Senior Legal Counsel - Pan Africa at MasterCard

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the Director, Pan Africa Programs, the Senior legal Counsel will advise the Pan Africa (PANA) Programs Leadership team and provide legal support to key Foundation stakeholders.
• The role will drive business results while operating in a culturally and organisationally diverse environment.

Responsibilities
Ways you can contribute:

• Work with the PANA leadership and prospective partners to design programs and interventions that achieve the Foundations goals.
• Work closely with the Programs Compliance team to ensure conformity with the Foundation’s charitable purposes.
• Review, draft and negotiate Programmatic and investment agreements.
• Collaborate with Legal and Compliance team in providing support to Pan Africa program teams in review of funding proposals and new program areas.
• Negotiate and review vendor contracts and communicate feedback appropriately.
• Monitor vendor contract compliance on project implementation and related risk management issues.
• Provide legal support on projects, programs post contracting and other transactions related to the Foundation’s operations.
• Proactively identify, analyze, and respond to legislative developments affecting the Foundation in the countries where the Pan Africa programs are implemented.
• Have primary responsibility for the daily legal operations within the PANA team including labour and employment, dispute resolution and regulatory matters while working closely with other legal sub-functions.
• Work closely with a wide variety of partners i.e., funds, banks, and other financial institutions in implementing the Foundations programs, programmatic investments, and other financial instruments to further the Foundation’s goals.
• Manage external legal firms and the legal budget.
• Provide support in policy discussions and negotiations with officials internally and externally, developing relationships with members of the legal profession and lawyers working in external law firms and/or partner agencies in relevant countries.
• Support the continuous improvement of legal processes and procedures.
• Collaborate with Legal and Compliance Team to maintain and upgrade legal documentation.
• Champion a values-based compliance culture as our organization evolves.
• Lead response to legislative developments affecting the Foundation compliance –Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements

• Degree in Law or equivalent (LLB or JD)
• Minimum of 10 years of experience working in a reputable firm or in-house position with a demonstrated record of success. 
• Experience in financial services and/or investment management will be an advantage.
• Strong leadership, organizational and analytical skills.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills.
• Strong interpersonal and listening skills and is open and receptive to feedback.
• Ability to work independently while supporting the broader team delivery.
• Flexible, adaptable, agile, and able to execute a range of job duties with multiple deadlines and changing priorities.
• Proven excellence in verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures and to distill complex information and data into accessible conversation and written pieces.
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• You have a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.