Legal Coordinator

The Legal Coordinator will oversee all legal matters within the organization, with a strong focus on land acquisition, licensing, permitting, compliance, and ensuring overall legal adherence across all internal processes and activities. This role is pivotal in facilitating the successful development and operation of the company’s renewable energy projects while safeguarding the organization’s compliance with Kenyan laws and international standards. The Legal Coordinator will provide strategic legal advice to senior leadership, manage relationships with regulatory authorities, and coordinate with external legal consultants to support seamless project execution and the lawful operation of the company’s business activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Legal Compliance and Advisory

• Ensure the company's operations and internal processes comply with all
  applicable local and international legal frameworks.
• Provide expert legal advice on matters including labor law, tax compliance,environmental regulations, and business operations.
• Monitor changes in legislation and advise management on necessary
  adjustments to policies and operations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and policies to protect the company's interests.

2. Land Acquisition

• Lead the identification and acquisition of land for hydropower and solar projects, negotiating agreements with local communities, private owners, and stakeholders.
• Oversee thorough due diligence on identified properties, including title
  searches, environmental assessments, and site evaluations.
• Collaborate with surveyors, appraisers, and other professionals to ensure accurate property evaluations and compliance with acquisition requirements.

3. Licensing and Permitting

• Manage the permitting process to secure licenses and approvals for
  construction and operation of renewable energy projects.
• Liaise with county and national government authorities to obtain necessary permits.
• Ensure compliance with Kenyan regulatory frameworks and international best practices throughout the project lifecycle.
  

4. Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with government authorities, local communities, and other key stakeholders.
• Effectively communicate project objectives and align stakeholder
  expectations.

5. Liaison with External Legal Consultants

• Act as the primary point of contact for external legal advisors, ensuring
  efficient and cost-effective support for the company's legal matters.
• Review and provide input on legal opinions, strategies, and services proposed by external consultants.

6. Documentation and Record-Keeping

• Maintain accurate legal documentation, ensuring compliance with Kenyan laws and international standards for all legal renewable energy projects. 
• Prepare detailed reports for internal stakeholders, regulators, and investors.
• Supervise and ensure adherence to record-keeping policies within the legal department.

7. Budget and Financial Management

• Develop and manage budgets for legal operations, including land acquisition, permitting, and external legal services.
• Monitor and control legal expenses to ensure alignment with budgetary
  constraints.

8. Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation

• Identify and resolve disputes such as boundary issues, title discrepancies, labor conflicts, and compensation concerns.
• Develop and implement contingency plans to mitigate risks associated with legal, land acquisition, and permitting challenges.

9. Project Management

• Coordinate and oversee timelines for legal aspects of renewable energy
  projects, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Monitor project progress, report risks, and propose solutions to achieve
  milestones within budget and timeframe.

10. Learning & Development

• Continuously strive to develop your knowledge and skills further.
• Engage proactively with colleagues in your team and cross-functionally to improve and enhance efficiency.
• Perform any additional duties related to the above-mentioned duties and responsibilities that your supervisor may assign you.
  
  Key Skills & Competencies

1. Legal Expertise

• Deep understanding of property laws, environmental regulations, labor laws, and corporate compliance.
• Proficiency in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex contracts and agreements.
• Strong ability to interpret and apply local and international legal frameworks relevant to renewable energy.
• Meticulous attention to detail and thoroughness in ensuring legal processes contribute to operational excellence and project success.

2. Project Management Skills

• Proven ability to manage multiple legal and regulatory tasks across different projects while adhering to strict deadlines. 
• Competence in developing timelines, monitoring progress, and implementing solutions to address risks and delays. 
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones.

3. Negotiation and Communication Skills

• Exceptional negotiation skills to secure favorable agreements with
  landowners, government bodies, and other stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to convey complex legal concepts clearly and effectively.
• Ability to build and maintain trust with diverse stakeholders, including
  communities, authorities, and investors.

4. Analytical and Problem-Solving Abilities

• Sharp analytical skills to identify legal risks and devise effective mitigation strategies.
• Competence in resolving disputes, such as title issues, boundary disputes, and labor conflicts, in a fair and efficient manner. Strategic thinking to anticipate potential challenges and develop proactive legal solutions.

5. Stakeholder and Compliance Management

• Adapt at fostering relationships with regulatory authorities, ensuring smooth licensing and permitting processes. 
• Strong focus on compliance, ensuring adherence to local laws, international standards, and organizational policies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in law (LLB) and a valid practicing certificate.
• At least 7 years of legal experience, preferably in land acquisition, permitting, and corporate compliance within the renewable energy or infrastructure sectors.
• Strong knowledge of Kenyan property and labor laws
  Knowledge of environmental regulations and renewable energy frameworks is desirable.
  
  Working Hours Per Week
  40 hours.