General Counsel & Corporation Secretary

Key Requirements of the role include:

• Master’s degree in law from a recognized university; admission to the Bar in a sub-Saharan African jurisdiction.
  
• Certified Public Secretary; Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
  
• Minimum 15 years’ post-qualification legal experience, with significant leadership in pan-African or multi-country roles.
  
• Proven experience in board governance, corporate secretariat functions, and compliance management.
  
• Strong negotiation, litigation, and contract management expertise.
  
• Demonstrated ability to build legal teams and mentor senior counsel.
  
• Excellent communication skills: ability to influence and align senior stakeholders, including Board members.
  
• Experience in non-profit, intergovernmental, or international development organizations is a distinct advantage.
  

Legal Stewardship and Risk Management

• Serve as AGRA’s principal legal advisor, providing timely counsel to the President, Executive Committee, and Board.
  
• Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements across AGRA’s multi-country operations.
  
• Lead contract negotiation, drafting and review for grants, procurements, partnerships, and consultancy agreements.
  
• Manage litigation, oversee external counsel, and safeguard AGRA’s legal and reputational integrity.
  
• Establish and enforce policies, processes and systems that reduce legal risk and enhance institutional efficiency.
  

Governance and Board Effectiveness

• Act as Secretary to the Board of Directors and its Committees, accountable to the Board Chair.
  
• Manage the scheduling, preparation, and documentation of all Board and Committee meetings, ensuring best-in-class governance practices.
  
• Drive innovation in Board engagement, introducing practices such as communiqués and enhanced strategic dialogue to optimize Board contribution.
  
• Support the President and Board Chair in strengthening AGRA’s governance frameworks, aligning them with international best practice.
  

Board Relations and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and sustain strong relationships with AGRA’s influential Board members, enabling them to contribute more fully to AGRA’s strategy.
  
• Ensure alignment of external communications with Board messaging; manage Board-related communications and representation at key convenings.
  
• Work closely with the Partnerships and Communications teams to leverage Board members’ networks for institutional positioning and strategic opportunities.
  
• Serve as a trusted liaison between the Board, management, and external stakeholders on governance and legal matters.
  

Compliance and Regulatory Affairs

• Provide oversight of organizational compliance, including grants, procurement and donor requirements.
  
• Advise on the institutional placement of enterprise risk, compliance, and regulatory affairs functions, ensuring coherence and independence of checks and balances.
  
• Maintain custody of AGRA’s legal documents and ensure adherence to donor, national, and international compliance frameworks.
  
• Partner with internal audit and risk functions to ensure robust governance and accountability mechanisms.
  

Leadership and Capacity Building

• Lead, mentor, and develop AGRA’s legal and governance team, fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and service excellence.
  
• Strengthening legal capacity across the organization through training and knowledge-sharing.
  
• Ensure that legal and governance functions are enablers of AGRA’s mission, supporting agility and innovation while safeguarding compliance.
  
• Build strong relationships with external legal partners and regulators, ensuring AGRA is represented effectively in relevant forums.