This role will primarily support the Head of Business Operations – DLA Piper Africa, a member of the Management team, with key administrative activities relating to effective management and day to day running of the DLA Piper Africa region.

Additionally, the role holder may be required to provide discreet administrative support to other members of the DLA Piper Africa management team and other key stakeholders involved in DLA Piper Africa as required.

 

Please note this is a 12-month fixed term contract

 

Main duties and responsibilities

Support the Africa management team in delivering high quality services to their stakeholders across the continent and within DLA Piper international.

Board, CMP, AGM and Management Team meetings

• Support the Head of Business Operations with the arrangements for the Board, CMP, AGM and Africa Leadership and Management Team meetings


• Responsible for producing first drafts of presentations, minutes of meetings etc

 

DLA Piper Africa Committees

• Assist with the convening of DLA Piper Africa Board appointed committee meetings


• Prepare first draft of meeting minutes


• Follow-up on actions

 

Pole Position / Projects

Support the Head of Business Operations and other members of the DLA Piper Africa management team in the implementation and delivery of a variety of Africa-related initiatives and projects related to achieving our ambitions of pole position. These include, but are not limited to:

• People initiatives - e.g. re-design of the DLA Piper Africa induction programme


• Technology & Innovation initiatives – e.g. DLA Piper Africa SharePoint

 

Africa Fund

Support the Head of Business Operations with the overall management and reconciliation of the Africa Fund, including:

• Liaise with member firms to agree contributions


• Communicate with member firms regularly with regards to payments and receivables


• Reconciliation of DLA Piper Africa Fund bank account


• Liaise with the DLA Piper Treasury team as and when necessary


• Produce reports and analysis as required


• Support the preparation of approval requests to FinCom

 

Travel Co-ordination

• Working with DLA Piper's travel management company, coordinate complex international travel, accommodation, ground transportation and visas for the Head of Business Operations and, where required, other members of the DLA Piper Africa management team.


• Management and submission of expense claims

 

General

• Support the Head of Business Operations and COO in all aspects of their role to ensure the smooth running of their functions


• Undertake such other matters as may be requested or delegated from time to time

 

About you

• High resilience and adaptability - able to handle multiple priorities, working to sometimes conflicting timescales in a fast-paced and challenging environment


• Able to analyse data and produce high quality written communications in a succinct and professional manner, with a keen attention to detail


• Analytical thinking – able to spot inconsistencies and follow up appropriately


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with a range of stakeholders across multiple cultures and countries


• Advanced organisation skills – capable of scheduling complex meetings across multiple time zones involving senior stakeholders


• Proven ability to take accurate, concise and professional minutes, capturing decisions, actions and accountabilities


• Proficiency in preparing structured slide decks tailored to specific event requirements


• Ability to coordinate complex travel itineraries involving multiple time zones


• Diplomatic, patient and resourceful, with a solutions-focused approach 


• Take ownership of delegated tasks through to completion at a high standard


• Demonstrate a collaborative working style, together with the ability to be self-directed