Legal & Data Protection Officer

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The post holder is required to:-

Legal Strategy and Leadership:

• Develop and implement legal strategies and initiatives to support the hospital’s mission and objectives.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the legal team, ensuring alignment with hospital goals and values.
• Advise the hospital administration and board of directors on legal issues and risks.

Board and Committees’ support: Provide corporate secretarial services and administrative support to the operations of the hospital’s Board of Directors and Management;

• Developing annual Board and committees’ calendar
• Preparation Minutes for the Board committees
• Following up on matters arising from meetings
• Timely preparation and circulation of board packs to Board members
• Provide quality assurance for all board and committees’ documentation.
• Follow up on renewal of board members contracts as well as benefits

Legal Compliance:

• Monitor and ensure compliance with Uganda’s healthcare laws, regulations, and guidelines.
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance across all hospital operations.
• Conduct legal research and analysis to keep abreast of regulatory developments and industry trends.

Contract Management:

• Oversee the drafting, negotiation, and review of contracts with vendors, suppliers, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure contracts protect the hospital’s interests and comply with legal requirements.

Risk Management:

• Collaborate with the risk management team to identify and mitigate legal risks.
• Develop strategies to prevent legal issues related to patient care, malpractice claims, and insurance matters.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution:

• Manage or oversee litigation and legal disputes involving the hospital in collaboration with the external legal counsel.
• Coordinate with external counsel as necessary and represent the hospital in legal proceedings.

Policy Development and Implementation:

• Develop and implement hospital policies and procedures in collaboration with relevant departments.
• Ensure policies align with legal requirements and industry standards.

Training and Education:

• Conduct training sessions for hospital staff on legal issues, compliance, and risk management.
• Promote awareness of legal and ethical standards among hospital employees.

Data Protection, Privacy and Confidentiality:

• Oversee compliance with patient confidentiality laws and regulations in Uganda.
• Manage privacy-related policies and procedures.
• Provide guidance to data collectors, data processors, data controllers, and subjects about their data protection and privacy rights, obligations and responsibilities under the Act;
• Coordinate, supervise and monitor data collectors, data processors, data controllers and data subjects on all matters relating to the Act;
• build capacity of management of the Office and staff on compliance requirements under the Act and these regulations;
• Set, monitor and regulate standards for personal data protection and privacy;
• Conduct audits to ensure compliance by data collectors, data processors, data controllers and data subjects with the Act and these Regulations and address potential issues pro-actively;

• Bachelor of Laws
• Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
• Enrolled Advocate
• Possession of a Valid Practicing License

Experience:

• 3 Years of Post Qualification Legal experience preferably in a hospital setting

Competencies/Abilities:

• Expertise in healthcare-specific laws and regulations
• Clinical and Operational Knowledge: Understanding of clinical practices and hospital operations to effectively address legal and compliance issues that impact patient care and hospital administration.
• Risk Management: Skills in identifying, assessing, and mitigating legal risks specific to the healthcare industry, including issues related to patient safety, medical malpractice, and regulatory compliance.
• Ethics and Compliance: Strong grasp of ethical considerations in healthcare, including patient privacy, informed consent, and conflict of interest management.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ability to ensure the hospital adheres to state, and local regulations, including accreditation standards from bodies like SANAS.
• Legal Advisory: Proficiency in providing legal advice on a wide range of issues, including contracts with suppliers and third parties, employment law, and patient-related legal matters.
• Policy Development and Implementation: Experience in developing, implementing, and monitoring hospital policies and procedures to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
• Investigations and Audits: Capability to conduct internal investigations, manage compliance audits, and address findings to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Communication Skills: Excellent ability to communicate complex legal and compliance issues clearly to various stakeholders, including hospital staff, board members, and regulatory agencies.
• Leadership and Management: Strong leadership skills to manage and mentor the legal and compliance team and coordinate with other departments to integrate compliance into everyday practices.
• Crisis Management: Proficiency in handling legal and compliance crises, including managing legal disputes and addressing regulatory enforcement actions.
• Training and Development: The ability to develop and deliver training programs to educate hospital staff about legal and compliance issues in the healthcare environment.
• Confidentiality and Discretion: High discretion and ability to handle sensitive patient and hospital information with confidentiality and integrity.

How to Apply:

Candidates that have relevant experience, know that they meet the above criteria and have what it takes to excel in the above position, should submit their applications addressed to the Human Resource Manager at the HR office

Deadline: 29th April 2025 by 5.00pm