Job Title: Head of Legal & Company Secretary (1)

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Department: Executive
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Job Type: Full-time

1. Role Summary

The Head of Legal & Company Secretary is a key governance advisor and legal steward for Ecofleet, ensuring the company operates within a robust legal and regulatory framework. The role provides legal counsel to the Board and Executive Management, oversees statutory compliance, and manages all legal risks. This position also ensures effective corporate governance and supports strategic initiatives through legal structuring, contracting, and risk mitigation.

2. Scope of the Role

The role spans corporate governance, legal advisory, compliance management, and institutional risk oversight. Key scope areas include:

• Board Governance & Secretarial Support: Managing Board meetings, statutory filings, and corporate governance processes.
• Legal Advisory & Risk Mitigation: Providing strategic legal advice on contracts, projects, and business operations.
• Contract Management: Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating high-value contracts and MoUs with vendors, partners, and regulators.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring the company meets all local and international laws, industry regulations, and licensing requirements.
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation Management: Managing disputes, liaising with external counsel, and safeguarding company interests.
• Institutional Integrity & Ethics: Promoting legal and ethical standards across Ecofleet operations.
• Team Leadership: Leading the Legal Affairs & Compliance unit and supporting cross-functional governance frameworks.

3. Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Secretary to the Board and Board Committees, ensuring proper governance procedures and records.
• Provide strategic legal counsel to the CEO and executive team on all legal matters.
• Lead legal due diligence for strategic partnerships, investments, and public-private engagements.
• Oversee regulatory compliance, including licensing, ESG, data privacy, and transport regulations.
• Manage contract lifecycle, from drafting and negotiation to execution and renewal.
• Lead legal risk assessments and advise on legal implications of strategic decisions.
• Liaise with external legal advisors and represent Ecofleet in legal proceedings.
• Develop internal policies to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations.
• Promote a culture of transparency, ethics, and accountability throughout the company.

4. Indicators of Success

• Fully compliant statutory and regulatory posture with no major legal breaches or fines.
• Functioning governance framework with timely and well-documented Board meetings.
• Legal risk proactively managed and mitigated in key contracts and business decisions.
• Contracts and agreements reflect the best interests of Ecofleet and support strategic goals.
• Disputes and legal proceedings effectively handled with minimal financial and reputational risk.
• Internal compliance systems and policy manuals developed and embedded.

5. Working Relationships

Internal

• CEO & Executive Leadership: Legal counsel and corporate governance alignment.
• CFO: Financial compliance, funding agreements, and procurement due diligence.
• COO: Legal support on operations, vendor management, and regulatory compliance.
• CDXO & CSEO: Contractual arrangements, compliance, data governance, and partnerships.
• HR & Admin: Labour law and disciplinary actions.

External

• Regulators (RURA, RDB, RRA, etc.): Legal compliance and licensing.
• Legal Counsel & Law Firms: External legal advisory and litigation support.
• Partners & Vendors: Negotiation of contracts and legal frameworks for joint initiatives.
• Government Entities: For legal review of public-private agreements and policy adherence..

6. Core Competencies & Skills

• Strong knowledge of corporate, contract, public, and regulatory law.
• Expertise in governance, risk, and compliance frameworks (GRC).
• Exceptional negotiation, drafting, and advisory skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to advise on high-stakes decisions.
• Strong ethics, discretion, and commitment to institutional integrity.
• Team leadership, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

7. Values & Cultural Fit

• Upholds the highest standards of legal ethics and governance.
• Values transparency, accountability, and public impact.
• Supports responsible innovation through proactive legal guidance.
• Collaborative and pragmatic problem-solver.
• Champions a rights-based and compliant approach to business operations.

8. Qualifications & Experience

Minimum:

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Advocate of the High Council.
• 7+ years of in legal advisory, corporate compliance, and governance; preferably in a regulated or public-interest organization.
• Experience in corporate law, contracts, and public sector compliance.

Preferred:

• Master’s in Law (LLM), Corporate Governance, or Business Law.
• Experience in infrastructure, energy, transport, or climate finance sectors.
• Knowledge of donor frameworks and public-private partnerships.

 

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV/Resume, Motivation Letter, and Academic Records (degrees, diplomas, and certificates) combined into one single PDF document.

All applications must be sent via email to info@ecofleet.rw.

Please ensure that the subject line of your email clearly states the title of the position you are applying for.

The deadline for submitting applications is 26th February 2025.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the advertisement earlier once suitable candidates have been identified.