Senior Manager, Legal Counsel - Africa

Location(s):

Nigeria

City/Cities:

Lagos

Travel Required:

Relocation Provided:

Job Posting End Date:

February 21, 2025

Shift:

Job Description Summary:

Position Overview:

This position calls for a diligent, astute, and agile legal professional who will provide critical counsel to ensure the organization's compliance and regulatory integrity. This role is pivotal in guiding the company through the intricacies of corporate law, intellectual property, compliance, and litigation, safeguarding our business, and propelling us towards our growth vision.

What You'll Do for Us:

This role will provide support and advice across the various Franchises within the Africa Operating Unit (AOU) and specific international projects.   

• Provide operational legal counselling and support and assist in problem resolution on a timely basis; work as part of cross-functional teams on projects and initiatives to drive the OU vision  
• Proactively provide legal opinion as needed, conduct legal research and where necessary, work with Legal Directors and outside counsels for advice on local laws/regulations  
• Draft, review, and negotiate legal contracts to achieve business objectives, minimize risk and ensure compliance with Company policies, laws, and regulations   
• Review and approve marketing initiatives including all labels, claims, packaging, advertising, campaigns and promotional initiatives (working in conjunction with key functions i.e. PACS, SRA, Privacy and Digital Marketing)  
• Provide as may be required litigation/dispute assessment and risk mitigation advice   
• Participate in all cross-functional projects on innovation, new product launches and development.   
• Ensure compliance with Company policy and provide proper training and support in the areas of corporate governance, including but not limited to Code of Business Conduct, Anti-Bribery Compliance, Supplier Guiding Principles, FCPA, Trade Sanctions, Data Privacy, Anti-trust and other policies.   
• Provide, where necessary, appropriate training to associates in relation to contracts, compliance, governance, litigation, trademarks, policies and procedures. 
• Provide legal and company secretarial support to subsidiaries and associated entities in Africa as may be required. Including Management and maintenance of Company’s Secretarial matters and filings including Board Meetings, Board Resolutions, Board Appointments and Resignations, liaison with Outside Counsels. 
• Manage Bottler/Distributor relationships by Facilitating all Bottler documentation: Authorized Container letters, export/import authorization etc. 
• Management of the contract life management tool “APTTUS” platform and provision of relevant support to the Associates. 
• Keeping GEMS (The repository of all information pertaining to all KO legal entities) up to date. 
• Facilitating and processing all payments made to outside counsel whilst ensuring that the Function is within the budget limit for each year. 

Functional Skills 

• Stakeholder and Client Management: Ability to determine and understand stakeholder/client perspective. Includes knowledge of methods and/or techniques used to determine and identify objectives or risk tolerance and ability to incorporate relevant business factors in making legal decisions. 
• Legal Solutions: Ability to devise legal solutions that reduce financial liability, costs, and negative publicity to acceptable levels. 
• Privacy and Data Handling: Ensure all privacy data handling practices conform to relevant privacy laws, regulations, and internal policies, and manage the collection, processing, and storage of data accordingly. 
• Business Partnership and Legal Efficiency: Provide legal support and business solutions to ensure realization of business priorities.   
• Ability to be highly organized and effective, handle multiple complex projects and carefully prioritize competing work assignments from many clients    
• Communication: Clear, concise and professional communication skills (verbal and written). 

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Approx. 5 years post qualification experience practicing law (Admitted to practice law). 
• Corporate in-house experience and knowledge of intellectual property, trademark and contractual/commercial law are desirable.  
• English language required
• Arabic/French desired
• Demonstrated expertise in providing strategic legal support particularly to digital teams, crafting and negotiating contracts, and advising on legal and regulatory matters.
• The ability to manage multiple complex projects, demonstrating excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and influence abilities, comfortable working with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders.

Skills:

Business (Corporate) Law, Compliance, Contract Negotiations, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.