About the position
The incumbent is expected to combine deep legal expertise with strong commercial acumen and investment judgement to drive transaction execution, optimise risk-adjusted returns, protect investor interests and support the achievement of the organisation's long-term strategic objectives. The role will oversee complex cross-border transactions, manage senior stakeholder relationships and contribute to investment strategy, governance and institutional leadership.
RESPONSIBILITES
Strategic Investment Leadership
- Serve as a member of transaction teams and provide leadership on complex infrastructure, energy, digital infrastructure, transport and social infrastructure investments.
- Contribute to investment strategy, portfolio construction and capital allocation decisions.
- Evaluate legal and commercial risks associated with investment opportunities and provide recommendations to executive management and Investment Committees.
- Participate in investment screening, deal origination and transaction approval processes.
Transaction Leadership
- Participate in investment screening, deal origination and transaction approval processes.
- Lead legal workstreams for high-value and complex transactions across African jurisdictions.
- Structure investments to achieve optimal commercial, legal, tax and governance outcomes.
- Lead negotiations with sponsors, lenders, governments, development finance institutions and strategic investors.
- Chair or coordinate transaction legal workstreams involving multidisciplinary teams.
Governance and Board Advisory
- Provide strategic legal advice to Boards, Board Committees and Investment Committees.
- Oversee governance frameworks across portfolio companies and investment vehicles.
- Advise on fiduciary duties, governance obligations and regulatory developments.
- Support board appointments, governance reviews and shareholder engagement processes.
Portfolio Oversight
- Lead legal oversight of portfolio companies throughout the investment lifecycle.
- Support restructurings, refinancing initiatives and strategic value creation projects.
- Manage dispute resolution, claims management and litigation strategy where required.
- Lead legal aspects of divestments, secondary transactions and exit processes.
Leadership
- Lead legal aspects of divestments, secondary transactions and exit processes Mentor and develop legal managers, investment professionals and junior legal staff.
- Mentor and develop legal managers, investment professionals and junior legal staff.
- Establish legal best practice frameworks, policies and transaction standards.
- Drive continuous improvement in transaction management processes.
- Build organisational legal capability across the investment platform.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- LLB degree (required).
- Admitted Attorney, Advocate or equivalent legal qualification.
- Postgraduate qualification in Law (LLM), Finance, Corporate Law, Infrastructure Finance or related discipline.
- Minimum 10-15 years' post-admission legal experience.
- At least 8 years leading complex infrastructure, private equity, project finance, M&A or structured finance transactions.
- Demonstrated experience in senior investment, transaction advisory, fund management, infrastructure development or private capital environments.
- Proven track record of leading multi-jurisdictional African transactions from origination through exit.
- Experience presenting recommendations to Investment Committees, Boards and Executive Committees.
- Experience managing external counsel across multiple jurisdictions and transaction workstreams.
- Demonstrated leadership experience including management of professionals and multidisciplinary teams.
Desired Skills:
- Investment Director
- Head of Legal
Desired Work Experience:
Desired Qualification Level:
