Senior Managing Counsel at The VISA, Apply now!

Job Details

📌 Job Title: Senior Managing Counsel – Southern and East Africa
🏢 Company: Visa
📂 Department: Legal and Regulatory Affairs
📍 Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
🕒 Job Type: Full-Time
🏢 Workplace Type: Hybrid

Company Overview

Visa is a global leader in digital payments, enabling secure and reliable transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories.

The company is recognised for driving innovation in financial technology and helping businesses and individuals access faster, safer and more efficient payment solutions. Visa’s Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa legal team supports the business by managing legal, regulatory and commercial matters across a diverse and rapidly evolving region.

Job Overview

The Senior Managing Counsel – Southern and East Africa will lead all legal matters across Visa’s Southern and East Africa region. This is a high-level leadership role for an experienced commercial and payments technology lawyer who can provide strategic legal guidance across multiple markets.

The successful candidate will support regional leadership, oversee complex commercial agreements, manage legal risk and ensure full compliance with local laws and regulations. The role also includes leading and developing the regional legal team while supporting Visa’s continued growth across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all legal matters across Southern and East Africa
• Provide strategic legal guidance to the regional leadership team
• Draft, negotiate and finalise complex commercial and strategic partnership agreements
• Ensure compliance with local laws, regulations and internal legal policies
• Advise on competition law, payment technologies and new payment flows
• Support legal aspects of Visa’s investments and business expansion across the region
• Act as the main legal advisor to the Group Country Manager and regional leadership
• Manage legal risks and escalate major concerns when necessary
• Lead and develop the Southern and East Africa legal team
• Provide guidance to business teams on contractual structures and legal best practices
• Work closely with compliance and risk teams to maintain a legally compliant environment
• Improve legal processes and operational efficiency across the team
• Collaborate with regional and global legal colleagues to ensure consistent legal approaches
• Travel when required to support business operations across the region

Qualifications

Education

• Law Degree
• Legal qualification that allows in-house legal practice in South Africa

Experience

• Minimum of 15 years post-qualification experience
• Experience gained within an international law firm and/or multinational company
• Strong background in banking, financial technology, payments or information technology sectors
• Experience working within a US-based, multinational or highly matrixed organisation
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements
• Proven experience advising senior executives and leadership teams

Skills

• Strong commercial, legal and strategic thinking ability
• Excellent leadership and team management skills
• Strong negotiation and influencing ability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively across departments and regions
• Executive presence and ability to engage with senior stakeholders
• Global mindset and collaborative approach
• Fluency in English is essential
• Additional languages spoken within Southern and East Africa will be advantageous

CV Tips

To improve your chances of being shortlisted:

• Highlight your experience in banking, payments, fintech or commercial law
• Include examples of major contracts, strategic partnerships or regulatory matters you have managed
• Demonstrate your experience advising executive teams and senior management
• Clearly show your leadership experience and your ability to manage legal teams
• Mention your experience within multinational organisations or international law firms
• Include any regional experience across Southern or East Africa
• Tailor your CV to emphasise your strategic, commercial and cross-border legal expertise

Benefits of Joining the Company

• Opportunity to join one of the world’s leading payments technology companies
• Work on high-level legal matters across multiple African markets
• Collaborate with global, regional and local leadership teams
• Lead and develop a growing legal team
• Exposure to innovative payment technologies and fintech developments
• Hybrid working environment with international career opportunities
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a globally recognised organisation

Company Policy

Visa is committed to equal opportunity and inclusive employment practices. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.

The company values diversity, collaboration and integrity and is dedicated to creating an environment where employees are respected, supported and encouraged to achieve their full potential.