Ol Pejeta is the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa, and home to three of the world’s last remaining northern white rhino. It is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees, in a Sanctuary established to rehabilitate animals rescued from the black market. It has some of the highest predator densities in Kenya and operates as a leading non-profit organization dedicated to conservation and community development.
Role Summary
The Legal Counsel will be responsible for offering guidance, legal advice, and support to the Senior Leadership Team and the organization at large. The overarching purpose of this position is to guarantee that the conservancy is legally protected and capable of carrying out its job successfully by creating and maintaining a viable legal framework for the organization.
Responsibilities
Contract Review & Legal Documentation: Review, draft, and approve contracts, MOUs, SLAs, consultancy agreements, supplier contracts, and partnership agreements. Ensure contracts adequately protect the Conservancy from legal, financial, and reputational risks. Maintain a central legal contract register with key terms, expiry dates, and risk flags. Advise departments on contract interpretation and enforcement.
Litigation Management: Coordinate all litigation matters involving the Conservancy. Liaise with external advocates, insurers, regulators, and courts. Track legal cases, costs, timelines, and outcomes of court cases and prepare periodic litigation status reports for management. Recommend to management cost-effective out-of-court settlements where appropriate.
Labour & Employment Relations: Advise the human capital department and other departments on various HR processes (e.g., disciplinary cases, grievances, terminations, suspensions, and appeals) in line with the Employment Act, CBA provisions, and Internal Policies. Support management in labour disputes, union engagements, conciliations, and court cases. Ensure alignment of HR practices with labour laws, prevailing CBAs, and best industrial relations standards.
Provision of Legal Advisory: Advise and guide the conservancy on a wide range of legal issues, including contracts, compliance with laws and regulations, and internal policies, to ensure the organization operates within legal frameworks and safeguards its interests.
Compliance Monitoring: Ensure adherence to local, regional, and international laws, including environmental and conservation laws; monitor compliance with donor and stakeholder requirements and mitigate risks. Stay informed about legal developments and changes in legislation that may affect the Conservancy’s operations.
Policy Development and Training: Develop and implement policies to reduce legal risks and enhance compliance while educating employees regularly on legal concerns and best practices to promote a culture of accountability.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with internal and external teams, government agencies, and community partners to address legal needs and provide timely resolutions to legal issues impacting the conservancy.
Legal Risk Management: Evaluate legal risks associated with the conservancy’s operations and provide actionable recommendations to protect the organization from potential legal liabilities.
Data Protection & Regulatory Compliance: Support compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2019; advise on data breaches, investigations, and mitigation actions; and support compliance with regulatory bodies.
Board and Committee Meeting Coordination: Assist in planning and coordinating all Board and Committee meetings, including scheduling meeting dates in consultation with Chairpersons and relevant executives. Prepare and circulate meeting notices, agendas, and supporting documentation. Ensure all board papers and committee reports are compiled and distributed prior to meetings.
Additional Duties: Carry out any other additional duties as may be assigned from time to time.
Qualifications, Experience and Skills
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB).
Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
Must be an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Experience
Minimum of three (3) years of experience post-admission to the bar.
Skills
Strong knowledge of contract law, environmental law, and regulatory compliance.
Excellent legal research and analytical skills.
Strong communication, drafting, and negotiation skills.
Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Familiarity with the conservation and nonprofit sectors is an added advantage.
