Treaties Advisor

Role overview

This position is for an experienced legal and policy professional who can work with moderate guidance. The role focuses on analyzing complex issues, resolving escalated matters from junior team members, and shaping customs treaty solutions, agreements, and contracts. The advisor also monitors customs calculations, identifies treaty inconsistencies, and escalates them to the relevant stakeholders with practical legal guidance.

Customs treaty legal assessment and proposal development

• Research international practices, compare country approaches, and review current developments to identify potential customs treaty opportunities against defined criteria and guidelines.
• Prepare assessments, research outputs, and initial legal analysis for target countries, focusing on feasibility and legal impact.
• Work with International Relations and Treaties teams to shortlist treaties with the strongest strategic value for ZATCA and share findings for wider use.
• Coordinate with those teams on the treaty model, scope, and goals, adjust focus areas where needed, and adapt the model to suit target country requirements and the Kingdom’s interests.
• Develop customs treaty proposals using established templates and international collaboration guidance.
• Produce the final treaty model after negotiations and agreements, ensuring it matches both parties’ needs and ZATCA standards.

Customs treaty implementation

• Create and refresh templates, forms, and tools used for customs treaty agreements.
• Facilitate discussion sessions to review, finalize, and provide legal drafting support for customs treaty agreements and contracts.
• Assist International Relations and Treaties teams in communicating and negotiating treaty terms with representatives from target countries.
• Implement customs treaties in line with agreed terms, flag any deviations, and recommend corrective and improvement actions.
• Document treaty conflicts and, where necessary, design procedures for resolving treaty disputes.
• Carry out due diligence on treaty agreements for relevant countries to help ensure customs are calculated correctly for businesses entering the Kingdom’s private market.
• Improve the customs treaties database and perform regular health checks to maintain functionality and easy access.
• Prepare periodic reports covering lessons learned, conflicts, and improvement measures.

Operations and execution

• Work in accordance with all relevant policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures to ensure controlled and consistent delivery.
• Support the resolution of escalated issues and assist junior colleagues so work progresses efficiently.
• Escalate complex matters to the appropriate authority to ensure proper closure.
• Carry out additional tasks as assigned.

People management

• Train junior team members on job tasks when required to support knowledge transfer.
• Set priorities, assign responsibilities, provide direction, and monitor the work of junior staff or direct reports.
• Support junior team members in delivering their duties in line with established policies and processes.

Education and experience

A bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies, or an equivalent qualification, is required. The role also calls for at least 4 years of relevant experience.

Competencies

• Strong working knowledge of tax and customs treaties
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively
• Advanced understanding of legislation and regulatory frameworks
• Professional approach and work ethic
• Research and analytical capability
• Results-driven mindset
• Stakeholder management skills
• Advanced legal drafting and policy writing
• Customer-focused approach
• Openness to change and innovation
• Negotiation and influencing ability