Reference No: LO1225
An exciting position has become available at our Head Office in Cape Town. Suitably qualified applicants who possess the requirements listed below are encouraged to apply. SAMWUMED is committed to transformation in Southern Africa.
Job Purpose:
The Legal Officer is essential in ensuring the Scheme operates within legal boundaries, adhering to the Medical Schemes Act and other relevant regulations. This role involves providing legal advice, managing legal risks, ensuring compliance, and handling legal disputes. The Legal Officer works closely with the Board of Trustees, senior management, and regulatory bodies to safeguard the legal interests of the scheme and its member.
Key Functions:
Legal Risk Management
- Monitor and ensure the Scheme complies with relevant laws and regulations, including the Medical Schemes Act
- Identify and assess legal risks, providing strategies to mitigate these risks
- Conduct regular legal audits to ensure ongoing compliance and identify areas of improvement
Corporate Governance Support
- Responsible for corporate governance matters, including board meetings, resolutions, and regulatory fillings
- Reviewing and drafting memorandums, reviewing minutes in preparation for Board and Committee meetings
- Ensure Scheme’s statutory registers are up to date
Scheme Legal Advisor
- Offer legal opinions and advice to the Scheme on various matters, including contracts, disputes, and regulatory issues
- Serve as the primary point of contact with regulatory bodies, ensuring timely and accurate reporting and compliance
Training and Education
- Provide legal training and education to staff to ensure they understand legal obligations and best practices
Reporting
- Prepare monthly reports on the Scheme’s legal matters and submit to senior management and present to Mancom
Contract Management
- Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements to protect the interests of the Scheme
- Ensure that all contracts comply with legal requirements and organizational policies
- Ensure that all contractual obligations are met and that contracts comply with legal standards
Legal Research
- Research and analyse legal issues and regulations relevant to the organization’s operations and industry
Policy Development
- Develop and review policies and procedures to ensure they are legally sound and compliant
Document and Record Keeping
- Ensure proper documentation and record-keeping of all legal matters, including contracts, legal opinions, and correspondence
Minimum Requirements:
Qualifications
- LLB or equivalent legal qualification
Memberships
- Compliance Institute (Intended/Preferred)
- Risk Institute (Intended/Advantageous)
- Legal Practice Council (Western Cape)
Experience
- 3 to 5 years legal administration experience with some compliance exposure advantageous
- Experience in the healthcare insurance or similar industry would be preferable
- Litigation experience will be an advantage
Capabilities:
- Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact effectively with stakeholders, including preparing and presenting legal options
- Legal Research and Analysis: Ability to conduct thorough legal research and interpret complex legal documents and legislation to provide accurate and actionable legal advice, ensuring the scheme’s operations remail compliant with all relevant laws and regulations. Reading skills – able to read and understand large volumes of material with limited timeframes. Interpersonal skills – interpretating of Legislation/Statues as well as Legal Precedents (case-law) and Directives
- Quality Assurance: Attention to detail, protect the scheme from loopholes
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Perform audits to evaluate the Scheme’s adherence to relevant laws and regulations and identify opportunities for improvement
- Stakeholder Management: Effectively manage relationships with various stakeholders including Board members to ensure smooth operations and compliance with legal and regulatory requirement
- Time Management: Ensuring that tight deadlines are maintained. Agile and adaptable to be able to work at a fast pace in a highly pressurized environment
- Computer literacy: Proficient in all Microsoft Office Suite and other Applications including – MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Copilot. Demonstrable knowledge of DocuSign and PDF Software. Knowledge of compliance and risk management software (advantageous)
- Interpersonal skills: Communicate effectively with all stakeholders both internally and externally. Resolves and manages conflict (where applicable). Active listening skills. Takes responsibility, ownership and accountability. Takes initiative. Being flexible, agile and resilient. Empathetic. Ability to work in a team and individually. Open to receive criticism and feedback. Displays high levels of integrity and confidentiality.
Persons interested in applying for the above position are requested to forward a comprehensive CV to recruitment@samwumed.org. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The Closing date for applications is Friday, 09 January 2026
The Scheme reserves the right not to make an appointment. Should you not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please regard your application as unsuccessful.
Disclaimer:
Your personal data submitted will be dealt with on a strictly confidential and discreet basis and processed in relation to this job application and will be stored and processed securely in accordance with our data information policy and procedures. By submitting an application, you agree to your data being used, stored and processed for the purpose of recruitment.
