Corporation Secretary and Director Legal Services

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is the government parastatal whose responsibility is to assure the quality of agricultural inputs and produce to prevent adverse impact on the economy, the environment and human health. Vision: Healthy plants, safe trade and sustainable aggro-environment for a prosperous Kenya. Mission: To provide a science based regulatory service by assuring plant health, quality of agricultural inputs and produce for food security, globally competitive agriculture and sustainable development. Core values Customer focus Professionalism and Integrity Teamwork Results oriented Innovation and Creativity Corporate social sustainability Strategic Objectives To protect plants from pests, weeds and invasive species. To facilitate review and strengthening of the policy, legal and regulatory framework, so that it is in tandem with both local and international agricultural sector emerging issues. To contribute towards improved levels of agricultural productivity. To support compliance to market requirements. To build adequate technical and infrastructural capacity to facilitate efficient and effective delivery of the KEPHIS mandate. To mobilize adequate financial resources and ensure optimal allocation and utilization to enable full implementation of planned programmers and activities. To enhance synergies through information and resource sharing with stakeholders and partners. To enhance the visibility and corporate image of KEPHIS

KPH/CS&DLS/1/24

Job Specification

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Providing advice to the Board and Board Members individually on their duties, responsibilities and powers and how these should be exercised in the best interest of the organization;
• Ensuring the board procedures are followed and reviewed regularly, and that the Board complies with the Law, rules and regulations;
• Assisting the Chairperson and Managing Director in organizing Board activities, including providing information, preparing agenda, issuing notices and preparing for meetings, board evaluations and board development programs;
• Providing secretarial services to the Board including ensuring that the board work plan is prepared and adhered to, circulating board papers in advance of the meeting, keeping a record of attendance at meetings, keeping safe custody of the seal and a record of its usage;
• Ensuring that the minutes of the Board and Board committees are promptly prepared and circulated and maintaining safe custody of the same;
• Keeping the Board abreast of and informed on, current governance thinking and practice;
• Coordinating the governance issues including governance audit process;
• Drafting of agreements, contracts, leases and maintaining records of such transactions;
• Liaising with external legal counsel on legal matters affecting the Corporation and the Board;
• Verifying all contracts, agreements, leases in which the Corporation and the Board enters into to ensure compliance;
• Advising the Management on legal aspects of administrative matters;
• Undertaking research on assigned legal issues;
• Collecting and collating research data;
• Vetting and verification of documents before execution by authorized representatives of the Corporation and the Board;
• Liaising with the office of the Attorney General on legal issues affecting the Corporation and the Board in execution of its mandate;
• Preparing witnesses and the evidence as well as presenting the same in court while keeping an updated record of all court cases;
• Collaborating and corresponding with external advocates on all pending court cases;
• Attending to internal corporation queries of legal nature in the facilitation of normal business;
• Advising Procurement committees on legal issues;
• Maintenance of accreditation and ISO certification;
• Providing secretarial services to the Board of Trustees including ensuring that the board work plan is prepared and adhered to, circulating board papers in advance of the meeting, keeping a record of attendance at meetings, keeping safe custody of the seal and a record of its usage.

Person Specification

For appointment to this grade, a candidate must have:

• At least ten (10) years’ experience, with six (6) as Principal Legal Officer or its equivalent;
• Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a university recognized in Kenya;
• Master’s Degree in law or related fields from a university recognized in Kenya;
• Post Graduate Diploma in Law;
• Advocate of the High Court of Kenya;
• Current Practicing Certificate;
• Registration as a Certified Public Secretary (K);
• Membership to Law Society of Kenya in good standing;
• Membership to the Institute of Certified Secretaries;
• Leadership course lasting not less than six weeks;
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and analytical skills; with good understanding of public service regulations and procedures in service delivery; xii. Be a team player, high degree of integrity, self-driven, honest and with ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

Skills

• Technical skills;
• Drafting skills
• Planning skills;
• Reporting skills;
• Interpersonal relationship skills;
• Communication skills;
• Problem solving skills;
• Computer literacy and proficiency skills;
• Data analysis and presentation skills.

Competencies

• Ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to work independently and in a team;
• Ability to multi-task;
• An understanding of the planning process from start to completion;
• Experience using IT systems including database management;
• Excellent administrative capabilities.

Method of Application