Registrar

Malawi International Arbitration Centre

VACANCY POSITION: REGISTRAR

Background
The Malawi International Arbitration Centre (Centre) is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated under the Companies Act by the Malawi Law Society and the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry on 7th September 2023 and fully registered under the Business Names Registration Act on 27th September 2024. It establishes and will maintain a private sector led neutral and independent facility to administer the resolution or settlement of commercial, investment and other disputes by way of arbitration,
mediation and like processes as opposed to litigation in the Courts. With separate and unique rules for domestic commercial arbitration and for international arbitration, the Centre’s unique feature is that it is a legally sanctioned wholly private initiative that actively promotes collaboration and recognition by state parties and multilateral institutions at national, regional and international levels. In furtherance of this main objective, the company seeks to operate offices in Blantyre and Lilongwe in the Republic of Malawi to maintain and develop the business of alternative dispute resolution providing services in Malawi and throughout Africa.

The Centre now wishes to recruit its first Registrar.

The Role and Key Responsibilities of the Registrar
This is the chief executive and operating officer of the arbitration Centre reporting to the Board of Directors and providing strategic leadership, operational oversight and sound governance to ensure that the Malawi International Arbitration Centre takes off and sustainably achieves is objectives as a reliable Centre for both domestic and international arbitration and other viable alternative commercial and investment dispute resolution methods in Malawi.

Key responsibilities for the position include:

  1. Receiving and processing Requests for Domestic or International Arbitration in accordance with the applicable rules of the Centre
  2. Maintaining and keeping up to date panels of arbitrators and panels of experts registered with the Centre
  3. Having custody and keeping account of fees and other moneys paid or payable to or by the Centre and keeping proper account of all funds of the Centre
  4. Arranging and coordinating training programmes for persons wishing to qualify as arbitrators and mediators at the Centre
  5. Develop strategies for marketing and awareness of the Centre and advance its initiatives and interests in domestic and international the dispute resolution services
  6. Overseeing daily operations, ensuring seamless departmental coordination and policy and legal compliance by the Arbitration Centre
  7. Developing and implementing policies, workplans and resource management strategies to enhance operational efficiency of the Arbitration Centre
  8. Leading operations of the Arbitration Centre in compliance with the applicable legislation, regulations, rules and Board directions
  9. Advising the Board on strategies to sustainably achieve the Arbitration Centre’s corporate objectives
  10. Provide visionary leadership to implement the Arbitration Centre’s strategic projects
  11. Act as a liaison between the Board, employees and other stakeholders of the Arbitration Centre
  12. Performing such other functions as may from time to time be necessary to sustainably achieve the objective of the Arbitration Centre in serving the domestic and international market.

Qualifications, Experience and Desired Competencies

  1. A Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognised University
  2. Those with a Masters’ Degree in Law, Economics or Business Administration will have an added advantage
  3. At least 10 years’ experience in dispute resolution or similar job as described above
  4. Demonstrable ability to align strategic plans with organisational goals with a proven track record in corporate transformation
  5. Track record of high integrity, probity and professionalism
  6. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills
  7. Strong leadership and decision-making skills in challenging environments

Application Process
Interested candidates should, not later than 15th February 2025, submit

  1. a detailed application letter,
  2. a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae with three traceable referees, and
  3. copies of the relevant qualifications to:

The Chairman,
Malawi International Arbitration Centre,
through Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry,
P.O. Box 287
Blantyre or via e-mail to ceoapplications@miac.mw