Organisation Context
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is an international not-for-profit organization designed to facilitate and promote public/private partnerships for the access, development and delivery of appropriate agricultural technologies that meet the needs of farmers in Africa. Through its catalytic and facilitative role, AATF acts as the neutral intermediary and responsible party between owners and holders of such technologies and those that need them to promote food security and enhance livelihoods for farmers in Africa. AATF was incorporated in the United Kingdom in January 2003, in Kenya on April 2003 (Headquarters) and in Nigeria in October 2009 (Regional Headquarters). It was also registered as a charity under the laws of England and Wales in January 2005.
Overall Purpose
Under the direct supervision of the Director Legal Affairs, the Legal Officer is responsible for providing legal support to the Foundation and its new start-up ventures.
The Legal Officer is expected to work in close collaboration with all AATF departments, partner organizations and relevant government entities to ensure that AATF is compliant with the laws of the countries we operate in.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts for AATF and its subsidiaries on the Contract Lifecycle Management System;
- Managing intellectual property matters on the Intellectual Property Management System;
- Providing training for all staff and partners on Intellectual Property Management & Project Compliance
- Preparing legal advisory opinions,
- Conducting Legal research and analysis; and
- Coordinating the Department’s Shared Legal Services.
- Providing legal and board secretarial services to the AATF’s start-up subsidiaries
Key Skills & Competencies
- Self-driven individual with a passion and flair for helping organizations succeed;
- Good writing and communication skills;
- Excellent IT skills particularly data management and processing packages;
- Ability to work in a professionally and culturally diverse setting;
- Ability and willingness to learn and quickly adapt;
- Team player with strong interpersonal and leadership skills; Strong analytical skills.
- Ability to produce consistently high-quality work in an intensely pressurized office environment.
- Ability to maintain high standards of integrity; establish straightforward, productive relationships, treating individuals with fairness and respect, demonstrating sensitivity for ethnic, cultural and gender differences.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of privileged information and to ensure absolute discretion and sensitivity to confidential matters.
Minimum Qualifications & Experience
- Masters of Law (LL.M) degree from a recognized university. A Masters degree or certification in Intellectual Property Law is an added advantage;
- Post-graduate Diploma in Legal Studies from the Kenya School of Law;
- Advocate of the High Court of Kenya;
- Be of good standing and possess the Law Society of Kenya Practicing Certificate;5 years’ experience in a busy legal set up; Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of French is an added advantage.
How to apply
Submission of Applications
Qualified candidates are invited to send their applications on or before 28 April 2023 to
aatf-hr@aatf-africa.org and clearly indicate on the email subject Legal Officer. Candidates are encouraged to visit ou website https://www.aatf-africa.org/vacancy-announcement-legal-officer/ to obtain the full job profile. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
AATF is an equal opportunity employer; committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious and ethnic backgrounds and any other diversity groups to apply and become a part of our organization.