Legal Counsel (Job Grade 6)

REF: SADC/2/3/3. Based at SADC Headquarters, Gaborone, Botswana.

Primary purpose of the job

Draft and interpret the SADC Treaty, Protocols, their Annexes and subsidiary instruments; provide legal advice, assistance and information on related legal matters to all SADC Institutions, Policy Organs, Member States, and all Directorates and Units of the Secretariat; monitor the implementation of all Protocols signed by SADC from a legal perspective.

Duties and responsibilities (General Legal Services)

• Act as an advisor to the Management Team on corporate legal matters; provide legal opinion, advice and assistance on the formulation, review, enforcement and interpretation of policies, rules, regulations, procedures, resolutions, contracts, leases and agreements.
• Draft and interpret the SADC Treaty, Protocols, Annexes and subsidiary legal instruments; conduct legal research and analysis; provide legal advice on staff grievances and disciplinary matters; facilitate settlement of disputes to which SADC is a party; act as custodian for legal documents of SADC and the Secretariat.
• Provide legal advice and assistance to Policy Organs and Directorates/Units on the drafting, revision and implementation of the Treaty, Protocols and other legal instruments; their application and interpretation; and compliance with related decisions and actions.
• Monitor the status of signature, ratification and accession to Protocols and other legal instruments by Member States; register SADC legal instruments with the United Nations and African Union.
• Participate in and advise Member States on developing and harmonising laws relating to regional integration; coordinate preparation and convening of the Committee of Ministers of Justice/Attorneys General and implement its decisions.
• Plan and implement legal risk management measures; implement audit recommendations; perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and experience

• At least a Master's Degree in Law from a recognised institution.
• Licensed or certified to practice law in any jurisdiction of a SADC Member State.
• Knowledge of international Treaties, Protocols, Conventions, Charters and Pacts, and of laws generally; proficient in computers and relevant software.
• At least seven (7) years' work experience providing legal advice, preferably in a regional and international organisation or other relevant set-up.

Skills requirements

Communication and presentation, interpersonal, networking and relationship building, persuasion and advocacy, organisational (planning, budgeting, time management, work prioritisation), and research/analytical/problem-solving skills.

Competency requirements

Capable of maintaining quality under pressure and deadlines; conceptual and practical thinker; customer focused; decisive; able to work independently and largely unsupervised; maintains confidentiality; methodical and organised with a high level of attention to detail; organisationally aware; professional; questions convention and encourages innovation; resilient, self-motivated; results and performance driven; team player.

About SADC: the Southern African Development Community is a regional economic community of 16 Member States (Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe), with a combined population of approximately 340 million and a combined GDP of US$720 billion. The Secretariat is based at SADC Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana.

Tenure: a fixed term of 4 years, renewable twice for a further 4 years each time, subject to satisfactory completion of 6 months' probation, satisfactory performance, the retirement age limit of 60, and the continued need for the position.

Eligibility: open to citizens of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, aged 52 or younger (56 or younger for internal SADC candidates). SADC is an equal opportunity employer and particularly encourages applications from women and from people with disabilities.

How to apply: applications must be submitted to the SADC National Contact Point of the applicant's eligible Member State (in Zimbabwe, enquire at the relevant government ministry) not later than 20 November 2026, together with (a) a cover letter stating the position applied for and how your qualifications, experience and competencies are relevant, (b) a CV of not more than 5 pages, (c) certified copies of degree(s), diploma(s) and certificate(s), and (d) a duly signed and completed SADC Application Form. Job profiles and the Application Form are on the SADC website. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted; if you have not heard back within two months of the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful.