Senior Legal Counsel - Sub-Saharan Africa Cluster

Are you a commercially minded legal leader looking to make a meaningful impact across one of the world's most dynamic regions? We are seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to support the Sub-Saharan Africa Cluster, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in enabling Schneider Electric's growth ambitions by providing strategic legal guidance across multiple markets, jurisdictions, and business activities. This is an exciting opportunity to influence high-value projects, shape key business decisions, and partner with stakeholders across the organization to manage risk, ensure compliance, and drive commercial success. Success in this position requires a combination of strong legal expertise, sound business judgment, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, international environment.

What will you do?

• Provide strategic and day-to-day legal counsel to business units and functional teams across the Sub-Saharan Africa Cluster

• Partner with commercial, finance, compliance, tax, human resources, procurement, and leadership teams to support business objectives and manage legal risk

• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a wide range of commercial agreements, including sales, supply, services, maintenance, distribution, agency, partnership, consortium, and subcontracting contracts

• Support project and tender activities by assessing contractual risks, reviewing bid documentation, and advising on contract execution strategies

• Lead legal support for strategic, high-value, or complex transactions and projects across the region

• Advise on regulatory frameworks, licensing requirements, local content obligations, and other legal requirements across Sub-Saharan African jurisdictions

• Support corporate governance activities, including statutory compliance, board-related matters, and corporate record management for local entities

• Manage legal disputes, regulatory matters, and investigations while coordinating external legal counsel when required

• Contribute to the implementation and monitoring of compliance, ethics, governance, and internal control programs

• Monitor legal and regulatory developments, provide proactive risk assessments, and deliver legal awareness training to business stakeholders

Skills & Competencies:

• Integrity and ethical leadership

• Executive communication skills

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Resilience and adaptability

• Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced environment

• Relationship building across diverse cultures and geographies

• Influencing without direct authority

• Strong prioritization and organizational skills

What qualifications will make you successful?

• Law degree (LLB or equivalent). Admission to the bar or qualification as an attorney or advocate

• Advanced legal qualification such as an LLM or equivalent, particularly in international business law, will be an added advantage

• Experience supporting organizations within industrial, energy, infrastructure, engineering, technology, software, or services sectors

• Minimum 10-13 years of professional legal experience in commercial and/or corporate law

• Strong experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial contracts

• Experience providing legal support within an international company and/or leading law firm environment

• Exposure to legal and regulatory matters across multiple Sub-Saharan African jurisdictions

• Knowledge of French or other relevant regional languages will be an added advantage but not a prerequisite

• Experience managing external counsel across litigation, arbitration, employment, regulatory, competition, or data protection matters

• Strong knowledge of corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and risk management principles

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal

• Demonstrated ability to provide practical, commercially focused legal advice to business stakeholders

What's in it for me?

• High-visibility role where your counsel directly influences business strategy and outcomes

• Opportunity to lead impactful projects and mentor legal professionals

• Collaborative culture that values expertise, strategic thinking, and professional growth

• Access to development programs that expand your specialized knowledge and leadership skills

• Flexible work options designed to support your personal and professional well-being

Bring your legal expertise to a team that's ready to support your success — apply today!

Rewards designed for you

Our Total Rewards is our way of saying: We see you and we value you. It’s more than just pay and benefits—it’s a meaningful investment in you. It is designed to help you perform, grow, feel safe, and elevate your potential. The package helps you care for yourself and your family, plan your future, grow your skills and career, collaborate in an inclusive workplace, and contribute to your community. At Schneider Electric, we’re here for what matters most to you. Discover more at our Career Page.

• Country-specific programs and initiatives may be available.

Looking to make an IMPACT with your career?

When you are thinking about joining a new team, culture matters. At Schneider Electric, our values and behaviors are the foundation for creating a great culture to support business success. We believe that our IMPACT values – Inclusion, Mastery, Purpose, Action, Curiosity, Teamwork – starts with us. IMPACT is also your invitation to join Schneider Electric where you can contribute to turning sustainability ambition into actions, no matter what role you play. It is a call to connect your career with the ambition of achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable world. We are looking for IMPACT Makers; exceptional people who turn sustainability ambitions into actions at the intersection of automation, electrification, and digitization. We celebrate IMPACT Makers and believe everyone has the potential to be one. Become an IMPACT Maker with Schneider Electric – apply today!

• €40 billion global revenue

• +9% organic growth

• 150 000+ employees in 100+ countries

You must submit an online application to be considered for any position with us. This position will be posted until filled.

Schneider Electric aspires to be the most inclusive and caring company in the world, by providing equitable opportunities to everyone, everywhere, and ensuring all employees feel uniquely valued and safe to contribute their best. We mirror the diversity of the communities in which we operate, and ‘inclusion’ is one of our core values. We believe our differences make us stronger as a company and as individuals and we are committed to championing inclusivity in everything we do. At Schneider Electric, we uphold the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we believe that trust is a foundational value. Our Trust Charter is our Code of Conduct and demonstrates our commitment to ethics, safety, sustainability, quality and cybersecurity, underpinning every aspect of our business and our willingness to behave and respond respectfully and in good faith to all our stakeholders. You can find out more about our Trust Charter here

Schneider Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in the areas of recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, and promoting all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic or conduct.