Head of Legal

Our client is a well-established, globally diversified market leader operating across the agriculture, mining, and specialized manufacturing sectors. With an operational footprint spanning over 25 countries and distribution reaching across the globe, they are recognized for pioneering sustainable, purpose-driven solutions that tackle critical global challenges in food security and industrial progress. They offer a collaborative, values-led corporate culture committed to innovation, ethical excellence, and empowering their people to drive meaningful long-term impact.

Job Description:

As the Head of Legal, you will act as the principal legal advisor and trusted strategic counsel to senior executive leadership across dynamic, global business units. Based at the head office in Fourways, Johannesburg, this role sits at the intersection of commercial growth, enterprise risk, and corporate governance.

In this position, you will lead the legal function, shape long-term legal strategies, steer high-value M&A initiatives, and protect the commercial and intellectual assets of a diversified market pioneer. This is an exceptional opportunity for a commercially astute legal professional to make an indelible mark on cross-border transactions, modern governance practices, and sustainable business transformation.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Legal Counsel: Serve as the primary legal advisor to Executive and Divisional Leadership, aligning legal strategies with commercial targets and enterprise-level risk frameworks.
• Corporate Governance: Champion sound governance practices across operating entities, ensuring rigorous adherence to the Companies Act, King IV/V frameworks, and corporate delegation authorities.
• Commercial Contracting: Direct the drafting, negotiation, and execution of high-value, complex commercial contracts, joint venture agreements, and strategic partnership deals.
• M&A and Strategic Transactions: Spearhead legal due diligence, transaction structuring, document negotiation, and post-deal integration for mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments.
• Regulatory Compliance: Steer proactive compliance programs across local and cross-border jurisdictions, navigating changing regulatory landscapes and liaising with regulatory bodies.
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Formulate dispute-resolution strategies to mitigate commercial exposure and effectively manage external panel counsel and legal budgets.
• Intellectual Property Management: Oversee the protection, registration, and commercial exploitation of key IP assets, proprietary technologies, and brand trademarks.
• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and build internal legal capability, fostering a culture of continuous learning, professional excellence, and proactive commercial enablement.

Requirements:

Must-Haves

• Education: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or equivalent legal qualification.
• Professional Admission: Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
• Post-Qualification Experience: Minimum of 10 to 15 years of post-qualification legal experience.
• Leadership Track Record: At least 5 years' operating successfully in a senior legal management or leadership role.
• Core Legal Competencies: Proven expertise across commercial contract negotiation, corporate governance, legal risk mitigation, M&A due diligence, and dispute management.
• Strategic & Interpersonal Acumen: Exceptional executive presence, influence, commercial judgment, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice-to-Haves

• Postgraduate Education: Master of Laws (LLM) or postgraduate qualifications in Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Compliance, Governance, or Business Administration.
• Sector Exposure: Prior experience within agriculture, mining, chemicals, manufacturing, or heavy industrial sectors.
• Listed & Cross-Border Experience: Working knowledge of JSE-listed compliance requirements and legal exposure to multi-jurisdictional pan-African operations.

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