Manager, Legal Full Time NEW

JOB SUMMARY

The Manager, Legal leads the Legal Department of the Tobago Urban and Rural Housing Corporation Limited (TURHC), providing sound and timely legal advice to support the Corporation’s affordable housing, land development, estate management, procurement, contract administration, corporate governance and operational functions. The role manages legal risk, reviews and advises on contracts, coordinates litigation and dispute resolution, advises on statutory and regulatory compliance, and ensures transparency, accountability and value for money in alignment with the Corporation’s strategic mandate. The incumbent collaborates with the General Manager, Board of Directors, Corporate Secretary, internal departments and external counsel to ensure that TURHC’s decisions and actions are legally sound and well-documented.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Department Leadership and Legal Strategy

• Lead the Legal Department in line with TURHC’s objectives, structure, policies, procedures and lawful instructions.
• Develop legal work plans, priorities, procedures and service standards.
• Identify legal risks and recommend practical solutions to protect TURHC and support sound decisions.

Legal Advisory and Opinion Services

• Provide legal advice and opinions on housing development, land use, procurement, FIDIC and other contracts, employment, property, governance, compliance and operations.
• Interpret relevant legislation, regulations, policies, agreements and legal documents.
• Advise on Board papers, management decisions, policies, correspondence, agreements and stakeholder commitments.

Contract Review, Drafting and Negotiation

• Draft, review and vet contracts, MOUs, leases, licences, deeds, conveyancing documents, development, service and consultancy agreements, and other legal instruments.
• Support negotiations and protect TURHC’s rights, obligations, payment terms, performance requirements, remedies, indemnities, securities, dispute-resolution and termination provisions.
• Work with Procurement and Contracts to ensure procurement documents, awards, variations and commitments are legally sound and supported.

Land, Property and Housing Transaction Support

• Provide legal support for land development, housing allocation, sales, leases, licences, estate management and property regularisation.
• Review titles, deeds, land and survey records, property agreements and other transaction documents with relevant departments and external professionals.
• Advise on ownership, boundaries, encumbrances, access, acquisitions, easements, occupancy, default, repossession, arrears, transfers, sales and estate-management risks.
• Prepare and review documentation for housing and plot sales, tenancy/licence arrangements and related property transactions.

Litigation, Claims and Dispute Management

• Manage and coordinate TURHC’s litigation, claims, disputes, pre-action correspondence, settlement discussions and other contentious matters in consultation with the General Manager and external counsel where required.
• Prepare, review or coordinate legal correspondence, instructions to external counsel, case summaries, evidence bundles, witness statements, settlement briefs and reports on active legal matters.
• Maintain a litigation and claims register and provide periodic updates on legal exposure, risk status, recommended action and likely financial or operational implications.

Governance, Compliance and Policy Support

• Support the development, review and implementation of policies, procedures, guidelines and templates to strengthen TURHC’s legal compliance, corporate governance and operational accountability.
• Advise on compliance with relevant laws and regulations, including company law, employment and industrial relations requirements, procurement legislation, occupational safety and health obligations, data protection/confidentiality requirements and public sector governance expectations.

Procurement and Public Sector Legal Support

• Provide legal advice on procurement-related matters, including solicitation documents, contracts (FIDIC et al), clarifications, evaluation-related legal risks, standstill issues, contract award, variations, extensions, termination, performance securities and claims.
• Support compliance with applicable public procurement legislation, regulations, approved procurement procedures and governance requirements in collaboration with the Procurement and Contracts Department.

Stakeholder Management, Legal Records and Confidentiality

• Recommend, coordinate and monitor the use of external counsel and specialist legal service providers where matters require additional capacity or specialist expertise.
• Establish and maintain secure legal records, registers, contract files, litigation files, opinions, templates, deeds, agreements and correspondence in accordance with approved records management standards.
• Ensure that confidential, privileged, sensitive and personal information handled by the Legal Department is protected and disclosed only where authorized or legally required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) from an accredited institution and Legal Education Certificate (LEC) or equivalent qualification recognized for admission to practice law in Trinidad and Tobago.
• Admission to practice as an Attorney-at-Law in Trinidad and Tobago in good standing.
• At least eight (8) to ten (10) years’ post-qualification experience in legal practice, corporate legal services, public sector legal advisory work, real estate/property law, commercial law, procurement/contract law or a related area, including at least four (4) years in a supervisory, managerial or senior legal advisory role.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, legal research tools and digital records management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Advanced knowledge of the laws, regulations, policies and governance requirements, including company law, contract law, property and conveyancing law, public sector governance, procurement legislation and procedures, employment/industrial relations, occupational safety and health.
  • Ability to draft, review, negotiate and advise on contracts, agreements, leases, licenses, deeds, memoranda of understanding, procurement documents and other legal instruments with accuracy and practical risk awareness.
  • Strong understanding of legal issues affecting land development, housing sales, plot sales, leases, licenses, ownership, occupation, arrears, transfers, repossession, estate management and related property transactions.
  • Ability to interpret complex legal issues, provide sound legal opinions and recommend practical solutions that protect TURHC’s interests while supporting effective service delivery and decision-making.

  Interested candidates are asked to submit applications comprising a cover letter; an updated Curriculum Vitae with copies of all relevant academic certificates, and a valid certificate of character no later than

  August 27th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. and addressed to:

  The General Manager

  Tobago Urban and Rural Housing Corporation

  Montessori Street, Glen Road

  Scarborough, Tobago

  OR

  via E-mail as follows: recruitment.turhc@gmail.com

  The E-mail subject line should read: Manager, Legal

  UNSUITABLE APPLICATIONS AND APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE STIPULATED DEADLINE DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE ACKNOWLEDGED