Legal Counsel Ethiopia at Unilever

Unilever

Position: Legal Counsel Ethiopia

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Permanent

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Addis Abeba - Ethiopia

Posted date: 3 months ago

Deadline: Submition date is over

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and we believe that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead, we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your future.

CATEGORY/FUNCTION INTRODUCTION

Legal Function provides legal support to business partners within the business unit/Country. We advise on all aspects of legal risk and opportunity in delivering the Business strategy and formulating legal solutions to business issues and legal challenges. This involves legal advice on core areas such as product claims, and product innovation, marketing and advertising law, regulatory and compliance matters (together with the Regulatory team), distribution, pricing, e-commerce and competition law, procurement, supply chain, factory-related legal topics, corporate governance, consumer and customer issues including quality issues/product recalls, advocacy, regulatory procedures and/or litigation arising out of any of the areas mentioned in this summary. We are frequently the first point of contact for questions from business colleagues regarding intellectual property, brand protection, privacy /data protection law, and competition law and typically handle those in close collaboration with expertise / specialist colleagues within the legal team. We also negotiate key contracts including agency, sponsorship, distribution, endorsements, events, partnerships, and talent agreements.

JOB PURPOSE

Find your purpose at Unilever. You will lead innovations, big and small, that will make our business win and grow. You will learn from brilliant business leaders and colleagues in a truly global and diverse culture to ultimately become a better you. If you are

The role holder will be responsible for legal business partnering with the Ethiopia business with accountability for delivering timely, competent, and efficient legal services. S/he will provide legal counsel and advice to the Business and proactively scan for legal risks to identify, avoid, mitigate, or manage them and drive proactive response to legal trends that may affect the business.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

Interfaces with; -

Internal – Leadership Teams, Regional Legal Teams, Corporate Affairs, Regulatory teams

External – Company Registrars, External counsel and other third parties, Government agencies

1. Legal Advisory

• In consultation with the General Counsel, to provide legal advice to Functional and category teams as required from time to time.
• Guide the appropriate steps to take when issues arise which have legal implications for the business.

2. Commercial contracts and documentation

• Participate in the negotiation, drafting/review, and approval of all material contracts.
• Ensure that all key Unilever contracts are legally compliant and Unilever interests are adequately safeguarded.
• Ensure that contracts are properly documented, executed, and recorded for safekeeping.
• Be the point of contact for the collation of information and advice for competitors’ challenges in Unilever Ethiopia

3. Legal compliance

• Monitor changes to law and promptly inform all relevant Teams of the changes and provide suggestions on how to meet any change in the legal requirements.
• Ensure that all permits, and licenses, are valid and that all conditions are complied with.

4. Litigation support & General Legal duties

• Be actively involved in potential litigation and ensure that Unilever’s interests are protected.
• Assist, coordinate, and be involved in mergers, disposals, strategic alliances, and acquisitions of Unilever companies or joint ventures.
• Participate, assist, and liaise with corporate functional departments on technical service fee agreements, licensing, and assignments as well as in dealing with third parties in matters of conflict and settlement.
• Maintain good relationships with central and local government authorities and agencies that are relevant to Unilever's business interests and which are within the remit of the legal department.
• Manage legal implications of consumer complaints.

5. Company Secretarial duties

• Carry out statutory/regulatory duties prescribed for Company Secretary and all such duties as may be delegated to it by the Board of Directors from time to time.
• Provide a central source of guidance and advice to the Board and the Company on matters of ethics, conflict of interest, and good corporate governance.

Experiences & Qualifications

• Must be a holder of a bachelor’s degree in law (LLB)
• Master’s Degree an added advantage
• Registered with respective legal council / Society with a valid certificate.
• Membership of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (added advantage)
• At least 3-5 years of relevant working experience in a Corporate or private practice
• Proven knowledge and experience in commercial law & practice.
• Good understanding and working knowledge of corporate law, competition law, intellectual property law, Ethiopian laws and regulations, company secretary experience, and related disciplines.

Skills

• Risk Management
• Litigation
• Decision Making
• Problem-Solving
• Business Acumen
• Stakeholder Management
• Collaboration
• External Communication
• Ability to work as a Business Partner within the business and with other sub-regional and regional lawyers.
• Excellent communication skills (oral & written)
• Good Negotiation skills.
• Attention to detail and Analytical skills

Leadership

• You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team delivers with real passion, growing and learning from each other whilst delivering quick wins.
• You are still responsible for your results and as a manager, you also need to motivate others to deliver with passion, creating an inclusive and engaging climate around you. You can balance challenges with support and coaching. You understand the wider business context and you are emotionally intelligent enough to motivate people to deliver what is needed.

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors

• PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations, and build empathy for others.
• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.
• TALENT CATALYST: Invests in people – coaches individuals and teams to realize their full potential. Creates an inclusive climate, empowering everyone to be at their best.
• PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, and understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.
• CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
• BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life! This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.