Company Secretary

Role Overview:

As the Company Secretary at NxtWave, you will occupy a pivotal leadership role, interfacing with the board of directors and senior management to ensure adherence to statutory obligations, corporate governance standards, and the legal frameworks underpinning our operations. Your expertise in corporate law, compliance, and governance, combined with your ability to provide high-level strategic insights, will be essential as we navigate the complexities of scaling a disruptive ed-tech organization. This role demands a meticulous, proactive professional capable of seamlessly balancing corporate secretarial duties with complex legal responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Corporate Secretarial & Governance:

a. Compliance Management:

• Ensure NxtWaves compliance with the Companies Act, SEBI regulations, FEMA, and other corporate laws. Monitor and update policies in line with legal changes.
• Maintain a compliance calendar for timely filings and disclosures with ROC and MCA. Adhere to Secretarial Standards (ICSI).

Governance and Board Support:

• Act as custodian of corporate governance, ensuring high standards of compliance, transparency, and responsibility. Organize Board, AGM, and committee meetings, preparing agendas, notices, resolutions, and minutes. Advise the Board on governance practices, emerging trends, and statutory duties.
• Facilitate communication with shareholders and regulators.
• Manage director appointments, resignations, and corporate actions, ensuring timely filings of reports and compliance certificates.

Statutory Registers and Records:

• Maintain and update statutory registers (Members, Directors, Charges, Shareholding, etc.), ensuring records are audit-ready and in compliance.

Corporate Restructuring:

• Advise on corporate restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and business initiatives. Handle compliance, documentation, and regulatory approvals for company incorporation and structuring.

FEMA Compliance & International Operations:

• Ensure cross-border transactions and investments comply with FEMA and international standards. Manage compliance for inbound/outbound investments and advise on regulatory requirements for overseas operations and partnerships.

Legal & Regulatory Functions:

Contract Management & Negotiation:

• Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of contracts, MoUs, and agreements with external stakeholders (vendors, clients, contractors), ensuring protection of NxtWaves interests.
• Negotiate to minimize legal and financial risks, ensuring favorable outcomes. Conduct thorough legal reviews and risk analyses to safeguard the company's position.

Mergers, Acquisitions, & Strategic Investments:

1. Lead due diligence, deal structuring, and manage legal complexities in mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments.
2. Provide support for investment rounds, ensuring compliance with venture capital/private equity regulations and assist with shareholder agreements.
3. Oversee transaction documentation, including share purchase and asset purchase agreements.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation Management:

• Oversee legal disputes, litigation, and arbitration, ensuring effective resolution and minimal business disruption.
• Coordinate with external legal advisors to manage strategy and representation.
• Lead the resolution of commercial disputes through mediation, arbitration, or court proceedings as needed.

Strategic & Leadership Functions:

Regulatory Affairs & Strategic Insights:

• Update senior management and the Board on evolving laws, regulations, and industry trends, highlighting their impact on business operations.

Team Leadership & Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Lead legal and secretarial functions, mentor staff, and ensure alignment with compliance obligations. Collaborate with HR, Finance, Marketing, Operations, and Product teams to address legal and regulatory concerns, ensuring alignment with governance frameworks.

Training & Compliance Culture:

• Conduct legal compliance and corporate governance training for internal teams, promoting a culture of compliance across the organization.

Desired Qualifications and Skills:

• Qualified Company Secretary (CS) from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
• LLB/LLM from a reputable university, with a stellar academic track record.
• A minimum of 1+ years in a corporate secretarial and legal capacity, ideally within the technology, education, or startup ecosystems.
• Deep understanding of corporate governance frameworks, SEBI regulations, FEMA, labor laws, and intellectual property rights.
• A proactive and solutions-oriented mindset, capable of managing a diverse range of legal and compliance matters in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.