Legal Counsel at HBM Nigeria Plc (Formerly Lafarge)

The Legal Counsel role will assist and support the Senior Legal Counsel in legal drafting, legal negotiation, and management of contract documents for Lafarge Africa Plc, Ashakacem Limited, Wapsila Limited, Geocycle operations, Readymix operations, and Mortar operations. This role will work closely with and support multiple members of the Legal, Commercial, Procurement, Industrial, Finance/Treasury, Project Management, and Logistics teams among others.

What you'll be doing

• Develop standard templates for contracts, including payment terms, general terms, and conditions.
• Review, revise, and update Contract Drafting and Execution Policies to align with the Delegation of Authority and Group Standards/Policies.
• Review, mark up/draft (from scratch), negotiate, and close commercial/procurement contracts, including master service agreements, Engineering, Procurement & Construction Contracts, Power Purchase Agreements, etc.
• Oversee Drafting, and negotiating contractual terms with third-party suppliers which protect the Company from a commercial and contractual perspective including strategy, risk and mitigation analysis, internal reviews, and liaison with all subject matter experts in their various disciplines.
• Stay abreast of legal developments affecting the company, its clients, and industries and synthesize the information to incorporate it into the company's transactions.
• Educate company’s executives as regards legal and risk management issues with regard to Contract Documents.
• Structure third-party transactions to be most advantageous to the company from a legal and business perspective.
• Counsel, advise, and consult company executives based on the accurate interpretation of contract documents and the facts of a business opportunity.
• Be responsible for updating, managing, and utilizing the Document Management System- the documentation execution process registry for all contracts across the business.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal/commercial contract advice to internal clients.
• Apply innovative problem-solving skills and practical business judgment to minimize risks.
• Collaborate with and facilitate cross-team decision-making among legal, finance, and other teams within the business.
• Develop, assess, and negotiate contracts on non-disclosure, consulting, service, consignments, terms and conditions, and commercial documents.
• Ensure consistency of contract terms with company policies and goals.
• Expedite and review contracts from the company’s suppliers, customers, and parties.
• Review and negotiate contracts.
• Develop contract strategies for projects.
• Ensure contract procurement and administration policies are consistent with procurement regulations.
• Manage assigned projects to completion.
• Conduct contract strategy meetings to identify issues and client requirements, and obtain end-user input on commercial terms, and input on timelines and deliverables.
• Provide oversight of the contract management process, as well as the development of specific standards and templates for contract negotiations and document retention management.
• Oversee organizational contract development and management activities, and enforce organizational principles of integrity and compliance.
• Ensure that contracts and proposals are properly entered into organizational databases and securely maintained.
• Ensure accuracy and appropriateness of contract text and attachments.
• Develop an effective and seamless Contracting Drafting Policy, incorporating the Procurement contracting process.
• Ownership, collaboration, innovation, and improvement in the Contract Drafting Process.
• Standardize all Contract templates.
• Communicate improvements and variations in Contracts as required by law and regulations or due to new Contract claims.
• Establish Contract Document Control and ensure Compliance with Contracting Policy.
• Timely delivery of Contract templates and drafts.
• Maintain Contracts and Advance Payment Guarantee Database.
• Update the Contract Master Data Sheet to monitor the contract drafting and execution process. 

What we are looking for 

• Degree in Law, Master degree an added advantage 
• Minimum of 5 years’ post-bar work experience with at least 3 years in a top-tier commercial law firm
• Experience working in a fast-paced, fluid, and collegial corporate culture
• Experience negotiating commercial and complex contracts
• Demonstrate ability to handle and close commercial and legal negotiations.
• Demonstrated success working in a high-performing, business results-driven environment
• Ability to draft and close commercial agreements with minimal support from senior staff
• Ability to think and decide quickly and to communicate legal issues and solutions clearly and concisely.
• Ability to prioritize with excellent time management skills

Who you'll be working with 

• Direct Reports 
  • None 
• Reports to the Senior Legal Counsel