In-House Legal Counsel

An industry-leading telecommunications provider, focused on delivering affordable high-speed fibre to underserved communities, is seeking a versatile and commercially minded In-House Counsel. This role is a critical business enabler, providing broad legal support across multiple functions including Growth, Infrastructure, Finance, and People teams. The successful candidate will act as a strategic advisor, ensuring that as the organisation scales rapidly, governance, compliance, and risk management remain robust. This position is based in Stellenbosch and offers the opportunity to be embedded within a mission-driven, high-growth environment where legal expertise directly facilitates operational execution. This is hybrid position, part office, part work from home. The company is based in Stellenbosch. Key Responsibilities Generalist Legal Advisory Deliver practical legal advice across commercial, operational, and regulatory domains. Collaborate with the People team on labour and HR-related legal queries. Translate complex legal requirements into actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders to support rapid decision-making. Contract Management & Commercial Agreements Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of contracts, including supplier, vendor, infrastructure, and partnership agreements. Standardise internal contract templates and optimise the contract lifecycle process. Lead legal representation during commercial negotiations with external partners. Operational & Infrastructure Support Provide day-to-day legal oversight for network expansion and build activities. Advise on risks associated with contractor engagements, site access, permissions, and service delivery obligations. Manage legal considerations regarding community interactions and customer experience. Governance & Company Secretarial (CoSec) Support company secretarial requirements, including board resolutions, statutory filings, and the maintenance of company records. Assist in the preparation of board packs and the implementation of governance frameworks. Ensure all corporate activities align with governance best practices. Compliance, Risk & Dispute Resolution Oversee compliance with POPIA, consumer protection, and telecommunications regulatory frameworks. Identify and pragmatically manage legal risks across national operations. Lead the resolution of disputes with contractors or third parties and manage incident-related legal scenarios. Develop internal policies and toolkits to empower business teams and improve legal self-service. Requirements LLB degree is essential. Minimum of 4 to 8 years of post-qualification experience gained within a commercial law firm or an in-house environment. Strong expertise in contract law and drafting. Proven ability to operate as a legal generalist across diverse domains (commercial, HR, regulatory). Resilient professional comfortable in a fast-paced, high-growth setting. Preferred Qualifications Admitted Attorney status. Prior experience in the telecommunications, infrastructure, or technology sectors. Practical exposure to company secretarial duties and corporate governance. Required Software Skills Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook). SARS e-Filing (for regulatory/compliance oversight). Experience with contract management or board portal software is beneficial. Benefits Opportunity to work within a high-impact, socially conscious organisation. Direct exposure to executive leadership and strategic decision-making. A hands-on role with significant autonomy and the ability to build scalable legal frameworks. Competitive remuneration and a dynamic, mission-led company culture.