Manager - Legal & Risk Management

Role & responsibilities:

The Manager Legal & Risk Management will be a key member of the Finance function, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This position is the central resource for all legal, regulatory, contractual, and risk management matters across AKES, Indias 9 schools, 19 pre-schools, and 1 residential hostel.

The Manager Legal & Risk Management will work closely with the CFO, CEO/COO, school Principals, HR, Facilities, Procurement, Internal Audit, and external legal counsel. The position is critical in safeguarding the organizations regulatory standing, protecting its assets and reputation, and supporting its mission of quality education.

Key Responsibilities & Duties:

1) Legal Advisory & Regulatory Compliance:

• Serve as the primary internal legal advisor to the CFO and senior leadership; address all legal framework issues and provide timely, practical legal guidance to departments and school leadership.
• Identify legal risks across the organization and liaise with relevant functional heads, school principals, and external legal counsel to ensure appropriate courses of action are taken.
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including:
• State Education Department regulations (affiliation, recognition, and approval requirements for CBSE, ICSE, IB, and state board schools)
• Labour laws PF, ESI, Gratuity, Maternity Benefits, POSH Act, Minimum Wages Act, Contract Labour (R&A) Act, and applicable state Shops & Establishments Acts
• Child Protection laws POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act, and related child safety regulations
• Hostel & residential school regulations under applicable state laws
• Right to Education (RTE) Act obligations applicable to the organization
• Other applicable statutes (FCRA if applicable, Rent Control Acts, Transfer of Property Act, Registration Act, Stamp Acts, etc.)
• Monitor changes in legislation and regulatory frameworks and proactively brief management on implications for the organization.
• Liaise with regulators, statutory authorities, government departments, education boards, and external legal advisors as needed.
• Draft case notes and seek opinions from external counsel / practicing advocates on specific issues; obtain and communicate necessary legal opinions to management.

2) Contract Management & Documentation:

• Draft, review, vet, and finalize all legal documents, including:
• Employment contracts (teaching and non-teaching staff) templatize to the extent possible
• Vendor and supplier agreements
• Service contracts and outsourcing agreements
• Lease and license agreements for school premises, hostels, and pre-school properties
• Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with academic partners, donors, and other stakeholders from a legal perspective
• Fee and admission-related agreements with parents/guardians, if any
• Coordinate land and property-related legal matters: conduct legal due diligence on new sites, liaise with government authorities on land-related issues, and ensure regulatory compliance for all school and hostel structures.

3) Litigation & Dispute Management:

• Monitor, track, and manage all pending and active litigation matters (labour disputes, consumer complaints, land/property disputes, etc.) with assistance from relevant functional teams.
• Liaise with external lawyers, coordinate preparation of responses and case materials, and review litigation strategy.
• Maintain a litigation register and provide periodic status updates to the CFO and senior leadership.

4) Risk Management:

• Develop and implement an organization-wide Risk Management Framework aligned to AKES, Indias operating context.
• Conduct periodic risk assessments across key areas including:
• Academic operations and institutional compliance risks
• Residential hostel operations and child safety risks
• Pre-school regulatory and safety compliance risks
• Labour and HR-related risks
• Vendor/procurement compliance risks
• Reputational and communication risks
• Property, facilities, and infrastructure risks
• Work with Finance and Internal Audit teams to strengthen internal risk controls and ensure potential risk observations are addressed in a timely manner.

5) Policy Review & Governance Support:

• Review and advise management on the legal implications of internal policies and procedures to ensure they are in compliance with all statutory and legal requirements.
• Support functio