Head of Legal - International Assignment – Conakry, Guinea

Job title: Head of Legal - International Assignment – Conakry, Guinea

Company Description

IOTA GROUP is an international recruitment and technical services company specialising in the energy, mining, infrastructure and natural resources sectors.

As part of a direct recruitment assignment on behalf of one of our prestigious international clients, a leading global group in the mining and natural resources industry, we are currently seeking a highly experienced Head of Legal – Senior Corporate Counsel for a strategic position based in Conakry, Guinea.

This is a direct-hire opportunity with our client, offering the successful candidate the chance to take on a key leadership role within a major international mining and infrastructure project.

The selected candidate will join our client's organisation directly and play a central role in providing strategic legal advice, supporting executive management and overseeing complex legal and regulatory matters.

Job Description

We are looking for a senior, commercially minded and internationally experienced legal professional to provide strategic legal leadership and support executive decision-making in a complex mining and infrastructure environment.

The successful candidate will act as a key legal adviser to the local Managing Director and senior leadership team, ensuring that legal risks are effectively managed while supporting major commercial, operational and regulatory decisions.

This is a highly strategic position requiring strong leadership, corporate and commercial law expertise, government relations experience and the ability to operate in complex multicultural environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Legal Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Lead and manage the in-country legal function, ensuring effective legal support across business and project operations.

• Act as a trusted legal adviser to the Managing Director and senior leadership team.

• Provide strategic, commercially focused legal advice on complex business decisions.

• Coordinate with international legal teams and external legal advisers.

• Oversee legal priorities, resources, external counsel and associated budgets.

• Corporate, Commercial & Project Legal Matters

• Provide legal guidance on major commercial contracts, joint ventures, infrastructure agreements and corporate governance matters.

• Lead or support complex contractual negotiations involving international partners and stakeholders.

• Advise on regulatory obligations, operational requirements and contractual risks.

• Support legal matters relating to mining operations, infrastructure development, land access and project execution.

• Identify potential legal exposure and implement appropriate risk mitigation strategies.

• Government Relations & Regulatory Compliance

• Provide legal support for high-level interactions and negotiations with government authorities, ministries and regulators.

• Advise on applicable legal frameworks and regulatory requirements in Guinea.

• Manage sensitive legal matters, including disputes, investigations and external legal proceedings.

• Support engagement with public institutions and relevant stakeholders.

• Ethics, Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with applicable legal and regulatory obligations.

• Advise on anti-bribery, anti-corruption, competition law and corporate compliance requirements.

• Promote strong ethical standards and responsible business practices.

• Support internal governance processes and legal risk management initiatives.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer admitted to practise in at least one jurisdiction.
• Minimum 10 years of post-qualification legal experience (PQE).
• Strong corporate and commercial law expertise, including complex contractual negotiations.
• Proven experience in mining, infrastructure, natural resources or major industrial projects.
• Demonstrated experience in Africa or comparable emerging-market environments.
• Previous experience advising senior executives and business leadership on strategic legal matters.
• Excellent professional proficiency in both French and English.
• Strong knowledge of corporate governance, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance and legal risk management.
• Ability and willingness to work in Conakry, Guinea.

The following experience would be particularly valuable:

• Previous experience in Guinea or West Africa.

• Experience working for a major international mining operator, natural resources company or infrastructure developer.

• Previous position as Head of Legal, Legal Director, General Counsel or Senior Corporate Counsel.

• Experience managing joint ventures, government negotiations and major infrastructure agreements.

• Exposure to large-scale mining developments, including construction and operational phases.

• Previous responsibility for leading legal teams or managing external counsel.

• Familiarity with complex multi-stakeholder environments involving international investors, governments and project partners.

• Leadership & Personal Competencies

We are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and independent decision-making capabilities.

• Excellent commercial judgment and strategic thinking.

• High-level negotiation and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to influence and advise executive leadership.

• Integrity, discretion and a strong sense of professional ethics.

• A pragmatic, solution-oriented approach to legal challenges.

• Ability to work under pressure in a complex international environment.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Additional Information

• This opportunity offers the chance to contribute to a major international mining and infrastructure project in Guinea, operating at the intersection of commercial strategy, legal governance and large-scale industrial development.

• The successful candidate will work closely with senior decision-makers and international stakeholders, playing a central role in supporting the project's strategic and operational objectives.

• If you are an experienced legal leader with strong commercial expertise, international exposure and a background in major industrial or natural resources projects, we encourage you to apply.

• Join IOTA GROUP and contribute your expertise to one of Africa's most significant industrial development environments.