Legal Officer

We are seeking a qualified and detail-oriented Legal Officer to provide legal support, compliance guidance, contract management, and risk-management services to the organization.

The Legal Officer will support the organization in ensuring that its operations, research activities, partnerships, contracts, employment matters, and other institutional activities comply with applicable Tanzanian laws, regulations, contractual obligations, ethical requirements, and internal policies.

The successful candidate should have strong legal research, drafting, analytical, communication, and documentation skills, with the ability to provide practical legal advice to management and operational teams.

The Legal Officer will provide day-to-day legal and compliance support across the organization. The role involves reviewing and drafting agreements, conducting legal research, monitoring regulatory requirements, supporting research-related compliance, managing legal documentation, and identifying potential legal and operational risks.

The position will work closely with management, researchers, project teams, finance, HR, procurement, external legal counsel, government authorities, partners, and other stakeholders.

A strong understanding of Tanzanian legislation, contracts, employment law, data protection, research ethics, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance will be an advantage.

Legal Advisory & Compliance

• Provide legal advice and guidance to management and staff on day-to-day organizational matters.
• Conduct legal research and interpret applicable laws, regulations, policies, and contractual obligations.
• Monitor changes in Tanzanian legislation and regulatory requirements relevant to the organization's operations.
• Advise departments on legal and compliance requirements associated with their activities.
• Identify potential legal risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
• Support the development and review of internal policies, procedures, guidelines, and legal frameworks.
• Maintain a legal and regulatory compliance calendar where required.
• Assist management in ensuring organizational activities remain compliant with applicable laws and regulations.

Contract Management

• Draft, review, and revise contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, service agreements, consultancy agreements, and other legal documents.
• Review contractual terms and identify potential risks, liabilities, obligations, and unfavorable provisions.
• Support negotiations with clients, partners, suppliers, consultants, institutions, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain an organized database of contracts and agreements.
• Monitor contract expiry dates, renewal requirements, deliverables, and key obligations.
• Ensure contracts receive the appropriate internal approvals before execution.
• Support the organization in addressing contractual disputes and non-compliance.

Research Legal & Ethical Compliance

• Provide legal support for research projects and activities.
• Review research-related agreements, collaboration arrangements, data-sharing agreements, and other project documentation.
• Support teams in understanding legal and regulatory requirements applicable to research activities.
• Assist in ensuring appropriate approvals and documentation are obtained before research activities commence.
• Support compliance with applicable research ethics and institutional requirements.
• Assist in reviewing research protocols and related documentation from a legal and compliance perspective.
• Provide guidance on the lawful collection, processing, storage, sharing, and retention of research data.

Data Protection & Privacy

• Support compliance with applicable personal data protection and privacy requirements in Tanzania.
• Advise teams on appropriate handling and processing of personal and sensitive information.
• Review data-processing agreements, consent documentation, privacy notices, and data-sharing arrangements.
• Support the development and implementation of data protection policies and procedures.
• Assist in assessing legal and compliance risks associated with the use of personal data.
• Support response procedures for potential data protection incidents and breaches.
• Promote awareness of confidentiality and responsible data handling across the organization.

Intellectual Property

• Advise on intellectual property matters relating to research outputs, publications, software, databases, reports, training materials, trademarks, and other organizational assets.
• Support the protection and management of the organization's intellectual property.
• Review intellectual property provisions in contracts and partnership agreements.
• Assist in addressing copyright, licensing, ownership, and usage rights.
• Maintain appropriate records relating to intellectual property where required.

Employment & HR Legal Support

• Provide legal support on employment-related matters.
• Review employment contracts, consultancy agreements, disciplinary documentation, and other HR-related legal documents.
• Advise HR and management on applicable employment laws and workplace requirements.
• Support management in handling employment disputes and grievances.
• Monitor changes in employment legislation and advise relevant departments accordingly.
• Assist in ensuring HR practices remain legally compliant.

Regulatory & Government Relations

• Assist with regulatory registrations, licenses, permits, and compliance requirements.
• Liaise with relevant government authorities, regulators, institutions, and professional bodies when required.
• Prepare legal and regulatory documentation for submission to relevant authorities.
• Monitor regulatory deadlines and ensure required filings are completed on time.
• Maintain records of licenses, certificates, registrations, and regulatory correspondence.

Legal Research & Documentation

• Conduct legal research on issues affecting the organization's activities.
• Prepare legal opinions, briefing notes, summaries, and advisory memoranda.
• Review court decisions, legislation, regulations, regulatory guidance, and other relevant legal materials.
• Maintain organized legal files and confidential records.
• Prepare reports on legal and compliance matters for management.
• Ensure legal documents are properly archived and easily retrievable.

Dispute & Risk Management

• Assist in identifying and assessing legal and contractual risks.
• Support management in preventing and resolving disputes.
• Coordinate with external advocates and legal consultants when necessary.
• Assist with the preparation of documentation relating to disputes, claims, or legal proceedings.
• Maintain records of legal disputes and their status.
• Support implementation of measures designed to reduce legal and regulatory exposure.

Policy Development

1. Assist in developing, reviewing, and updating organizational policies.
2. Ensure policies are aligned with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
3. Provide legal input into policies relating to:

• Data protection
• Research ethics
• Human resources
• Procurement
• Conflict of interest
• Intellectual property
• Confidentiality
• Information security
• Whistleblowing
• Anti-fraud and anti-corruption

• Bachelor's degree in Law (LL.B) from a recognized institution.
• Additional training in compliance, data protection, research ethics, corporate governance, or contract management is an advantage.
• 2–4 years of relevant experience in legal practice, corporate legal services, compliance, research institutions, NGOs, development organizations, or a related environment.
• Practical experience in contract drafting and review.
• Experience conducting legal research and preparing legal opinions.
• Experience interpreting Tanzanian legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Experience handling confidential information and sensitive documentation.
• Experience working with research organizations, NGOs, universities, healthcare organizations, development projects, or international organizations is an advantage.
• Technical & Professional Skills
• Strong knowledge of Tanzanian legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong contract drafting and review skills.
• Excellent legal research and analytical abilities.
• Good understanding of employment law.
• Understanding of data protection and privacy principles.
• Understanding of research ethics and regulatory compliance.
• Good knowledge of intellectual property principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent documentation and record-keeping abilities.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Good negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to explain complex legal matters in clear and practical language.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital document-management tools.

Key Competencies

• Legal analysis and interpretation.
• Contract management.
• Regulatory compliance.
• Risk assessment.
• Legal research.
• Negotiation.
• Policy development.
• Data protection awareness.
• Research ethics awareness.
• Strong written communication.
• Problem-solving.
• Professional judgment.
• Confidentiality and integrity.
• Organization and time management.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.