Legal and Compliance Officer

Role Overview

This position sits at the heart of a public water utility, where every operational decision carries legal and regulatory weight. You will be the internal counsel and guardian of governance, advising leadership and the board on everything from procurement and contracts to environmental compliance and dispute resolution. Your day-to-day work ensures that water, sanitation, and fecal sludge services are delivered within the law, protecting the utility from risk and enabling it to serve the community effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary legal advisor to management, departments, and the board, translating legal requirements into practical guidance for both routine operations and long-term strategy.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements—including supplier contracts, consultant retainers, memoranda of understanding, and infrastructure-related deals covering desludging, wastewater treatment, and reuse product distribution.
• Monitor and enforce compliance with Kenya’s water, environmental, procurement, occupational safety, public finance, and data protection laws, as well as county sanitation regulations and governance codes.
• Coordinate litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution by liaising with external advocates, preparing legal pleadings, witness statements, and affidavits, and tracking case progress.
• Support procurement and contract management teams to ensure every tender, award, and agreement aligns with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and internal policies.
• Design and implement compliance frameworks, internal policies, monitoring tools, and audit checklists, then conduct regular risk assessments and follow-up audits across all utility operations.
• Maintain statutory registers, licenses, permits, and legal records, while ensuring timely submission of all regulatory reports to bodies such as WASREB, NEMA, DOSHS, and county authorities.
• Handle land acquisition, wayleave permissions, and right-of-way issues for infrastructure projects, and train staff on new legal obligations and regulatory changes.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognized university, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law.
• Admission as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a current, valid practicing certificate.
• At least five years of progressive experience in legal practice, regulatory compliance, or public-sector work—ideally involving utilities, environmental management, or infrastructure projects.
• Proven track record in drafting contracts, managing compliance obligations, and handling litigation or dispute resolution.
• Working knowledge of the water sector regulatory landscape, including WASREB guidelines, license conditions, and quality-of-service standards, is a strong advantage.
• Solid computer literacy, including legal research tools, document management systems, and standard office software.
• Demonstrated integrity, sharp analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly in writing and in person.
• Capacity to juggle multiple assignments, meet tight deadlines, and collaborate effectively with internal teams, external counsel, regulators, and other stakeholders.