Executive Counsel, West Africa at GE

GE is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world's toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide.

GE is recruting to fill the below position of:

Job Title: Executive Counsel, West Africa
Job Number: 1677943

Location: IIkoyi - Lagos, Nigeria

Job Role Summary/Purpose
The Executive Counsel, will be a key player in GE’s strategy to grow in West Africa while managing risk &executing with integrity. He or she will be primarily responsible for providing legal &compliance leadership &support to all the GE businesses which are active in West Africa, as well as the Global Growth & Operations team based in Lagos. He or she will be expected to act as general counsel to the CEO of GE Nigeria & play a broader role within the GE Africa Legal team.

Job Responsibilities

• Providing strategic and tactical advice and support on general commercial matters, particularly for GE’s Power & Water and Transportation businesses, structuring, drafting, negotiating and closing complex transactions and large-scale projects (including but not limited to sales, sourcing, licensing, services, consortium, joint ventures, sub-contracts and other strategic alliances);
• Working with colleagues to develop and strengthen the culture of integrity and compliance within GE’s workforce and operations in West Africa, implementing rigorous processes for compliance training, risk assessment and mitigation, reporting, investigation and resolution of compliance issues;
• Supporting GE’s localization initiatives in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa, working across the GE businesses and GGO team to maximise GE’s ability to comply with localization requirements and grow profitably in West Africa;
• Having legal oversight over GE’s “Company to Country” MOU relationship as well as all initiatives flowing from that including GE’s participation in the expansion of Nigeria’s private power industry and investment in independent power producers;
• Interfacing with, and where necessary assisting, mentoring and supporting the GE Oil & Gas Legal Counsel and Compliance Leader based in Nigeria.
• Selecting and supervising outside counsel on litigation, business development and compliance-related matters as necessary in a proactive and cost-effective manner;
• Advising the GE businesses on local regulatory issues including labour & employment, data privacy, competition, and public procurement practices.
• Working with legal colleagues and business teams to develop trainings, best practices, legal templates and processes for existing and new business and commercial models.
• Supporting GE’s social responsibility initiatives in the Region, including through pro bono schemes.

Qualifications/Requirements

• LLB, Juris Doctorate or equivalent from an accredited law school.
• At least 15 years experience in business law at a premier law firm and/or corporate legal department.
• Member in good standing with local Bar.
• Extensive knowledge of law and commercial legal practice in the region, some global experience desirable.
• At least five years’ experience in the infrastructure sector (e.g. oil & gas, power, telecoms, construction etc.) – familiarity with project financing structures and documentation would be an advantage.
• Significant, sophisticated transactional experience in domestic and international contract drafting and negotiations, including joint ventures, licensing of technology and sales of capital goods and related services; understanding tender, bidding and local public procurement practices.
• Understanding of and interest in business and business issues, familiarity with finance and a capacity to understand standard financial metrics, an understanding and interest in the economic and political situation within the region.
• Able to prioritize conflicting demands from multiple business clients in an extremely fast paced environment while still paying attention to detail.
• Proven leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, ability to work well independently and in a team setting.
• Able to interface effectively with all levels of a complex organization; ability to build excellent working relationships within a matrix environment (both cross-functionally and globally).
• Fluency (oral/written) in English, French language skills would be desirable.

Application Closing Date
30th January, 2013

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online