Position Summary

The Corporation Secretary is the head of the Corporation Secretary and Legal Services Department, with the responsibility to provide legal guidance to the Institute and Board on their duties and responsibilities and on matters of governance, to ensure compliance with Laws and Code of Governance

Duties and responsibilities will entail: –

• Providing legal guidance to the Institute and the Board on their duties and responsibilities and matters of governance;
• Preparing Board work plan, Board calendar, and Board Budget;
• Follow up with management staff to ensure Board papers are ready and disseminated on time;
• Providing corporate governance advisory to the Board;
• Promoting compliance with Laws, regulations, and codes of governance;
• Overseeing monitoring and evaluation of compliance with regulations, contractual obligations, and policies and implementing corrective actions;
• Facilitating Board induction and carrying out Board training needs assessment;
• Facilitating Board evaluation process to ensure improvement in corporate governance practices;
• Ensuring proper constitution of Board committees with clear terms of reference;
• Ensuring governance and legal audit are carried out;
• Registering KIPPRA documents for intellectual property;
• Maintaining statutory records and books including a register of present and past Board members, register of charges, and minutes of Board meetings;
• Maintaining and updating governance documents including Board charter, work plan, conflict of interest, statutory registers, and gift register; (xiv) Facilitating policy research on legal issues;
• Ensuring reviewing of legal documents/instruments, opinions, and briefs;
• Coordinating preparation of reports, briefs, and memoranda;
• Taking legal action where necessary to protect the interest of the KIPPRA in pursuance of its mandate;
• Managing liaison with external law firms on litigation involving KIPPRA;
• Providing legal counsel on legal and legislative issues impacting KIPPRA;
• Providing legal support and services to the programs in which KIPPRA will be involved;
• Preparing drafts and negotiating contracts, leases, formal agreements, and other legal instruments between KIPPRA and other parties;
• Participating in settlement and arbitration of disputes to protect organizational interests; (xxiii) Providing company secretarial services to the Board;
• Overseeing drafting of legal documents;
• Interpreting and implementing laws and rulings including government policies and regulations;
• Representing KIPPRA in relevant functions and activities;
• Appraising of staff in the department;
• Overseeing day-to-day operations of the Department; and
• Motivating and supervising staff in the department and ensuring a good work environment.

Qualifications

For appointment to this grade, a candidate must have:

• Bachelor of Laws degree from a recognized institution;
• Master’s degree in Law;
• Postgraduate Diploma from Kenya School of Law;
• Minimum period of nine (9) years post admission in legal affairs, three of which in management;
• Admitted as an Advocate of the High Court;
• Member of the Law Society of Kenya and in good standing;
• Member of the Institute of Certified Secretaries;
• Leadership course lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognized institution;
• Computer skills; and
• Fulfill the requirements for Chapter six (6) of the Constitution.

Functional Skills, Behavioral Competencies and Attributes:

Functional Skills

• Computing skills;
• Leadership skills;
• Analytical skills;
• Problem-solving skills; 
• Supervisory skills;
• Conceptual skills; and
• Conflict resolution skills. 

Behavioral Competencies/Attributes

• Communication skills;
• Interpersonal skills; and
• Time management.