Senior Legal Administration Officer (Mr-6)

About the role

The Department of Water and Sanitation is hiring a Senior Legal Administration Officer (Mr-6) in Limpopo-Olifants Catchment Management Agency Division: Corporate Support Services: Legal Services, based in Polokwane. This is a permanent post, paying R610,434 a year. How to apply: All applications to be submitted online on the following link: https://erecruitment.dws.gov.za/ Reference number to quote: LOCMA 29 Closing date: 20 November 2026 Use the new Z83 form and attach a detailed CV. Note: The Limpopo-Olifants Catchment Management Agency is a Public Water Resource Management Agency, established in line with the provisions of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act no 36 of 1998) (NWA) and National Water Policy for South Africa. It is an entity of the National Department of Water and Sanitation. Employees appointed in the CMA have similar employment terms and conditions as those of employees appointed in terms of the Public Service Act, though not employed in terms of the Public Service Act.

Responsibilities

• The incumbent will be responsible for providing legal advisory services to LOCMA and its functionaries.
• Conduct, analyse, interpret, advise and mentor juniors on research that will provide information and case law relevant to the legal matter at hand, including providing legal support to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, collecting and analysing data and information for planning, decision-making and management reporting, analysing current policies and strategic objectives, developing standard operating procedures, and compiling research memoranda.
• Draft legal documents and advise and mentor juniors on legal drafting, including drafting legal documents, memoranda, reports and submissions, drafting, vetting and reviewing contracts on behalf of LOCMA, drafting legal opinions and documents to support criminal prosecutions for contraventions of the National Water Act, negotiating and drafting multilateral and bilateral agreements, ensuring compliance with the Constitution and domestic and international legal obligations, rendering legal support in all litigation matters, and obtaining outstanding information and initiating the recovery process, including issuing letters of demand.
• Present on and advise and mentor juniors on proposals on how specific cases should be approached, including receiving, recording and assessing new matters, advising clients on possible courses of action during consultation, and drafting legal opinions on behalf of LOCMA.
• Conduct interviews to determine clients' goals and objectives, including handling litigation matters and appeals, including National Water Tribunal appeals, on behalf of LOCMA, monitoring court cases from inception to final stage, liaising with the Office of the State Attorney on litigation matters, and keeping the litigation register updated.
• Document interviews and all legal advice given during legal consultation in writing, including monitoring the implementation of PAIA and PAJA, ensuring compliance and handling PAIA and PAJA matters on behalf of LOCMA, and submitting recommendations, queries and comments to clients.
• Develop and coach others and constructively review their work in order to improve and advance the skills, knowledge and performance levels of those who report to them, including providing advice and guidance to lower-level production employees on advanced interview techniques to address sensitive or complicated issues, providing sound legal advice that serves the interests of LOCMA, monitoring performance and service delivery targets, and measuring and improving work methods, procedures and systems.

Requirements

• An LLB degree or equivalent qualification.
• At least 8 years' appropriate post-qualification legal experience.
• Knowledge of policy development and implementation.
• Knowledge of government legal processes, legislation and contracts.
• Knowledge of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA), the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (PAJA), the Constitution and all relevant legislation, including the Treasury Regulations.
• Knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
• Ability to negotiate and draft contracts and international instruments.
• Ability to interpret specific environmental legislation and issues affecting the environment, as well as general environmental law.
• Legal research and interpretation.
• Analytical and report-writing skills.
• Programme and project management.
• Computer literacy.
• Good planning and decision-making skills.
• Language proficiency.
• Confidentiality.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Strategic capability and leadership skills.
• Accountability and ethical conduct.