Legal Governance Manager

? Location: Westway Office Park, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

? Employment Type: Permanent

? Reporting to: Managing Director

Join Manuchar South Africa

Manuchar is a global leader in the distribution of raw chemicals, international trade, and logistics, operating in more than 160 locations across Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Latin America, and the Middle East. For over 35 years, we have built our reputation on reliability, partnership, and delivering end-to-end supply chain solutions in emerging markets.

We are looking for an experienced Legal Governance Manager to provide strategic legal guidance, corporate governance oversight, and commercial legal support across our South African operations. This is a high-impact role for a commercially astute legal professional who thrives in a dynamic international business environment.

The Opportunity

As the Legal Governance Manager, you will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, ensuring the organisation's legal interests are protected while enabling business growth through practical, commercially focused legal solutions.

You will lead legal governance initiatives, manage commercial contracts and disputes, oversee statutory compliance, and drive legal risk management practices across the business.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Advisory & Business Partnering

• Provide expert legal advice on commercial, operational, and strategic business matters.

• Advise management on legal risks and mitigation strategies.

• Support mergers, acquisitions, restructuring activities, and strategic business initiatives.

• Maintain the company's Legal Register and legal risk framework.

• Partner with stakeholders across the business to deliver commercially sound legal solutions.

Commercial Contracts & Transactions

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage commercial contracts and legal agreements.

• Support contract management processes and governance standards.

• Provide guidance on commercial, labour, tax, logistics, shipping, customs, trade, sanctions, and operational legal matters.

• Conduct legal research and prepare legal opinions as required.

• Support local and cross-border commercial transactions.

Corporate Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with the Companies Act and applicable governance requirements.

• Facilitate Board, Committee, and Shareholder governance processes.

• Maintain statutory records, governance registers, and company documentation.

• Drive governance best practices in line with King IV principles.

• Coordinate governance reporting, filings, and regulatory submissions.

• Support governance audits and regulatory engagements.

Dispute Resolution & Legal Risk Management

• Manage litigation, disputes, claims, and regulatory investigations.

• Coordinate and manage external legal counsel and specialist advisors.

• Oversee arbitration, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution processes.

• Protect the organisation's legal interests through proactive risk management.

Legal Operations

• Manage legal spend and external counsel performance.

• Improve legal processes, systems, and efficiencies.

• Support implementation of legal technology and contract management solutions.

• Drive service excellence, continuous improvement, and effective legal service delivery.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• LLB Degree.

• Admitted Attorney.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience in a similar in-house legal role and/or legal practice as an admitted attorney.

• Proven experience in commercial contract drafting and negotiation.

• Corporate governance and legal risk management experience.

• Experience working with senior stakeholders and executive leadership teams.

Knowledge & Expertise

• Strong knowledge of commercial law and contract management.

• Sound understanding of the Companies Act and King IV governance principles.

• Experience in dispute resolution and litigation management.

• Knowledge of legal risk identification, assessment, and mitigation.

• Understanding of compliance and regulatory obligations.

Advantageous

• Experience in international trade, logistics, shipping, or supply chain industries.

• Governance, Compliance, Risk Management, or CGISA qualifications.

• Exposure to multinational business environments.

• MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification.

Key Competencies

• Strong business and commercial acumen.

• Excellent legal drafting and negotiation skills.

• High ethical standards and sound judgment.

• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing ability.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to operate independently while collaborating across multiple business functions.

• Results-driven with a proactive approach to managing legal and governance matters.

Why Join Manuchar?

At Manuchar, reliability, integrity, and partnership are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to conducting business ethically, responsibly, and sustainably while creating opportunities for our people to grow and make a lasting impact.

If you are a commercially minded legal professional looking to shape governance and legal strategy within a leading multinational organisation, we would like to hear from you.

Apply now and become part of a global business committed to excellence, integrity, and sustainable growth.