Senior Science Officer- Legal Jobs – Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST)

Job Title: Senior Science Officer- Legal

Organisation: Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About Organisation:

The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) is a Government agency established in 1990 by an Act of Parliament (CAP. 209) of the Laws of Uganda. The agency is mandated to facilitate the development and implementation of strategies for integrating Science and Technology (S&T) into the national development process.

Job Summary: To provide expert legal advisory and assurance services to UNCST by interpreting and applying national and international laws, policies, and regulations governing science and technology. The role involves conducting legal research, drafting and reviewing contracts and agreements, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing litigation, and safeguarding the Council’s legal interests to enable UNCST to execute its mandate and mitigate legal risks.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide expert legal advice and opinions to the Executive Secretary, Management, and the Governing Council on matters affecting the Council’s mandate, operations, and decisions.
• Interpret and advise on the application of the UNCST Act, subsidiary regulations, and other national and international laws, treaties, and protocols governing science, technology, and innovation.
• Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of contracts, memoranda of understanding, grant agreements, service agreements, material transfer agreements, and other legal instruments to which the Council is party, ensuring the Council’s interests are protected.
• Conduct legal research and prepare position papers, legal briefs, and advisories on emerging legal issues in science, technology, innovation, biosafety, bioethics, intellectual property, data protection, and access and benefit sharing.
• Spearhead the development, review, and reform of the Council’s legal and regulatory framework, including drafting bills, regulations, guidelines, and policy instruments, and supporting their passage through the relevant government processes.
• Ensure the Council’s compliance with applicable statutory, regulatory, and governance obligations, including public procurement, employment, data protection, and public finance management laws.
• Manage litigation and dispute resolution involving the Council, including instructing and liaising with the Attorney General’s Chambers and external counsel, coordinating case files, and monitoring case progress and outcomes.
• Represent the Council, as authorized, before courts, tribunals, arbitration panels, regulatory bodies, and in negotiations with third parties.
• Establish and maintain a legal risk register, identify legal and compliance risks across Council operations, and recommend mitigation measures to Management.
• Provide legal support to the Council’s regulatory functions — including research clearance, biosafety, access and benefit sharing, and technology transfer — to ensure decisions are legally sound and enforceable.
• Provide legal counsel on human resource and administrative matters, including disciplinary proceedings, employment contracts, and staff grievances, ensuring due process and adherence to the law.
• Serve as Secretary or legal adviser to Council and Management committees as assigned, ensuring proper record-keeping, and advise on corporate governance, fiduciary duties, and conflict of interest management.
• Maintain custody of the Council’s legal documents, contracts, title deeds, seals, and statutory registers, and maintain a comprehensive contracts and legal instruments database.
• Advise on the protection, registration, and management of the Council’s intellectual property and that arising from research and innovation activities it supports.
• Build legal awareness and capacity across the Council through briefings, training, and guidance notes on
• legal obligations and risk avoidance.
• Supervise, mentor, and appraise assigned staff, and coordinate the work of the legal function, including
• consultants and external service providers.
• Prepare periodic legal reports, compliance statements, and analytical summaries for Management, the
• Governing Council, and oversight bodies.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor of Laws Degree from a recognized institution.
• Masters or Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, Uganda.
• Enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and a member in good standing of the Uganda Law Society.

Added advantage:

• A Master’s degree in Law (LLM) or a related field, preferably with specialization in Intellectual Property Law,
• Environmental Law, Health Law, Technology and Innovation Law, International Law, Commercial/Contract
• Law, or Public Administration.
• Training or certification in contract management, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, corporate
• governance, legislative drafting, data protection, or public procurement law.
• WORK EXPERIENCE
• A minimum of six (6) years’ relevant post-enrolment legal working experience, three (3) of which should have been served at Officer level or its equivalent in a reputable public or private sector organization.
• Demonstrated experience in contract drafting and negotiation, legal advisory services, regulatory compliance, and management of litigation.
• Experience advising a statutory body, regulatory agency, research institution, or public entity will be a distinct added advantage.
• Practical exposure to legal issues arising in the science, technology and innovation domain — such as intellectual property, biosafety, research ethics and regulation, access and benefit sharing, data protection, or technology transfer — will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising and mentoring staff.

COMPETENCIES

Technical:

• Thorough knowledge of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and the laws governing public bodies, including the UNCST Act, Public Finance Management Act, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, Employment Act, Data Protection and Privacy Act, and related statutes and regulations.
• Working knowledge of international legal instruments relevant to science and technology, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nagoya Protocol, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and intellectual property conventions.
• Advanced skill in legal drafting — contracts, agreements, legal opinions, pleadings, bills, regulations, and guidelines — with precision and clarity.
• Strong legal research and analytical skills, including the use of electronic legal databases and research tools.
• Competence in litigation management, arbitration, mediation, and other dispute resolution mechanisms.
• 5
• Ability to identify, assess, and advise on legal and compliance risk, and to design practical mitigation measures.
• Sound understanding of corporate governance, board procedure, fiduciary duties, and statutory record¬keeping.
• Competence in standard ICT applications (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, legal and records management systems).

Behavioural:

• Unimpeachable integrity, professional ethics, and adherence to the advocate’s duty of confidentiality.
• Sound judgement, objectivity, and the courage to give candid legal advice, including where it is unwelcome.
• Strong negotiation, persuasion, and advocacy skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear guidance for non-legal audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, including with government ministries, the Attorney General’s Chambers, development partners, and the courts.
• Leadership, supervisory, and mentoring ability.
• Attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness.
• Resilience and composure under pressure, including in contested and adversarial settings.
• Results orientation, ability to work under minimal supervision, and effective time and workload management.
• Team player with a flexible attitude and commitment to continuous professional development.

How to Apply:

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their signed application letters, curriculum vitae, copies of academic certificates and transcripts, naming three referees, by 5:00 p.m. EAT on 31st July 2026, through the UNCST application portal at www.uncst.go.ug/careers. Address the application to:

Head, Human Resources,

Uganda National Council for Science and Technology,

Plot 6, Kimera Road, Ntinda,

P.O Box 6884, Kampala.

Deadline: 31^st July 2026

NB: Uganda National Council for Science and Technology is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge any recruitment fee. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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Level of Education: postgraduate degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 72