Uganda: Governance and Legal Advisor

Title:                                       Governance and Legal Advisor

Location:                              National Office, Kampala

Reporting to:                       National Director

Purpose of the position:

The purpose of this position is threefold; (a) to ensure that World Vision Uganda Board fulfills its governance function and is facilitated through Board developments and effective processes to meet the World Vision International Partnership Governance standards and milestones**; (b)** to ensure all statutory and regulatory compliance by World Vision Uganda; and c) to facilitate the smooth running of the office of the National Director through the timely execution of specific projects and assignments aligned with the goals of World Vision Uganda.

Main responsibilities:

Management of Board Affairs

·         Organize, prepare documentation, and record minutes of Board Meetings and Sub Committee Meetings.

·         Provide legal guidance to the Board.

·         Follow up on Board resolutions made during the Board meetings and ensure that they are implemented in a timely manner.

• Organize for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the organization.


• Facilitate the implementation of the Annual Board Work plan, and Board Development Plan.


• Organize and Coordinate Board Field visits.


• Facilitate the process of Board Member recruitment, induction, orientation and development.

·         Supporting the conducting of the annual board performance assessment and ensure results are integrated in the Board development plan.

• Compile monthly, biannual reports and Ministry updates to the National Board and World Vision International Board.


• Maintain statutory books, including minute books, registers of members, directors and secretaries.


• Ensure compliance with all filing requirements of the registrar.

Internal Legal Support

• Provide support to divisions with regard to legal related issues.


• Manage the contracts process, including negotiations, dispute resolution, commercial property acquisitions and leases, vendor agreements, construction agreements, service level agreements, framework agreements, cooperation agreements, Memorandum of Understanding, and Sub granting agreements


• Provide legal assistance and advice on all legal matters pertaining to World Vision Uganda’s operations and business, particularly procurement and disposal, employment, partnerships, interpretation and application of the Companies Act, NGO Act and Regulations and other relevant legislation.


• Conducting legal due diligence on procurement, employment transactions that the organization intends to enter into.


• Coordinate and manage the working relationship with the external legal counsel.

·         Identifying, managing and mitigating legal risk in all transactions that the organization intends to enter into.

• Striving for speedy resolution through mediation and negotiation.


• Monitor and advice on changes in relevant legislation and the regulatory environment, and taking appropriate action.


• Continuously monitoring compliance with organizational policies, standards and procedures as well as the legal and regulatory framework and advising management accordingly.

·         Provide legal advice and support to strategic committees such as Procurement Committee, Building Committee, Disciplinary Committee, National Child Protection Committee, etc.

·         Maintain statutory books, including registers of members, directors and secretaries and ensuring compliance with all filing requirements of the registrar.

Support to the National Director’s Office

Strategic Management and Engagement

• Develop and ensure implementation of the AOP for the ND’s Office.


• Facilitate the process of budgeting for the National Director’s Office.


• Participate in strategic engagements affecting ND’s office.


• Attend and participate in governance fora.

Communication and Information Management

·     Deal with correspondences, collating information and writing reports.

·     Ensure decisions made are communicated to staff, partners and relevant stakeholders.

·      Provide support to the ND on key assignments and public relations engagements.

·      Provide communication continuity in the absence of the substantive ND and support acting directors in this regard.

Senior Leadership Team Support

·      Organize and take minutes of the Senior Leadership Team

·      Attend Senior Management Team Meetings

·      Follow up implementation of management action items arising from SLT meetings

Reporting

·      Compile monthly, biannual reports and operations updates for the ND’s review and presentation to the Board within the stipulated timelines.

·      Coordinate submission of the divisional monthly management reports for compilation of the monthly management report to the East Africa regional office.

Qualifications:  Education/Knowledge/Technical Skills and Experience

·         A Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognized University

·         A Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Law Development Centre

·         At least 4 years of post-qualification experience

·         ICSA certification is an added advantage

·         Knowledge of the Government of Uganda Laws, Regulations and Principles of Corporate Governance

·         An understanding of how to work with and effectively support the governance function

·         Must be capable of managing one’s own work with minimum supervision

·         Capacity to initiate and complete tasks

·         High-level conceptual and analytical skills

·         Strong facilitation skills

·         Results oriented

·         Ability to execute tasks within the set deadlines and with minimum supervision

·         Very strong relational and communication skills

·         Commitment to World Vision mission and partnership values and sensitivity to its various expressions across cultures and denominations