Legal Specialist at West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC)
Legal Specialist – Nairobi, Kenya
Department: Legal
Location: Nairobi
Job Objective
The Legal Specialist will support the Legal Department to
ensure robust legal risk management across commercial transactions and
regulatory compliance processes. The role is focused on contract review and
negotiation, compliance monitoring (including anti-bribery, anti-corruption,
AML, KYC/S and data protection) and supporting key departments such as
procurement and sales. The role will work closely with the Manager, Legal
Operations, internal stakeholders and external parties to uphold legal and
ethical standards in all business operations.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Support
in developing, implementing and monitoring the company’s compliance
policies, procedures and frameworks in line with applicable laws, telecom
regulations, and industry best practices
- Support
initiatives related to anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-money
laundering, data protection (including GDPR and local data laws) and
cybersecurity compliance
- Review,
draft and support the negotiation of a broad range of commercial
contracts, including vendor agreements, service level agreements, clients
contracts, NDAs and licensing arrangements. Ensure that all contracts
align with internal policies, risk frameworks, and applicable legal and
regulatory standards
- Support
the Procurement team by reviewing supplier agreements, RFIs, and RFPs to
ensure compliance with procurement policies. Assist the Sales and
Commercial teams in structuring customer agreements and navigating legal
risks in business development initiatives
- Perform
legal and regulatory compliance assessments for new partnerships, product
offerings and business transactions. Monitor and analyse legislative and
regulatory developments in the telecoms sector and advise the business on
compliance obligations and risk exposure
- Support
the implementation and monitoring of Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know
Your Supplier (KYS) due diligence processes in line with internal
protocols and applicable laws. Assist in the periodic review and updating
of KYC and supplier documentation to ensure ongoing alignment with AML/CFT
requirements
- Prepare
and maintain compliance documentation to support internal and external
audits as well as regulatory inspections. Assist in identifying gaps in
compliance processes, remediating those gaps and tracking the
implementation of corrective actions
- Support
the full contract lifecycle, including intake, review, negotiation,
approvals, execution, renewals and archiving. Maintain accurate records of
contract statuses and key obligations within the contract management
system
- Contribute
to the design and delivery of compliance training and awareness programs,
including onboarding sessions and refresher modules, to foster a strong
compliance culture across the organisation
- Provide
day-to-day legal support to business teams and assist with administrative
tasks within the legal function. This includes drafting internal legal
memoranda, supporting company secretarial tasks and assisting with
document review, filing and governance matters
Minimum Qualification
- Bachelor’s
degree in Law (LLB) from a recognised institution; Postgraduate diploma or
bar admission is an advantage
- Minimum
3-5 years’ experience in a legal or compliance role, ideally in the
telecommunications, ICT, regulated sectors, Law Firm
- Strong
understanding of contract law, commercial transactions and regulatory
frameworks (data protection, AML/CFT, competition law, etc.)
Experience & Skills:
- Experience
in reviewing, drafting and negotiating commercial contracts
- Knowledge
of KYC/KYS requirements and risk-based due diligence processes
- Familiarity
with local and international compliance standards (e.g. GDPR, ISO 27001,
FCPA, UK Bribery Act)
- Excellent
organizational skills, interpersonal skills, excellent written and verbal
communication skills and capable of simplifying technical and legal
content
- Ability
to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
- Organised
and process-driven with attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy
- Capable
of building effective working relationships across multi-disciplinary
teams
- Solutions-oriented
with a continuous improvement mindset
- Competent
in using Microsoft 365 and compliance management tools
Attributes
- Integrity,
honesty and high ethical standards
- Client-focused
with a collaborative mindset
- Boundless,
adaptable and eager to learn
- Personal
excellence and dedication to quality
- Able
to work under pressure, manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
- Professional,
and a strong team player
- Adaptable
and eager to learn, comfortable working across various compliance and
legal areas
- Strong
analytical and communication skills, capable of presenting complex
information simply and clearly
How to apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting
their updated CV including three referees. The deadline for application is on
or before 5th September 2025. Applications should be sent to applications@wiocc.net indicating
the job position in the Subject Line.