agreed objectives
• Turning subordinates’ weakness into strength- Managing People
• Focus on high quality standards when Delivering results and Customer Expectations.