Manager - Legal, Compliance & Secretariat

JOB SUMMARY:

The Manager – Legal, Compliance & Secretariat is responsible for leading and driving all legal, governance, and compliance strategies across Magma Group. As the principal legal advisor to the Group Chairman, Board, and Senior Management, this role ensures that all business decisions are executed within a robust legal, regulatory, and ethical framework.

This position also spearheads the Group's corporate governance agenda, oversees enterprise-wide legal risk management, and ensures full regulatory compliance across Malaysia and any overseas jurisdictions where the Group operates.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Legal Advisory & Strategy

• Provide legal counsel to Group Chairman, Board and Senior Management on contracts, regulatory matters, employment law, corporate governance, and general business operations.
• Formulate and execute Group Legal & Compliance strategy aligned with business expansion and sustainability goals.
• Advise on strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and cross-border project structures.
• Establish and lead the Legal Department, defining structure, systems, and policies.
• Ensure compliance with Malaysian legislation.
• Liaise with government authorities

Contract Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts with third parties, including contraction, procurement, services, commercial and logistics service agreements.

Business Development & Projects

• Support Magma Group's organic and external growth by assessing legal feasibility, preparing and negotiating pre-contracts (such as MOUs and NDAs), reviewing, drafting, and executing definitive agreements, and providing legal support for the launch and development of operations

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

• Oversee dispute resolution, arbitration, and litigation strategies across all projects.
• Appoint and coordinate with external counsels as necessary, ensuring cost-effective and timely resolution.
• Provide proactive advice to prevent disputes and strengthen internal governance.
• Represent the company in negotiations and settlement discussions, as necessary.

Corporate Governance

• Lead all corporate legal matters including overseeing company secretarial matters for Magma Group's legal entities in collaboration with the Company Secretary, including board meetings, board resolutions, annual general meetings, dividends distribution, administrative changes and regulatory filings
• Ensure timely filings and adherence to corporate requirements under the Companies Act 2016.
• Oversee project risk management, ensuring contractual protection for the Group assets and IP.
• Support business units on bids, proposals, and procurement negotiations.

Regulatory, Compliance & ESG Governance

• Ensure full compliance with the Companies Act, SEDA, Suruhanjaya Tenaga, MACC Act, PDPA, and ESG governance standards.
• Develop internal compliance and ethics frameworks, including anti-bribery policies and whistleblowing mechanisms.
• Handle internal queries on regulatory requirements and compliance policies and procedures.
• Assist in developing and implementing communication strategy and compliance training programs to assist employees and increase their awareness of the latest legal and ethical standards that apply to their jobs.
• Provide relevant regulatory and compliance advisory support and disseminate any changes across the business.
• Represent the Company in engagements with regulators, authorities, and external counsel.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and develop team (non-lawyers).
• Provide training and guidance to internal departments on legal matters and risks.
• Collaborate closely with operations, finance, and HR teams.
• Work on any other projects and assignments as directed from time to time.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a recognised institution; master's degree or professional certifications (ICSA, IIA, etc.) are an advantage.
• Admitted to the Malaysian Bar, with a valid practising certificate or significant in-house counsel experience.
• Minimum 5-10 years of progressive legal experience.
• Experience handling government liaison and regulatory matters in Malaysia.
• Strong legal analysis and commercial negotiation skills.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance in public-listed or group structures.
• Exposure to EPCC contracting, M&A, joint-venture, and corporate financing would be an added advantage.
• Proven ability to advise Boards and senior management on corporate strategy, risk, and compliance.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills.
• High integrity, strong ethical standards, discretion, and commercial acumen.
• Leadership and people management capabilities.