Senior Legal Officer

Litigation, Dispute Resolution & Recoveries

1. Lead and manage a large portfolio of debt recovery, litigation, and dispute resolution matters arising from digital credit products, Road Traffic Accidents, and other business activities.
2. Oversee end-to-end litigation and dispute resolution processes, from demand notices and filings through hearings, execution, settlement, and closure.
3. Develop and execute litigation, recovery, and enforcement strategies aligned with business objectives and risk appetite.
4. Supervise lawful and effective recovery and enforcement actions in collaboration with collections, credit risk, and operations teams.
5. Oversee resolution of legal complaints and disputes, including settlement negotiations, to minimize legal, financial, and reputational risk.

External Counsel & Cost Management

1. Appoint, brief, manage, and evaluate external advocates, law firms, and recovery partners.
2. Monitor performance, turnaround times, success rates, and legal spend to ensure cost-effective outcomes.

Legal Operations, Records & Technology

1. Maintain accurate and up-to-date digital litigation records, case databases, and contract repositories.
2. Oversee the contract management system to ensure proper execution, storage, monitoring, and timely renewal of agreements.
3. Leverage legal technology and digital tools for case tracking, reporting, analytics, strategy optimization, cost reduction, and process automation.

Reporting, Analytics & Management Updates

1. Prepare dashboards, MIS reports, and analytics on case status, ageing, recoveries, costs, risks, and potential outcomes.
2. Provide regular, strategic updates to management on litigation exposure and recovery performance.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

1. Ensure full compliance with Tanzanian laws, Microfinance (Non-Deposit Taking Microfinance Service Providers) Regulations and Laws, data protection, consumer protection, and other applicable regulatory frameworks.
2. Oversee licensing, regulatory reporting, and engagement with financial services, consumer protection, and data privacy regulators.
3. Develop, review, and implement internal legal policies, procedures, and compliance frameworks in line with best practices.
4. Conduct legal research and proactively monitor changes in laws, regulations, and judicial precedents impacting the business.

Corporate, Commercial & Advisory Support

1. Provide strategic legal advice to management and business units on corporate governance, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, disputes, and litigation.
2. Review, draft, negotiate, and approve agreements including MOUs, service contracts, leases, financing documents, and other business documentation.
3. Partner with internal teams to ensure transactions and initiatives align with business objectives while mitigating legal and regulatory risks.

Stakeholder Engagement & Team Leadership

1. Work closely with debt collections, customer experience, credit risk, compliance, technology, and operations teams.
2. Lead legal training and awareness programs for management and staff.
3. Mentor, supervise, and develop junior legal staff to maintain high standards of legal delivery and professional growth.

General

1. Perform any other legal, compliance, or risk-related duties as assigned by management.

Education

1. A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognized institution.
2. Post Graduate Diploma in Law from Law School of Tanzania.
3. Admitted to the Roll of Advocates in Tanzania.
4. Current Active Practicing Certificate.

Requirements

1. Minimum of 5 years of post-admission proven experience as a legal professional.
2. Experience in managing junior legal officers. 
3. Experience working in-house or with financial institutions, particularly within the microfinance sector, or regulators, is highly preferred.
4. Experience in litigation, notably handling large volumes of litigation is highly preferred.

Competencies

1. Strong understanding of the Tanzanian regulatory framework, Civil and Criminal Procedure codes, Bank of Tanzania’s Acts, Regulations, Guidelines and Notices governing Microfinance (Non-Deposit Taking Microfinance Service Providers), personal data privacy laws, and consumer protection laws. 
2. Excellent legal drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
3. Experience in dispute resolution.
4. Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into practical solutions.
5. Proficient in Microsoft Office and legal research tools.
6. Strong attention to detail and the ability to think critically and strategically.
7. Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
8. High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion in handling sensitive information.
9. Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to identifying legal risks and solutions. Results-oriented, self-motivated, self-starter, who is flexible and adaptable to rapid change and able to work in a fast-paced, high demand environment.