Introduction

Level: Executive Leadership | Executive Committee

The Opportunity

An exceptional executive opportunity is available for an experienced General Counsel & Ethics Officer to lead and transform the legal, ethics and compliance function of an international organisation operating within the energy and infrastructure sectors. This strategic leadership role requires a commercially astute legal professional who can balance business growth with robust corporate governance, regulatory compliance, ethical leadership and risk management.

As a member of the local Executive Committee, you will act as a trusted business partner to senior leadership while safeguarding corporate integrity, ensuring compliance with international Group standards and strengthening the organisation's legal and ethics framework.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a strategic legal executive who combines technical legal expertise with commercial judgement, ethical leadership and a strong transformation mindset. You will be comfortable operating at Executive Committee level, enabling business decisions while maintaining uncompromising governance standards. You will also have the credibility to influence senior stakeholders, develop teams, embed sustainable processes and drive the modernisation of the legal and ethics function through technology and AI.

The successful candidate will bring extensive legal leadership experience, strong knowledge of the energy and infrastructure industries, and a proven ability to drive organisational transformation, develop high-performing teams and modernise legal operations through digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Legal Strategy & Regulatory Affairs

• Provide strategic legal advice on corporate law, commercial transactions, regulatory matters, contractual arrangements and business operations.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial contracts, construction agreements, project documentation and other legal instruments.
• Advise on construction law, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), project finance and infrastructure development.
• Manage litigation, commercial disputes and relationships with external legal counsel.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess their impact on business operations.

Corporate Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the local legal, ethics and compliance function.
• Ensure alignment with international Group policies, corporate governance frameworks, regulatory requirements and listed-company standards.
• Identify, assess and mitigate legal, regulatory, commercial and operational risks.
• Establish and maintain effective internal controls, risk management processes and compliance reporting.
• Report on legal, governance, ethics and compliance matters to relevant Group stakeholders.

Ethics & Integrity

• Develop and oversee ethics and compliance programmes, including anti-corruption, data privacy, sanctions and embargo compliance.
• Promote ethical conduct, corporate integrity and a strong compliance culture through training, communication and awareness initiatives.
• Manage ethics investigations, whistleblower reports, complaints and related procedures.
• Ensure consistent application of internal policies, ethical standards and applicable legislation.

Executive Business Partnering

• Serve as a trusted legal and strategic advisor to the Country Manager, Executive Committee and operational leadership.
• Provide commercially focused legal guidance that enables business development, project execution and sustainable growth.
• Bridge local operational requirements with international Group policies and governance expectations.
• Advise on legal and regulatory developments affecting renewable energy, conventional power generation and infrastructure projects.
• Build effective relationships with government authorities, regulators, project partners, EPC contractors, suppliers, offtakers and other key stakeholders.

People Leadership & Organisational Transformation

• Lead, develop and motivate a multidisciplinary legal and ethics team comprising senior, mid-level and junior legal professionals, a paralegal and an ethics officer.
• Build a high-performance culture centred on accountability, technical excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Transform and embed sustainable legal, ethics and compliance processes across the organisation.
• Drive digital transformation within the legal function, promoting the effective adoption of LegalTech, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital workflow solutions.
• Strengthen operational efficiency, process standardisation and the long-term capability of the legal and ethics function.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Minimum Requirements

• Master's Degree in Business Law – mandatory.
• 10–15 years' experience in legal, ethics and compliance functions, including senior leadership responsibilities.
• Extensive experience within the energy and infrastructure sectors, including renewable energy and conventional power generation.
• Strong knowledge of corporate law, regulatory compliance, corporate governance and international compliance standards.
• In-depth knowledge of construction law and practices.
• Demonstrable expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), project finance and commercial contracting.
• Experience working within an international organisation, listed company or complex matrix structure.
• Proven ability to establish, transform and lead a legal, ethics and compliance function.
• Experience implementing governance frameworks, internal controls, risk management processes and ethics programmes.
• Strong executive stakeholder management, negotiation, communication and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage organisational change.
• A commercially minded approach, with the ability to balance business objectives against legal, regulatory and ethical obligations.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Willingness to travel within South Africa and to Europe on an ad hoc basis.

Advantageous Experience

• Greenfield energy and infrastructure project development.
• Renewable energy projects, independent power production and conventional power generation.
• Infrastructure construction contracts, EPC agreements and project development transactions.
• Legal technology implementation, AI adoption and digital transformation of legal operations.
• Experience aligning local legal and compliance requirements with international Group governance standards.

Package & Remuneration

Competitive Market Related Salary

Interested?