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Senior Legal Counsel
Senior Legal Counsel
LOCATION: South Africa
JOB GRADING: D Upper
About the Role
Gold Fields is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join the Group Legal and Governance function. Reporting to the Managing Counsel – South Africa, the successful candidate will support our South Deep Gold Mine and corporate office in Johannesburg, providing a full range of legal services across contract drafting, dispute management, compliance, safety, corporate governance, and related areas.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide commercially focused legal advice across all areas of legal and regulatory risk, including:
- Commercial contracts
- Procurement and supply chain matters
- Proactively identify legal risks, offer appropriate advice, and develop practical management strategies in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Support the broader legal function with:
- Contract drafting and negotiation
- Ad hoc legal advisory services
- Dispute and incident management
- Safety compliance
- Corporate governance
- Review and advise on contracts across operational activities, including:
- Land access, mining rights, community agreements, and third-party engagements
- Provide legal advice on:
- Mining rights
- Regulatory approvals and permits
- Engagements with regulators (collaborating with the Sustainable Development function)
- Ensure compliance and proper recordkeeping relating to mining rights, including challenges, claims, and regulatory issues.
- Work with external legal counsel where required for high-value negotiations, projects, or disputes.
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including:
- Operations, finance, contracts, sustainable development, people, and corporate affairs
- Align legal strategies with business objectives
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legal and regulatory developments impacting South African operations and provide proactive compliance guidance.
- Support Group Legal & Governance initiatives, including:
- Compliance programmes
- Ethics and Code of Conduct requirements
- Provide legal support and lead investigations, including:
- Matters from the Gold Fields Hotline
- Safety incidents
- Regulatory complaints
- Assist in reviewing and updating legal and governance policies and procedures.
- Mentor junior team members and contribute to capability development within the legal function and broader business.
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Key Success Factors
- Qualification: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent, with admission to practice law in South Africa.
- Experience:
- Minimum 8–10 years in a senior legal position, preferably within a large, complex organisation.
- Mining or resource extraction industry experience is highly advantageous.
- Proven ability to:
- Lead legal teams
- Manage complex legal projects
- Mitigate risk in highly operational environments
- Regulatory & Legal Knowledge:
- Familiarity with South African mining legislation and regulatory requirements.
- Beneficial: Experience with JSE and NYSE listed entities.
- Soft Skills:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities—ability to build credibility with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong leadership and team management skills with the capacity to:
- Develop high-performing legal teams
- Demonstrate analytical problem-solving and attention to detail
- Strategic mindset to align legal strategies with business objectives.
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Closing Date
Applications must be submitted by 10 July 2026.
How to Apply
Submit via SuccessFactors: Internal
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