Legal Specialist

Position Overview

We are looking for a pragmatic and detail-oriented Legal Specialist to support BYD’s growing operations in South Africa. You will work closely with the regional legal team to manage distributor relations, ensure labor compliance, and navigate the local regulatory landscape.

Key Responsibilities:

1.Distributor & Commercial Support: Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including distribution agreements, service contracts, and NDAs, ensuring alignment with South African commercial laws and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

2.Corporate Operations: Provide legal support for the day-to-day legal activities and operational management of BYD’s South Africa subsidiaries.

3.Labor Relations & Compliance: Oversee labor-related legal matters, ensuring compliance with the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA). Manage and monitor corporate compliance regarding the B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) framework.

4.Compliance & Data Privacy: Assist in implementing and maintaining compliance frameworks, particularly regarding the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and other local regulatory requirements.

5.Regulatory Research: Stay updated on legislative changes in South Africa (e.g., CIPC, Competition Commission, and National Consumer Commission regulations) and provide timely legal advisories to the management.

6. External Counsel Coordination: Assist in managing relationships with local law firms and tracking legal service quality and expenditures.

Requirements:

1.Education: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a prestigious South African university.

2.Experience: 4+ years of legal experience in a corporate in-house role or a law firm. Candidates with strong potential and a quick learning curve are encouraged to apply. Experience in the Automotive or High-Tech sectors is highly prefered..

3.Languages: Professional proficiency in English (written and spoken), with the ability to draft complex legal documents. Knowledge of Chinese is a plus.

4.Technical Skills: Familiarity with South African government portals (e.g., CIPC eServices) and digital compliance tools.

5.Mobility: South African Citizen or candidates with a valid work visa, willing to be stationed in Johannesburg.

6.Adaptable and capable of working in a fast-paced, cross-cultural environment.

7.Strong communication skills to bridge the gap between regional legal requirements and local execution.