Chief Legal Officer

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

EXTERNAL VACANCY ADVERT

The Office of the Ombudsman is a public body established under the Republic of Malawi Constitution. Section 123 of the Constitution accords the Office of the Ombudsman the mandate to investigate any and all cases where it is alleged that a person or a group of persons have suffered an injustice and there appears to be no any remedy reasonably available by way of proceedings in a court or by way of appeal from court or where there is no other practicable remedy.

The Office of the Ombudsman is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the following vacant positions:

Job Title: Chief Legal Officer
Grade: OMB4
Reporting to: Deputy Director of Legal and Advisory Services (Grade OMB3)
Duty Station: Headquarters-Lilongwe

Key duties and responsibilities

1. Drafting of legal opinions, determination and other legal documents
2. Participating in public inquiries and other related investigations processes;
3. Preparing legal, litigation and court documents;
4. Following-up on determinations compliance;
5. Providing technical legal advice to the Ombudsman;
6. Representing the Ombudsman during court hearings;
7. Conducting legal research to provide timely and accurate legal information;
8. Participating in preparing budgets estimates and production of work plans for the Department;
9. Participating in producing monthly quarterly and annual reports on the activities of the Department; and
10. Supervising and Appraising Principal Legal Officers and any other officers under his/her charge.

Qualifications and Experience

• Accredited Bachelor’s Degree in Law with at least six (6) years’ post qualification work experience, of which at least four (4) years’ should be at supervisory level.
• Admission to the Malawi Bar.
• Accredited Masters’ Degree in Laws, Human Rights, rule of law and Governance will be added advantage.
• Knowledge and experience in accountability and oversight functions will be an added advantage.

Required Competencies and attributes

• Be result-oriented, innovative and a self-starter;
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to deal with diverse work force;
• Have adequate knowledge in Computer using Microsoft Office such as word, excel, access and other related packages;
• Demonstrate excellent negotiating and analytical skills; and
• High level of integrity, sense of maturity and ability to meet deadlines.

Method of application:

Interested candidates should submit applications attaching a Curriculum Vitae, including three traceable referees and copies of certificates, to reach the undersigned not later than 21st September 2026.

The Ombudsman
Office of the Ombudsman
St. Martin’s House
City Centre
Private Bag 348
LILONGWE 3

The applications should be emailed to vacancy@ombudsmanmalawi.org

PLEASE INDICATE ON THE ENVELOPE THE POSITION BEING APPLIED FOR.

ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

THOSE WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR THE POSITIONS MUST RE-APPLY.

“THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”