Weza Power Senior Counsel

Job description

Anzana is hiring a Senior Counsel for its subsidiary Weza Power on a full-time basis. The Senior Counsel will lead the legal function for Weza Power including matters related to financing, utility setup, employment, stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, procurement and construction as Weza Power raises and deploys approximately $1.4B to connect 9 million Burundians over the next seven years. The Senior Counsel will work closely with Anzana’s Head of Legal, COO and CEO, other senior personnel at Weza Power, as well as local counsel and advisors. The successful candidate will possess high standards of professionalism and integrity, be solution-oriented, capable at prioritising effectively, practical in their approach, patient and driven.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Senior Counsel will be entrusted with the following duties and responsibilities:

• Lead negotiations related to the financing of Weza Power with private investors and DFIs, including IFC and the World Bank
• Assist in the establishment of the first private distribution utility in Burundi, including building and implementing policies and procedures throughout the organisation to ensure Weza Power meets the highest international standards at all levels of the company
• Ensure the implementation of human resources and business integrity policies and provide legal direction on all employment matters
• Participate in and advise on the engagement of governmental and other local stakeholders;
• Be the primary point of contact and manage relationships and engagements with local tax, legal, and other advisors
• Ensure regulatory compliance and oversee the Weza Power compliance function to ensure ongoing compliance with the standards and requirements of funders
• Oversee and manage legal, commercial, supply chain and reputational risk in procurement processes and procedures
• Lead negotiations related to construction contracts
• Oversee day-to-day corporate matters including contract management, real estate transactions, imports, employee benefits, tax and insurance

Minimum Requirements:

The ideal candidate would have the following skills and credentials:

Education and Experience:

• Licensed attorney (in the US, UK, France and/or Burundi) in good standing with 10 or more years of relevant experience including:
• Experience working in and/or across from the World Bank and the IFC
• Project finance experience in the energy/infrastructure sector
• In-house experience, particularly at a multinational enterprise operating in Africa
• Work in civil and common law jurisdictions
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Competencies:

• Experienced collaborating closely with high-performing teams of colleagues with various areas of expertise (engineers, finance, E&S, etc.)
• Ethical and professional; accustomed to interacting with high-level government representatives
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and with minimal instruction. Demonstrated interest in renewable energy, international development, and social impact
• Fluency in English and French is required

Benefits and Expected Salary:

• Competitive salary and benefits package to be offered
• Potential participation in Weza Power’s employee stock option plan
• Sponsorship for a work permit in Kenya or Burundi

Method of Application

If you are interested and feel that you meet the criteria outlined above, please send a copy of your current CV and brief note to weza-senior-counsel@anzana.odoo.com with the subject “Senior Counsel – Weza Power”.

Note: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.