The role of the Program Legal Associate, East Africa, is a fixed-term contract position based in Nairobi, reporting to the Program Legal Counsel in Canada and the East Africa Legal Counsel. This role is crucial for providing legal support across all program activities, ensuring smooth delivery while maintaining strict adherence to internal and external regulatory and donor requirements. The successful candidate will deliver timely and relevant legal advice, collaborate closely with internal teams, and coordinate effectively with outside counsel to manage overall organizational risk.
Principal Areas of Accountability
1. Compliance
The Associate will collaborate with the Program Legal Counsel and East Africa Legal Counsel to ensure that Acumen Canada activities comply with Canadian laws and that AEA activities comply with Kenyan laws, including maintaining the legal status of local entities. Responsibilities include:
- Coordinating timely governmental filings and registrations.
- Developing and implementing appropriate policies.
- Keeping abreast of regulatory developments.
- Liaising with outside counsel and memorializing guidance.
- Rolling out compliance recommendations and advising programme teams accordingly.
2. Programme Process Implementation
To optimize efficiency and scale, the role involves working with the Program Legal Counsel to implement and maintain adherence to internal processes designed to ensure the Programme’s compliance with Canadian laws and donor requirements. Specific responsibilities may include:
- Conducting due diligence assessments.
- Collaborating with teams to answer questions and resolve deviations from the process.
3. Contract Review
You will work with the Program Legal Counsel and the East Africa Legal Counsel on contract drafting and review for all programme activities. The scope covers charitable and commercial issues, including general contract law, intellectual property, data privacy, employment, governance, and formation matters.
- Familiarity with legal issues specific to Kenya is required.
- The role will be expected to become familiar with relevant legal issues specific to Canada, in collaboration with the Program Legal Counsel.
4. Deal Documentation & Coordination
In collaboration with the East Africa Legal Counsel, you will support the AEA investing team on Acumen’s early-stage equity, debt, and other investments. Support includes:
- Assisting with conducting due diligence.
- Managing timely deal processes across various internal and external stakeholders.
- Drafting and reviewing investment documentation.
- Coordinating with outside counsel.
- Assisting with regulatory approvals and filings.
- Supporting the East Africa Legal Counsel in providing necessary legal advice during the pre- and post-investment stages.
5. Project Management
The role requires supporting the Program Legal Counsel and the East Africa Legal Counsel in developing and implementing various projects on behalf of the programme. Key aspects include:
- Collaborating with colleagues across functions.
- Self-discipline and problem-solving to progress in the face of uncertainty.
- Assisting in creating milestones toward timely execution.
- Supporting initiatives to improve processes, including developing templates, tools, and resources in collaboration with programmatic teams.
- Successfully juggling multiple workstreams simultaneously, proactively managing priorities, and consistently ensuring deadlines are met.
Qualifications and Skills
Essential Qualifications:
- Minimum 2 years experience practicing transactional law and supporting legal projects across various stakeholders.
- BA/BSc/HND qualification (A Bachelor's degree or equivalent).
- Permanently authorized to work in Kenya, with a license to practice law.
Required Skills and Attributes:
- Ability to assess potential legal liabilities associated with various business activities and support the implementation of risk management protocols.
- Ability to navigate ambiguity, help simplify complex issues, and contribute to practical and creative solutions.
- Ability to work proactively and under pressure, as well as support projects to completion.
- Ability to stay organized and keep stakeholders in the loop. Good project management and stakeholder management skills.
- Familiarity with financial concepts and instruments, investment vehicles, investments, acquisitions, and similar transactions.
- Strong organizational and diplomacy skills, including excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Commitment to accuracy, attention to detail and follow-through.
- Amenable to working with different time zones in an efficient manner.
- Commitment to, and enthusiasm for, the organization’s mission and business model.
- Ability to remain cool-headed in unexpected or emotionally charged situations, using pragmatism to stay focused on the greater goal, and withstanding the tests of a rapidly changing environment with resilience, resolve, empathy and humor.
- Self reflective and aligned with Acumen values.
Desired Experience (A plus):
- Familiarity with venture capital investing.
- In-house experience.
- Experience with non-profit and/or investment regulations and compliance.
