BGI is a large-scale brewery and beverage production wing of Group Castel, operating in over 53 countries. Since 1998, BGI Ethiopia PLC has been operating in the production and distribution of beer, wine and other beverages. BGI owns five breweries including the iconic St. George Brewery in Addis Ababa, the Kombolcha Brewery, the Hawassa Brewery, Zebidar Brewery and Maychew Northern Brewery, producing 3.6 million Hectoliters of beer (bottles and draft) annually.

Job Summary

Support business continuity and growth by proactively protecting the Company’s interests and properties through ensuring compliance with prevailing legislations that regulate the overall operations and functions of the company, its subsidiaries and branches, putting in place a legal risk management framework with a view to identify and mitigate the impacts of legal risk proactively, providing timely updates to the relevant business units of the company on the enactment of new legislations and changes and managing IPRs, licensing, certifications, ownership titles, leases, and related matters.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Formulate and implement regulatory compliance policies, procedures, manuals, and templates for the Company including its manufacturing sites
• Develop a Legal Risk Management framework and conduct periodic regulatory risk assessment of company practices
• Provide regulatory guidance and legal advice to Sales and Marketing initiatives on promotions, advertisement, events, campaigns etc
• Provide update on new legislations/policies or changes to existing legislations/policies with impact on business operations and recommended action to the different business units of the company
• Monitors the validity and on time renewal of Business Licenses, Product Registration Certificates, Intellectual Property
• Rights, Water Use Certificates, Product Quality Marks etc
• Serve as a liaison for all regulatory bodies as well as maintaining relationships with relevant legal bodies and other stakeholders;
• Identifies critical regulatory hurdles and devise a lobbying strategy for their amendment (customs, excise tax stamp, advertisement and social media ban etc)
• Provides a monthly regulatory compliance report
• Draft regulatory compliance manuals with training to relevant business units based on yearly plan

Job Requirements

• The position requires a minimum of bachelor’s degree in law.
• 8 years’ experience in legal practice, with proven hands on experience in managing legal diverse legal matters.
• Comprehensive knowledge of local and federal laws relevant to the organization’s operations.
• Expertise in contract law, corporate law, employment law, and other relevant legal areas.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a legal team.
• Ability to convey complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
• Ability to address complex legal issues and find effective solutions.
• Experience in negotiating, drafting and reviewing various legal contracts, agreements and standards
• Ability to uphold and promote legal and ethical standards within the organization.
• Experience in ensuring compliance with industry regulations and standards.
• Up-to-date knowledge on changes in relevant laws and regulations.