Gold Fields Group Services (Pty) Ltd

Role Details

We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and driven individual to join the Legal and Corporate Affairs Team of Gold Fields Australia as Regional Legal Counsel.

This important role reports directly to the Vice President: Legal and Corporate Affairs and will be primarily responsible for management of the legal and compliance function in the region – including day to day management and supervision of our legal and tenements team. This strategic role will be required to engage directly with the Australian management team and collaborate across all portfolios to provide high quality legal advice in support of our key business objectives and to ensure that Gold Fields’ activities are undertaken with the highest standards of regulatory compliance, ethics and integrity. The role will also need to work closely with the Corporate Affairs team to support strategic stakeholder engagement and ESG objectives, including in relation to native title negotiations, community initiatives, and government policy.

This role is offered on a 9 day fortnight roster at our Perth corporate office on a permanent basis. For this role we are very open to full-time, part-time or job share options.

Key Responsibilities;

• Managing all day-to-day aspects of the legal and compliance function to support the Vice President: Legal and Corporate Affairs, through the provision of high-quality legal advice in all relevant areas of law affecting Gold Fields’ Australian operations including but not limited to contracting and supply chain, WHS, environment, native title, heritage, land access, privacy, data protection, anti-bribery and corruption and corporations law.
• Supervision of legal and tenements team (Legal Counsel and Superintendent: Tenements) by providing a supportive and collaborative environment in which objectives can be delivered and development opportunities realised. Managing any required external legal counsel and providing instructions as required.
• Proactively managing emerging legal issues and taking a leadership role to engage with all portfolios across the business including Corporate Affairs, Supply Chain, Finance, Sustainable Development, People and Engagement and Technical Services, as well as directly engaging with each Gold Fields Australian operation (Agnew, Granny Smith, Gruyere and St Ives) to ensure appropriate support is provided.
• Taking a leading role in strategic native title negotiations between Gold Fields and the Traditional Owners for the land on which each of our Australian operations are located. Associated support for heritage compliance and other community related initiatives, such as those under Gold Fields’ Reconciliation Action Plan, will also be required.
• Undertake the negotiation and delivery of high priority and high-risk contract negotiations, including for the supply of goods and services, consultancy arrangements, sale and purchase of assets and land access requirements, as well as the supervision of other day-to-day supply chain work.
• Provide legal support for key strategic projects in the Australian region, including contracting, regulatory and approval advice and oversight for renewable projects in support of Gold Fields’ ESG objectives.
• Supporting the Vice President: Legal and Corporate Affairs to ensure ongoing compliance through:
• • Providing regular advice and information to the business on legal risks, opportunities and reforms, including through training, presentations and representation in appropriate external industry forums;
• • Formulating, establishing and implementing applicable policies, procedures and strategies with respect to legal and compliance matters;
• • Assisting with any regulatory investigations or compliance actions; and
• • Managing and assisting with the annual legal compliance review for the Region, including assisting in internal and external audits.

Key factors to your success include;

• A Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) and at least ten (10) years PQE.
• Significant experience in a legal in-house counsel role for a mining and resources company, with experience in managing a team highly desirable.
• A proven track record of successfully advising organisations on a wide range of legal issues, including at senior management / executive level.
• All round commercial experience, sound knowledge of both front-end (contracts) and back-end (disputes) law. Experience in projects, land access, native title and stakeholder engagement is highly desirable.
• A collaborative and solutions driven approach, with a focus on building relationships both internal and external to the business in order to deliver outcomes.

Applications can be submitted via: https://careers.goldfields.com/Australia

Gold Fields is committed to achieving an inclusive workforce. We recognise that the diverse talent of our people will ultimately determine our growth, performance and success. We strongly encourage applications from female, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, as well as candidates with culturally diverse backgrounds.