Head of Legal

Role overview

A leading Oil & Gas organization in Saudi Arabia is hiring a Head of Legal to work from its Eastern region operations. Reporting directly to the CEO, this senior leader will act as the company’s primary legal strategist, advising executive leadership and, when needed, the Board on legal, commercial, and risk-related matters. The position goes beyond traditional advisory work and calls for a trusted board-level professional who can shape legal direction around business goals while helping build a strong legal team that protects the business and supports long-term growth.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as a reliable strategic advisor to the CEO, senior management, and where necessary, the Board and its Committees.
• Ensure legal priorities are aligned with the company’s broader commercial goals and sector realities.
• Provide prompt, practical legal guidance across corporate, commercial, regulatory, and operational issues.
• Draft, examine, negotiate, and approve domestic and cross-border contracts and agreements.
• Design and direct legal approaches for disputes, litigation, investigations, and regulatory issues, including supervision of outside counsel.
• Track legal and regulatory changes and interpret their implications for operations and strategy.
• Work closely with Compliance to maintain organization-wide observance of applicable laws, regulations, and internal controls.
• Manage Board Secretariat duties in accordance with Saudi legal requirements and strong corporate governance practices.
• Coordinate Board and Committee meetings, including preparation of agendas, board materials, minutes, and follow-up on resolutions.
• Lead, coach, and strengthen the legal team while promoting integrity and accountability.
• Explain complex legal topics in a clear, business-friendly way to executives and Board members who are not legal specialists.

Candidate profile

• Minimum 15 years of legal experience after qualification.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Law or a Juris Doctor is required, along with a valid license to practice law in Saudi Arabia.
• Postgraduate study such as an MBA, LL.M., or an equivalent qualification is preferred.
• Should be based in Saudi Arabia or have extensive prior experience in the Kingdom; international exposure is considered an advantage.
• Strong background in corporate, commercial, labour, and regulatory law, with solid experience handling litigation and complex contracts.
• Prior experience in Oil & Gas or the wider energy sector is mandatory.
• Good understanding of corporate governance frameworks and regulatory disclosure obligations.
• Must be fluent in both Arabic and English, spoken and written.
• Experience as Board Secretary or in Company Secretariat work is helpful but not essential.
• Needs a strategic outlook, strong commercial and financial understanding, and the ability to build and manage high-performing legal teams.
• High ethical standards, mature judgement, and the discretion required to operate at executive and Board level.

Additional information

This role is designed for a senior legal leader who can combine legal expertise with business judgment, governance support, and team leadership in a complex Oil & Gas environment.