About Simeka

Simeka Consultants and Actuaries (Simeka), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanlam Corporate, brings together specialist expertise in employee benefits, investment consulting, actuarial services and healthcare consulting. Its distinctive strength lies in connecting technical rigour with strategic perspective—turning complex benefit and financial considerations into clear, considered advice. Serving retirement funds, employers, medical scheme members, trade unions and individual fund members, Simeka shapes tailored solutions around each client’s priorities. The result is an integrated advisory offering focused on informed decisions, enduring client relationships and sustainable long-term value. Within Sanlam Corporate’s broader value chain, Simeka contributes specialist advice that helps align retirement, risk, investment and health solutions with client and member needs.

Purpose of the Role

As the Senior Legal and Technical Specialist you will provide high-level legal, technical, regulatory and governance support within the Simeka Consult Legal and Technical function. You will advise consultants, retirement funds, boards of trustees, principal officers and employer clients on retirement fund and employee benefits matters, interpret legislative and regulatory developments and translate them into practical, client-focused solutions. You will draft and review legal opinions, fund rules, policies, agreements and regulatory communications, contribute to trustee and consultant training, and support Simeka Consult’s thought leadership and strategic projects. The role requires legal research, written communication, presentation and stakeholder-management skills, together with sound business insight and the ability to manage complex, ambiguous and sometimes contentious matters. This role requires, professional judgement, ownership and accountability, together with the ability to use technology and AI appropriately while retaining responsibility for accuracy, quality assurance and client-specific application. The position is based in Sandton/Bellville/Centurion and forms part of the Sanlam Corporate business environment.

Overview of Role Responsibilities (Level 1-13)

Legal- Level 7 - Optimisation
Design, develop, and deliver the organization's legal service with guidance from senior colleagues.

Information and Business Advice- Level 7 - Optimisation
Provide specialist advice on the interpretation and application of policies and procedures, resolving complex or contentious queries and issues and enabling others to take appropriate actions.

Document Preparation- Level 7 - Optimisation
Write and edit material for various target populations, tailoring the tone and content to match the needs and expectations of each audience.

External Communications- Level 7 - Optimisation
Develop and/or deliver a plan for significant aspects of external communications with guidance from senior colleagues.

Litigation Management- Level 7 - Optimisation
Manage the implementation of the organization's litigation strategy and methods ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and cost-conscious processing.

Required Skills

Presentation Skills - Advanced
Works at an advanced level to communicate and deliver information verbally in a clear, concise and compelling manner to other people. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

Written Communication - Advanced
Works at an advanced level to express ideas, request actions, formulate plans, and policies by means of clear and effective writing. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

Law and Regulations - Advanced
Works at an advanced level to professionally interpret and apply knowledge of laws. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

Legal Communication - Advanced
Works at an advanced level to communicate effectively on legal matters. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

Legal Research - Advanced
Works at an advanced level to research and apply legal concepts and information. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

Legal Compliance and Procedures - Advanced
Works at an advanced level to ensure adherence to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies within legal proceedings and documentation. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

Key responsibilities

Legal and technical advisory

• Provide specialist legal and technical advice to consultants, retirement funds, boards of trustees, principal officers, employer clients and internal stakeholders on complex retirement fund and employee benefits matters.

• Research, interpret and apply legislation, regulations, regulatory instruments, fund rules, case law and industry guidance, and convert these into practical recommendations and implementation steps.

• Prepare clear, well-reasoned legal and technical opinions and support complex matters including retirement benefits, membership, contributions, death benefits, divorce and maintenance orders and other regulatory matters.

Regulatory monitoring and implementation

• Monitor developments from the FSCA, National Treasury, the Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator, legislators and relevant industry bodies, assess their impact and communicate material developments to consultants and clients.

• Prepare legal and technical distribution communications, practical implementation guidance and commentary on proposed legislation, regulatory instruments, discussion papers and industry consultations.

• Support funds and boards with regulatory implementation, submissions, rule amendments and governance changes.

Governance, drafting and quality assurance

• Advise on fiduciary duties, board governance, policies, conflicts of interest, service-provider governance, risk management, POPIA and relevant technology and cybersecurity governance matters.

• Draft, review and amend fund rules, policies, governance frameworks, service level agreements, contracts, confidentiality undertakings, regulatory submissions and other legal documents.

• Provide experienced peer review and quality assurance to ensure advice and documentation are legally sound, technically accurate, practical and appropriate to the client context.

Consultant enablement, training and thought leadership

• Prepare and present legal and technical updates at Consultant Connect and other internal forums, and develop practical guidance that strengthens consultant capability.

• Develop and deliver trustee and client training

• Contribute to thought leadership and industry publications, and participate in professional or industry forums where appropriate.

Strategic collaboration, innovation and AI

• Provide legal and technical input into strategic projects, and best-practice work, with a focus on high-value advisory work rather than routine processing.

• Use AI, automation and other technology responsibly to improve research, drafting and workflow efficiency. Independently verify outputs against primary legal and regulatory sources, apply professional judgement and ensure that final advice remains accurate, contextual and fit for purpose

Qualification and Experience

• LLB degree or equivalent recognised South African law qualification.

• Postgraduate qualification in Pension Funds Law, Financial Planning, Compliance, Corporate Law or a related field will be advantageous.

• Minimum 7 years relevant post-qualification experience, preferably including at least 5 years substantive experience in retirement funds, employee benefits, insurance or a closely related financial-services environment.

• Demonstrated experience providing independent legal or technical advice on retirement fund and employee benefits matters.

• Experience drafting legal opinions, fund rules or amendments, policies, governance documents and commercial or service agreements.

• Experience interpreting and implementing regulatory change and preparing technical communications, training or presentations.

• Experience in a consulting, advisory, insurer, administrator or retirement fund environment will be advantageous.

• Experience contributing to industry commentary, regulatory submissions or thought leadership will be advantageous.

Knowledge and Skills

• Advanced knowledge of the Pension Funds Act, retirement fund regulatory framework, fund rules, governance requirements and fiduciary duties.

• Strong working knowledge of the Financial Sector Regulation Act, POPIA, applicable tax principles, divorce and maintenance legislation, contract law and administrative-law principles as they affect retirement funds.

• Knowledge of financial-sector regulatory developments, governance, risk management and emerging technology and cybersecurity considerations relevant to retirement funds.

• Legal research, statutory interpretation, analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Legal and technical drafting skills with strong attention to detail and quality assurance.

• Ability to translate complex legislation and legal principles into practical, accessible guidance for consultants, trustees, employers and other non-lawyer stakeholders.

• Strong presentation, facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Ability to prioritise competing deadlines, work independently and manage complex matters with limited supervision.

• Digital fluency, including responsible use of AI and automation tools, together with the professional judgement to validate, challenge and refine technology-assisted outputs

Required Behavioural Competencies

Turnaround Time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The closing date for this advert is 5th November 2026.

Our Commitment to Transformation

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa. The Group’s Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process