Job overview
Date posted
19/09/2025
Location
Muscat, Oman
Salary
Undisclosed
Compensation
Salary only
Experience
5 - 10 yrs
Seniority
Manager
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
03/11/2025
Job description
Lead and manage the legal operations function to support OQ Exploration and Production SAOG (“OQEP”) core business and operational activities, under the direction of the VP Legal. Key responsibilities include: Providing high-quality, business-focused legal advice across all operational functions, including technical, commercial, HSE, supply chain, and project delivery; ensuring legal and regulatory compliance by developing and overseeing effective legal processes, governance frameworks, and risk controls aligned with OQEP’s operations; managing legal support for contracts, regulatory engagements, compliance programs, and stakeholder relationships to ensure operational continuity and protect company interests; leading and developing a team of legal professionals and coordinating with external counsel to deliver responsive, proactive, and integrated legal support across the business.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Provide legal advice and support on operational matters across upstream functions including technical, commercial, supply chain, HSE, and project delivery.
- Manage the Legal Operations team.
- Draft, review, and negotiate operational contracts such as EPC, drilling, maintenance, service agreements, and logistics.
- Advise on legal issues related to operational risks, business continuity, contractor performance, and regulatory compliance.
- Develop and implement governance frameworks, policies, and controls to ensure compliance with laws and internal standards.
- Support audits, investigations, and risk assessments including anti-bribery, HSE, and environmental regulation.
- Monitor regulatory changes and advise stakeholders on implications and required actions.
- Act as legal interface with contractors, vendors, and regulators.
- Provide legal input to tendering, procurement, contract negotiations, claims, and dispute management.
- Design and improve legal workflows, documentation standards, and reporting processes.
- Implement legal risk registers, contract lifecycle tracking, and compliance dashboards.
- Lead and develop legal staff, providing mentorship and performance oversight.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure integrated legal support.
- Manage external counsel for specialized matters, ensuring value and quality.
- Report key legal risks and compliance status to VP Legal and relevant committees.
- Contribute to business reviews, operational assurance forums, and project gate reviews.
Experience & skills
- Minimum 8+ years of legal experience, including years in senior legal roles within the oil & gas or broader energy sector.
- Strong background in upstream oil & gas contracts, corporate governance, compliance, and dispute resolution.
- Demonstrated leadership experience in managing teams and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Graduate degree in law; Master’s or other qualification is a plus.
- Excellent knowledge of written, read, and spoken English (required); Arabic language skills are an advantage.