Assistant Director, Legal Services

Role Overview

The Assistant Director, Legal Services at The Open University of Kenya is responsible for providing comprehensive legal counsel and support to the University Council and management. This senior role involves managing all legal matters, ensuring statutory and regulatory compliance, overseeing litigation, drafting legal documents, and developing institutional policies.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Providing legal advice on contractual, statutory, and regulatory obligations binding on the University, and advising the Council on its legal duties and governance responsibilities.
2. Drafting, reviewing, and managing all University contracts, conveyancing matters, and litigation, and ensuring representation of the University before courts and other legal fora.
3. Leading the development, review, harmonization, and implementation of University laws, policies, regulations, codes, rules, guidelines, and agreements to ensure consistency with the University mandate and applicable laws.
4. Managing and monitoring all litigation matters, including liaising with external advocates to ensure effective legal representation and timely resolution of cases.
5. Establishing and maintaining systems for documenting enforcement and compliance activities, and developing legal accountability frameworks for University personnel.
6. Providing legal opinions, interpretation of laws, and legal training to staff, and disseminating relevant legal requirements across the University.
7. Coordinating the formulation and implementation of legal services policies, strategies, procedures, and guidelines.
8. Reviewing internal and external requests requiring legal approval to ensure legal soundness, advising accordingly, and overseeing proper implementation.
9. Managing the University’s Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms.
10. Maintaining and updating the University’s conflict of interest and gifts registers, and ensuring timely filing of statutory and annual returns with relevant authorities.
11. Overseeing authentication of documents issued to or held by the University as collateral, securities, or loan support documents, and handling related conveyancing matters.
12. Coordinating legal research, investigations, preparation of witnesses, and other pre-trial and hearing activities.
13. Maintaining up-to-date records of gazetted matters and legal notices affecting the University.
14. Ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements through periodic legal and compliance audits.
15. Spearheading the development and implementation of departmental work plans, budgets, performance contracts, quality management systems, and performance contracting processes.
16. Coordinating legal audits and ensuring institutional compliance with governance standards, ethical requirements, and best practices.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

For appointment to this grade, one MUST have:

• Master’s Degree in any of the following disciplines: Law, Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution.
• Be a holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from an accredited and recognized university.
• At least six (6) years of relevant work experience with at least three (3) years in grade 12 or equivalent.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies from the Kenya School of Law.
• Admitted as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
• Must have a valid practicing license.
• Supervisory course lasting for at least two (2) weeks cumulatively.
• Registered as a member of the Law Society of Kenya in good standing.
• Proficiency in computer applications.

Institutional Context

The Open University of Kenya (OUK) aims to address the pressing issue of limited capacity in traditional universities by employing innovative teaching and learning methodologies, including online and distance education. By leveraging technology and flexible learning modes, the university seeks to accommodate a larger number of qualified students. Note that the Terms of Service will be either Permanent and Pensionable OR Contract, as shall be determined by the University Council. OUK is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants with degrees from foreign Universities MUST attach letter(s) of recognition from the Commission for University Education (CUE) as part of the application document. Compliance with Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya will be upheld.