Legal Manager job at Uganda Breweries Limited

Background

Uganda Breweries Limited (“UBL”) is a leading total adults beverage company in Uganda and a subsidiary of East African Breweries PLC (“EABL”), which is majority owned by Diageo PLC. UBL manufactures, markets and distributes a portfolio of leading alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage brands including the local flagship Bell Lager™and Uganda Waragi™ brands as well as international brands including Johnnie Walker, Singleton, Don Julio, J&B, Smirnoff, Cîroc & Ketel One Vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness™, among others, UBL operates within a highly supervised, dynamic and driven business environment.

The Legal Manager therefore operates within a matrix environment requiring tight-knit teamwork across UBL, EABL and Diageo stakeholders, whilst ensuring adherence to both local legal requirements and global governance standards.

Context/Scope

The Legal Manager is a key member of the UBL Legal Function and serves as a trusted legal and governance adviser to the business. The role supports the delivery of UBL’s strategic objectives by providing proactive, commercially focused and risk-based legal advice across the Demand, Supply and Enabling Functions including HR, Finance, Corporate Relations and Digital & Technology (D&T).

The role provides legal support across a broad range of matters including commercial contracting, marketing and sales initiatives, manufacturing and supply chain operations, workforce and labor relations, regulatory and policy engagement, litigation and dispute resolution, intellectual property management, data protection & privacy, Information Management and Security (IM&S), Brand Protection and Corporate Security.

The role also supports the Legal Director & Company Secretary in maintaining high standards of corporate governance, managing Board and shareholder matters, and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

As part of the wider EABL and Diageo Legal Function, the role contributes to regional legal projects, functional excellence initiatives and the continuous improvement of legal service delivery.

Market Complexity

UBL operates within an increasingly sophisticated legal and regulatory environment characterised by:

• Ongoing legislative and regulatory reforms.
• Enhanced regulatory scrutiny and enforcement activity.
• Heightened stakeholder expectations regarding governance and corporate responsibility.
• Increased risks relating to Consumer Protection, Product Liability, Competition Law and Data Protection & Privacy.
• Sophisticated and sometimes unexpected judicial and dispute resolution processes.
• Constantly evolving digital, technology and information security risks.
• Significant reputational considerations associated with operating market-leading consumer brands.

The Legal Manager must be capable of balancing commercial objectives with legal and regulatory requirements while supporting the business in managing emerging risks effectively to protect its reputation and maintain collaborator trust.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted legal and governance adviser to business leaders across Demand, Supply and Enabling Functions.
• Provide commercially focused, practical, and effective legal mentorship that enables business objectives while appropriately handling risk.
• Protect and strengthen UBL’s permission to operate by supporting compliance with applicable laws, regulations, governance requirements, and company policies or equivalent experience.
• Drive proactive identification, assessment and mitigation of legal and regulatory risks across the organisation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including regulators, government agencies, industry bodies, external counsel and third-party providers.
• Support the development of a strong culture of integrity, accountability and ethical conduct throughout the business.
• Promote legal awareness and capability building through regular business-wide training and collaborator engagement.
• Tap into expertise and standard methodologies from the wider EABL and Diageo Legal Function to strengthen legal service delivery and business outcomes.
• Demonstrate strong leadership through influence, collaboration and sound judgement when leading sophisticated legal, regulatory and governance matters.
• Ensure effective management of legal expenditure through proper budget management and optimisation of value derived from external legal advisers and other third-party service providers.

Purpose of Role

The Legal Manager provides high-quality legal support and governance oversight. This enables delivery of the business’ strategic and operational objectives while protecting it from legal, regulatory, financial, and reputational risk.

The Legal Manager role is generalist in nature, charged with providing legal support and general counselling to the Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) and International Distillers Uganda Limited (IDU) businesses in Uganda as well as East African Breweries Rwanda Limited (EABRL) in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 5 Accountabilities

1. Strategic Business Partnering and Commercial Enablement
   Serve as the primary legal partner to assigned business functions. Provide timely, pragmatic, and commercially focused legal advice. Support achieving strategic and operational objectives while managing legal and reputational risk appropriately.
2. Legal Risk Management, Compliance and Licence to Operate
   Protect UBL’s licence to operate through proactive identification, assessment and mitigation of legal and regulatory risks and by ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, corporate policies and governance standards.
3. Corporate Governance and Company Secretarial Support
   Support the Legal Director & Company Secretary in maintaining effective corporate governance frameworks, Board and shareholder processes, statutory compliance and the overall governance agenda of the company.
4. Litigation, Regulatory and Reputation Management
   Drive effective management of litigation, investigations, disputes and regulatory matters to minimise financial exposure, protect company assets and safeguard the reputation of UBL and its brands.
5. Legal Function Excellence and Continuous Improvement
   Support the delivery of a high-performing legal function through effective contract management, external counsel management, legal spend optimisation, knowledge management, technology adoption and process improvement initiatives.

Qualifications And Experience Required

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognised university.
• Postgraduate Diploma or equivalent experience in Legal Practice.
• Minimum of 5 years’ post-qualification legal experience.
• Demonstrated experience providing legal support within a corporate, commercial or highly regulated business environment.
• Strong experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Experience in leading litigation, disputes and external legal counsel.
• Sound knowledge of commercial law, corporate law, competition law, consumer protection law, employment law, intellectual property law and dispute resolution.
• Experience supporting regulatory engagement, compliance and risk management activities.
• Company secretarial and corporate governance experience will be an added advantage.
• Experience supporting multinational organisations and operating within matrix structures will be an added advantage.
• Strong commercial competence and ability to provide timely, practical, business-focused legal advice.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, drafting and communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capability.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
• High levels of integrity, professional judgement and personal accountability.

• Act as a trusted legal and governance adviser to business leaders across Demand, Supply and Enabling Functions.
• Provide commercially focused, practical, and effective legal mentorship that enables business objectives while appropriately handling risk.
• Protect and strengthen UBL’s permission to operate by supporting compliance with applicable laws, regulations, governance requirements, and company policies or equivalent experience.
• Drive proactive identification, assessment and mitigation of legal and regulatory risks across the organisation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including regulators, government agencies, industry bodies, external counsel and third-party providers.
• Support the development of a strong culture of integrity, accountability and ethical conduct throughout the business.
• Promote legal awareness and capability building through regular business-wide training and collaborator engagement.
• Tap into expertise and standard methodologies from the wider EABL and Diageo Legal Function to strengthen legal service delivery and business outcomes.
• Demonstrate strong leadership through influence, collaboration and sound judgement when leading sophisticated legal, regulatory and governance matters.
• Ensure effective management of legal expenditure through proper budget management and optimisation of value derived from external legal advisers and other third-party service providers.
• Serve as the primary legal partner to assigned business functions. Provide timely, pragmatic, and commercially focused legal advice. Support achieving strategic and operational objectives while managing legal and reputational risk appropriately.
• Protect UBL’s licence to operate through proactive identification, assessment and mitigation of legal and regulatory risks and by ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, corporate policies and governance standards.
• Support the Legal Director & Company Secretary in maintaining effective corporate governance frameworks, Board and shareholder processes, statutory compliance and the overall governance agenda of the company.
• Drive effective management of litigation, investigations, disputes and regulatory matters to minimise financial exposure, protect company assets and safeguard the reputation of UBL and its brands.
• Support the delivery of a high-performing legal function through effective contract management, external counsel management, legal spend optimisation, knowledge management, technology adoption and process improvement initiatives.

• Strong experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Experience in leading litigation, disputes and external legal counsel.
• Sound knowledge of commercial law, corporate law, competition law, consumer protection law, employment law, intellectual property law and dispute resolution.
• Experience supporting regulatory engagement, compliance and risk management activities.
• Strong commercial competence and ability to provide timely, practical, business-focused legal advice.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, drafting and communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capability.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
• High levels of integrity, professional judgement and personal accountability.

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognised university.
• Postgraduate Diploma or equivalent experience in Legal Practice.
• Minimum of 5 years’ post-qualification legal experience.
• Demonstrated experience providing legal support within a corporate, commercial or highly regulated business environment.
• Company secretarial and corporate governance experience will be an added advantage.
• Experience supporting multinational organisations and operating within matrix structures will be an added advantage.