BACKGROUND

The Malawi Agricultural and Industrial Investment Corporation (MAIIC) Plc is a local development finance institution (DFI) incorporated in November 2018 under the Company’s Act of 2013.

The company was established to bridge the long-term financing gap in Malawi and spearhead private sector development. MAIIC is a commercially oriented DFI set up to play a leading role in socio-economic development in the country.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced candidates to fill the following positions:

Head of Legal/Company Secretary – https://bit.ly/3S4m5BM

The Company Secretary/Head of Legal will be responsible for playing a crucial role in ensuring legal compliance and facilitating effective corporate governance within the organization. This multifaceted position involves overseeing legal matters, corporate documentation, and regulatory compliance, while also providing strategic advice to the executive team. The Company Secretary/ Legal Services Manager will report directly to the Managing Director on day-to-day activities and to the Board of Directors on matters that concern the Board.

Description

Corporate Governance

• Oversee and manage all aspects of corporate governance, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Coordinate and prepare materials for Board and Committee meetings, including agendas, resolutions and minutes.
• Ensuring that the institution’s records at the Companies Registry are filed and up to date at all times.

Legal Compliance

• Stay informed about changes in legislation and regulations affecting the company and advise management accordingly.
• Develop, implement and monitor compliance programs to ensure adherence to legal requirements.

Contracts and Agreements

• Draft, review and negotiate a variety of contracts, agreements, and legal documents.
• Ensure that contracts comply with applicable laws, regulations and company policies.

Perfection of Securities and Security Document Preparation

• Draft and prepare legal documents related to the creation and perfection of security interests, including mortgages, pledges and guarantees.
• Implement the necessary steps to perfect security interests in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. This may include filing with relevant authorities, obtaining consents, and ensuring all requirements are met.
• Manage the registration process for security interests, liaising with government departments and ensuring all necessary documentation is submitted timely and accurately.

Legal Advice

• Provide legal advice and guidance to management on a broad range of legal issues, including corporate law, employment law, perfection and registration of securities and contractual matters.
• Collaborate with external legal counsel when necessary.

Records Management

• Maintain and update corporate records, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Manage the filing of necessary documents with relevant authorities.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records of all perfected security interests, ensuring easy retrieval and reference when needed.

Risk Management

• Identify and assess legal risks to the organization and develop strategies to mitigate such risks.
• Implement risk management policies and procedures.
• Work closely with the risk and credit teams to ensure the institution’s exposure is minimized.

Training and Awareness

• Conduct training sessions for employees to raise awareness of legal and compliance issues.
• Develop and implement programs to enhance legal literacy within the organization.

Dispute Resolution

• Coordinate the handling of legal disputes and litigation matters.
• Work towards alternative dispute resolution when applicable.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, additional qualifications such as a master’s in law or a Chartered Secretary is an added advantage.
• Proven experience as a Company Secretary or Head of Legal with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the financial services sector is an added advantage.
• In-depth knowledge of corporate governance, compliance and relevant laws.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail

• Oversee and manage all aspects of corporate governance, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Coordinate and prepare materials for Board and Committee meetings, including agendas, resolutions and minutes.
• Ensuring that the institution’s records at the Companies Registry are filed and up to date at all times.
• Stay informed about changes in legislation and regulations affecting the company and advise management accordingly.
• Develop, implement and monitor compliance programs to ensure adherence to legal requirements.
• Draft, review and negotiate a variety of contracts, agreements, and legal documents.
• Ensure that contracts comply with applicable laws, regulations and company policies.
• Draft and prepare legal documents related to the creation and perfection of security interests, including mortgages, pledges and guarantees.
• Implement the necessary steps to perfect security interests in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. This may include filing with relevant authorities, obtaining consents, and ensuring all requirements are met.
• Manage the registration process for security interests, liaising with government departments and ensuring all necessary documentation is submitted timely and accurately.
• Provide legal advice and guidance to management on a broad range of legal issues, including corporate law, employment law, perfection and registration of securities and contractual matters.
• Collaborate with external legal counsel when necessary.
• Maintain and update corporate records, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Manage the filing of necessary documents with relevant authorities.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records of all perfected security interests, ensuring easy retrieval and reference when needed.
• Identify and assess legal risks to the organization and develop strategies to mitigate such risks.
• Implement risk management policies and procedures.
• Work closely with the risk and credit teams to ensure the institution’s exposure is minimized.
• Conduct training sessions for employees to raise awareness of legal and compliance issues.
• Develop and implement programs to enhance legal literacy within the organization.
• Coordinate the handling of legal disputes and litigation matters.
• Work towards alternative dispute resolution when applicable.

• Strong drafting and negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, additional qualifications such as a master’s in law or a Chartered Secretary is an added advantage.
• Proven experience as a Company Secretary or Head of Legal with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the financial services sector is an added advantage.
• In-depth knowledge of corporate governance, compliance and relevant laws.