General Counsel at Babban Gona Farmer Services Nigeria Limited

Babban Gona is an award-winning, high impact, financially sustainable and highly scalable social enterprise, part-owned by the farmers we serve. Babban Gona, was created to attract youth to agriculture specifically and away from the looming instability of extremist groups.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: General Counsel

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Job Type: Full time
Industry: Legal

Key Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and support on organizational legal matters.
• Draft, review and edit legal templates, documents, leases and contracts for all organizational processes.
• Provide guidance and support on regulatory and governance requirements, taxations, insurance matters and filings to ensure statutory compliance (e.g. CAC filings)
• Procure independent solicitor’s certifications/attestations of documents and information.
• Review and/or amend contract documentation, which will include the following: a. Term sheets; b. Facility Agreements (with local and international lenders); c. Tripartite Agreements (between the borrower, lender and local banks); d. Inter-creditor Agreements (between the participating lenders, the borrower and the Inter-creditor Agent); e. Side notes/letters; and f. other related agreements.
• Identify any requirements for contract documentation and advise on issues stemming therefrom.
• Provide general legal support to Babban Gona and in-depth and concise analysis regarding any legal issues that may arise in connection with transactions and partnerships.
• Advise on any other material concerns or issues that need to be addressed by Babban Gona including, but not limited to, security packages to be utilised, increased transaction risk, perfection costs, etc.
• Advise on deal closing strategies.
• Provide guidance and support on company secretary matters.
• Provide legal advice, review and recommend organizational policies, procedures, guidelines and other documents.
• Support to create necessary awareness on regulatory and supervisory provisions, circulars, directive and legislations affecting the company’s operation and objectives.
• Prepare evaluation report on compliance to the management.
• Advise management on the company’s compliance with laws and regulations through detailed reports.
• Create and manage effective action plans in response to audit discoveries and compliance violations.
• Regularly audit company procedures, practices, and documents to identify possible weaknesses or risks.
• Support the development and maintenance of an effective and efficient compliance framework to ensure optimal statutory and regulatory compliance.
• Provide high quality legal assistance for the company and act as a true business partner.
• Participate in internal risk management and independence compliance reviews in line with national and global requirements.
• Assist in the administration of data privacy matters of the company.
• Provide top-quality support in managing queries on ethics, independence and risk management policies, procedures and systems.
• Participate in administering quality and risk management training programs.
• Manage the liaison with External Legal Counsel, Insurance brokers, Regulators and other relevant stakeholders.
• Evaluate business activities (e.g. investments) to assess compliance risk.
• Review marketing materials, presentations and websites to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Anticipate all possible legal issues and pitfalls and actively undertake to circumvent such in a timely fashion.
• Other responsibilities and tasks required to support organizational goals and objectives.

Reporting Line:

• This position reports to the Head, Investor Relations.

Requirements
Experience in Legal and Government Relations Role:

• Bachelor's Degree in Law and a relevant Professional certification is an advantage.
• 8+ years’ proven relevant work experience. Experience gained in a professional services firm will be an added advantage.
• Strong working knowledge of industry legal requirements and controls.
• Good knowledge of legal requirements and procedures.
• Brilliant oral and written communication skills.
• Fluency in industry practices and professional standards.
• Highly-analytical with strong attention to detail.

Other Requirements:

• Solid understanding of what is needed to form critical plans to manage crisis events or compliance violations, should they ever occur.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and analytical ability.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines.
• Ability to provide support to; and collaborate with internal units and external groups to achieve business objectives.

Start Up Environment:

• Thrives in a fast paced, start-up environment with dynamic business priorities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Health Insurance
• Pension
• Performance Bonus
• Annual paid vacation
• Group Life Insurance

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.