Assistant Manager - Legal and Compliance

The Assistant Manager – Legal & Compliance supports the group's legal operations, statutory governance, and compliance frameworks across project sites and corporate operations, based in Kuching, Sarawak. With a core focus on property development, real estate transactions, construction contracts, and state land administration, this role oversees day-to-day legal documentation, regulatory approvals, project-related compliance, and risk mitigation to safeguard the company's assets and ensure strict adherence to Sarawak state ordinances, federal legislation, industry regulations, and internal policies.

Property Development & Real Estate Transactions

• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements relating to land acquisition, joint ventures, disposal of property assets, leases, and tenancies.
• Review and manage standard sale and purchase agreements (SPA), deeds of mutual covenant, facility agreements, and loan documentation.
• Provide legal advice on land administration matters under the Sarawak Land Code (Cap. 81), including native land classifications, special conditions, conversion, subdivision, amalgamation, title issuance, and strata management.
• Coordinate with external solicitors, panel law firms, land registries, and project consultants to track loan drawdown, title perfection, and conveyance timelines.

Construction & Operational Contracts

• Vet, draft, and negotiate construction and engineering contracts (such as PAM, CIDB, or bespoke standard forms), consultancy agreements, and procurement tenders.
• Advise project management and contract teams on contractor claims, variations, liquidated ascertained damages (LAD), defects liability, and dispute settlement.
• Manage litigation, arbitration, Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act (CIPAA) proceedings, and legal notices alongside external legal counsel.

Regulatory Compliance & Industry Governance

• Ensure strict adherence to the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Ordinance (Sarawak), Strata (Subsidiary Titles) Ordinance (Sarawak), Strata Management framework, Building By-Laws, and local planning guidelines from municipal councils (e.g., DBKU, MBKS, MPP).
• Monitor licensing requirements, developer advertising permits, and statutory submissions to the Sarawak Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government and local authorities.
• Oversee enterprise-wide adherence to the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), anti-bribery and corruption frameworks (MACC Section 17A), and environmental safety regulations (including NREB Sarawak requirements).
• Conduct periodic internal compliance checks across project sites and sales galleries in Sarawak, establishing corrective actions for identified regulatory risks.

Role Specifications & Requirements

• Based full-time in Kuching, Sarawak.
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) or recognized equivalent legal degree from an accredited institution.
• 4 to 7 years of relevant legal and compliance experience, with substantial exposure gained directly within the property development, real estate, or construction industries (in-house or via a conveyancing/real estate practice in a law firm).
• Hands-on experience handling land transactions, master conveyancing, project development documentation, and developer licensing in Sarawak.
• Practical knowledge of the Sarawak Land Code (Cap. 81), state housing development legislation, Strata regulations, and construction contracts.
• Thorough understanding of conveyance procedures, bridging finance documentation, and title perfection processes with the Land and Survey Department Sarawak.
• Solid grounding in corporate compliance frameworks, including Section 17A MACC (Corporate Liability), PDPA, and Anti-Money Laundering (AMLA) requirements in property transactions.
• Strong commercial acumen with practical judgment to navigate project deadlines and regulatory hurdles without compromising legal integrity.
• High analytical rigor and precision in drafting complex joint venture and land acquisition terms.
• Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with Sarawak state authorities, Land and Survey officers, local councils, project teams, and external solicitors.
• High level of ethics, discretion, and accountability in dealing with high-value transactions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia.