Corporate Legal Counsel (Commericial & Corporate Governance)

You know that scaling a tech company across Africa takes more than just a great product; it takes a careful balance: moving fast while building a foundation that lasts. We are looking for a Corporate Legal Counsel (Commercial & Corporate Governance) who knows how to balance fast-paced growth with robust corporate governance. You'll be tackling multi-jurisdictional compliance across >10 African markets and handling our governance frameworks as well as complex company secretarial duties. If you are a generalist and pragmatic legal expert who enjoys bringing order and integrity to a fast-growing, cross-border environment, then this might just be the role for you.

About ALX Africa

ALX Africa, a non-profit organisation under the ALX Foundation, is dedicated to unlocking the potential of Africa's digital future. Formerly part of Sand Tech Holdings, we've embarked on an independent journey to provide world-class tech skills training and career acceleration programmes. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide, upskill and re-skill talent, and create a generation of innovative leaders. By 2030, we aim to empower 2 million Africans to secure sustainable tech careers.

With hubs in 8 cities across Africa and counting, we provide safe access to quality learning and a dedicated network of expert instructors. Our innovative programmes equip learners with the practical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today's rapidly evolving tech industry. Through a combination of rigorous coursework, industry partnerships, and hands-on projects, we prepare our students for in-demand roles in software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity.

We achieve this by:

• Providing young professionals with access to the most in-demand tech skills that will power the future.
• Empowering the next generation of technology innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders through challenging, real-world coursework.
• Building a lifelong, impactful community of tech professionals that supports them at all stages of their career journey. 

Our impact so far:

• 347k+ graduates since 2020
• 257k youth in work
• 31k youth starting own ventures
• 60k youth in jobs created by entrepreneurs

 Visit our website www.alxafrica.com to learn more about our digital revolution.

Role Summary

The Legal Compliance Risk (LeCoR) team at ALX Africa serves as the vital corporate and governance infrastructure that enables our programs to scale across multiple borders, blending high-growth startup agility with the institutional rigor required to build a lasting legacy. We are looking for a high-ownership Corporate Legal Counsel (Commercial & Corporate Governance) to serve as the backbone of our corporate integrity. You will bridge the gap between technical company secretarial duties and strategic legal advisory, ensuring our regional expansion across Africa is fast, compliant, and built on a scalable infrastructure that can withstand regulatory scrutiny and support institutional growth

Why You Should Join Us

This isn't just a role where you maintain the status quo; this is a career-defining opportunity to build the legal and governance infrastructure of a company, shaping the future of African tech. In addition to that impact, we offer:

• Competitive Compensation: A strong base salary commensurate with your experience and the regional market.
• Remote Flexibility: Work from where you work best (South Africa, Kenya, or EMEA timezone preferred), with a culture built around async communication and trust.
• Meaningful Autonomy: The space and authority to build systems, make decisions, and truly own your legal portfolio.
• Growth & Development: You will be tackling unprecedented legal challenges in emerging markets, accelerating your own professional growth alongside the company's expansion.
• Mission-Driven Culture: Work every day with a brilliant, global team dedicated to unlocking human potential across Africa.

Specific Responsibilities

You're Excited About This Opportunity Because You Will:

• Lead company secretarial functions across African and international entities, managing board governance, statutory filings, and compliance infrastructure.
• Structure, negotiate, and oversee major corporate transactions (including M&A, financing, or restructuring), managing the end-to-end contract drafting and review process.
• Draft and negotiate key commercial agreements (NDAs, vendor, employment, MSA and partnership contracts) with sharp business judgment and pragmatic risk allocation.
• Design scalable governance systems, including playbooks, approval matrices, and compliance workflows, to transition the company into a systematically mature organisation.
• Advise senior leadership and the board on complex legal matters spanning corporate law, data protection, licensing, and emerging African regulatory shifts.
• Guide market entry and entity structuring across diverse African regions (e.g. WAEMU, EAC, SACU) by expertly navigating local regulatory environments.
• Build strong relationships with regulators, auditors, external counsel, and internal teams, acting as the ultimate go-to advisor on governance and risk.

Skill Requirements - Essential

We're Excited About You Because:

• The Credentials: You are a qualified lawyer with 5+ years of experience in corporate/commercial, corporate governance, company secretarial, or senior in-house roles.
• African Regulatory Mastery: You have a deep understanding of multi-jurisdictional compliance, statutory filings, employment laws, and licensing across various African markets.
• Commercial Legal Judgment: You know how to balance regulatory integrity with business pragmatism, intelligently allocating risk so teams can move quickly without cutting corners.
• Systems Thinking: You don't just spot risks; you translate legal requirements into operational workflows and governance frameworks that allow the business to scale safely.
• Radical Ownership: You operate with high independence. You proactively identify governance gaps and take full accountability for building lasting institutional solutions without waiting for direction.

Skill Requirements - Preferable

• Private Practice Foundation: At least 3 years of experience at a reputable law firm.
• Global Perspective: Experience navigating cross-border transactions or international jurisdictions.
• Tech/Startup Exposure: Prior experience working in a high-growth, fast-paced technology environment.
• Language Capabilities: Professional proficiency in French, Arabic, or Portuguese is a strong asset.

Person Specification/Attributes

• Courage: Willingness to speak up, challenge the status quo, and embrace new challenges.
• Humility: Openness to learning, seeking help when needed, and a focus on serving others.
• Adventure: A passion for setting ambitious goals, tackling difficult tasks, and finding joy in the journey.
• Initiative: Proactive problem-solving, a sense of ownership, and a willingness to go above and beyond.
• Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks, persevere through challenges, and emerge stronger.
• Leadership: A strong foundation of self-leadership, taking ownership of your own focus, growth, and priorities, paired with the ability to guide executives and cross-functional teams with quiet confidence and actionable advice.
• Intellectual Curiosity: A genuine desire to understand the business, the product, and shifting regulatory landscapes.
• Rigorous Standards: A commitment to delivering precise, high-quality legal work, even when moving at startup speed.
• Creative Problem-Solving: The ability to think outside the traditional legal box to find compliant, business-enabling solutions.

Employment Type

This role is a full-time position

Preferred Time Zones
The preferred time zones are EMEA (SAST/EAT preferred)