Head of Legal

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Legal is Hulamin's primary in-house legal counsel and the legal architect of the company's commercial strategy. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the role provides the Board and executive leadership with practical, commercially sound legal advice across corporate, contract, labour, commercial, and regulatory matters. The incumbent manages high-value local and international commercial agreements, directs litigation and dispute resolution, and develops settlement strategies that protect the company's reputation and balance sheet. It demands a resilient, collaborative professional with the gravitas and executive presence to engage the Board, investors, regulators, and commercial counterparts across jurisdictions.

The core responsibilities of the position include:

Legal Advisory, Litigation & Risk Management

• Provide the CEO, EXCO, and Board with strategic legal advice across all areas of corporate, commercial, labour, regulatory, and governance law.
• Deliver timely legal opinions on rights, obligations, and risks, including business expansions, restructuring, and divestitures.
• Manage external counsel and legal spend, direct disputes and arbitration, and monitor legal and regulatory developments.

Contract Management & Commercial Legal Support

• Own the full lifecycle of Hulamin's contract portfolio, from drafting and negotiation to execution, renewal, and termination.
• Draft and negotiate high-value local and international agreements, including cross-border partnerships and transaction documentation.
• Maintain a suite of standard contract templates and support procurement, finance, operations, and sales with commercial legal guidance.

Compliance & Regulatory Management

• Serve as Group Compliance Officer and POPIA Information Officer, ensuring adherence to the Companies Act, Competition Act, POPIA, B-BBEE, and employment law.
• Maintain the compliance register and risk matrix, and report to EXCO and the Audit & Risk Committee.
• Manage regulatory inspections, the Ethics Policy, and Code of Business Conduct, and deliver compliance training.

Labour Law & Employment Relations

• Advise HR, line management, and EXCO on discipline, grievances, retrenchment, collective bargaining, and trade union negotiations.
• Draft employment contracts, restraints of trade, and settlement agreements, and represent Hulamin at the CCMA and Labour Court.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Special Projects

• Provide legal support on mergers, acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures, including due diligence and transaction documentation.
• Coordinate Competition Commission filings and advise on JSE disclosure obligations arising from material corporate events.

People Leadership

• Manage and develop the Legal Specialist, and foster a culture of ethical conduct, integrity, and continuous improvement.

The core requirements of this position include:

• LLB Degree (NQF Level 8) from a recognised South African university.
• Admission as an Attorney or Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, maintained in good standing (valid Fidelity Fund Certificate / GCB membership and CPD obligations).
• 8+ years' post-admission experience in an in-house, corporate, or commercial legal environment working with a CEO and Board.
• 10-15 years' experience drafting and negotiating high-value commercial and cross-border contracts.
• A clear criminal and credit record and a valid Code B driver's license are conditions of appointment.

Advantageous

• LLM (Corporate/Commercial Law) or MBA; qualifications in compliance or corporate governance (e.g. CISA).
• Labour law and employment relations experience in a unionised manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a JSE-listed environment (JSE Listings Requirements, Companies Act, King IV) and multi-country operational exposure.

Key Competencies

• Sound legal judgement and commercially oriented advisory under pressure.
• Contract drafting, negotiation, and compliance framework design.
• Mergers & acquisitions, due diligence, and cross-border transaction management.
• Labour dispute resolution, CCMA advocacy, and stakeholder diplomacy.
• High integrity, discretion, and ethical leadership — the courage to speak truth to power.
• Gravitas and executive presence to engage the Board, investors, and regulators.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead the legal and compliance function of one of South Africa's leading aluminium manufacturers by protecting the business, enabling commercial strategy, and driving sustainable, ethical performance.

Hulamin is committed to prioritising transformation in line with diversity, inclusion and all legislative requirements in its recruitment and appointment processes.

Please note that Hulamin reserves the right to withdraw, alter and re-advertise any vacant position based on its operational requirements.

“Hulamin does not require or solicit any payments for any recruitment process.” Please report (anonymously if you prefer) any request for such to the Hulamin Ethics and Fraud Hotline at 080 2255 688.

Candidates who do not receive any correspondence within 1 month after the closing date may assume that their applications were unsuccessful and are hereby thanked for applying***.***

Closing Date: Friday, 4th September 2026