Strategic Legal & Governance Associate

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The purpose of the Legal and Governance Associate role is to strengthen the organisation's legal, governance, and compliance capacity by providing high-level technical support to the Head: Legal and Ethics, and Head: Governance and Compliance. The role ensures sound legal risk management, continuity of corporate memory, effective governance operations, and improved quality of stakeholder engagements. It further supports the execution of key strategic and operational workstreams under both the Legal, Ethics, Regulatory and Corporate Governance portfolios. This role also supports the team to pro-actively develop, execute and monitor procedures and processes.

Reports to

Dual reporting line to - Head: Legal and Ethics and Head: Governance and Compliance

Level of work required

D Lower

Direct reports

None

0

Objectives

1 Legal Support

• Conduct legal research and prepare well-reasoned legal opinions, memoranda, and reports.
• Support legal and regulatory workstreams, including long-running and cross-functional legal projects.
• Assist with contract lifecycle management, including drafting, vetting, negotiation support, and maintaining contract registers.
• Provide support on legal and ethics risk assessments and monitoring of regulatory changes relevant to Discovery Health Medical Scheme.

2 Governance Support

• Act as a support resource on internal governance processes and frameworks.
• Draft and review governance documentation including policies, charters, terms of reference, procedures, and compliance reports.
• Conduct periodic reviews of governance / ethical best practices and benchmark organisational processes accordingly.
• Manage stakeholder inquiries relating to governance processes, administrative requirements, and board procedures.

3 Board and Executive Support

• Represent the Head: Legal and Ethics at operational, governance, and stakeholder meetings as required.
• Prepare briefing notes, as well as verbal and written submissions for Board and Committees.
• Ensure the preservation and continuity of corporate memory for the Board and the Scheme Office, including records management, document tracking, and knowledge archiving.
• Provide support to the Executive team on governance and compliance related matters.
• The role is also responsible for drafting some contracts and agreements.

4 Project and Stakeholder Management

• Drive and manage several long-running legal, ethics, regulatory and governance-related projects to completion.
• Support cross-functional teams with governance alignment and compliance integration.
• Facilitate effective engagements with internal and external stakeholders on legal, governance, and administrative issues.

Experience required

• Minimum 4 years post-admission experience in legal practice corporate governance and / or an in-house legal environment.
• Demonstrated exposure to Board governance, company secretariat functions, compliance frameworks, and/or legal advisory services
• Strong legislative research and drafting experience.

Qualification(s) required

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent.
• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.

Knowledge required

• Sound knowledge of relevant legislation, corporate governance codes, and compliance standards.
• Ability to prepare and present high-quality reports and submissions.
• Contract drafting, vetting and management capabilities.

Skills required

• Strong drafting, analytical, and interpretation skills.
• Negotiation and relationship management skills with the ability to diplomatically interface with colleagues and third parties in the best interest of the Scheme
• Agility - ability to manage fast-changing work requirements and respond quickly and appropriately.
• Ability to work with cross functional teams
• Ability to function well in a high-stress environment without impacting
• Need to be skilled in managing self and supporting others during periods of high pressure
• High level of professional judgment, discretion, and acting with the utmost integrity.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Organisational, planning, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

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