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VP Legal

Job Id
OQ56670
Start Date
Sep 18, 2025
End Date
Oct 01, 2025
Compnay Name
OQ
Discipline
Legal
No of Position
1
Position Type
Permanent
Job Type
Nationality Required
Education & Experience Required
Education
Experience

Job Description

Job title

Vice President Legal

Grade

 

Stream

Legal

Function

Legal

Location

Oman - Muscat   

Budget control

*OPEX and/or CAPEX and/or Revenue amount as relevant*

Reporting to

General Counsel

Direct reports

  • Manager Legal Corporate, Compliance and Governance.
  • Manager, Legal Operations

Job purpose

 

The Vice President – Legal will serve as a senior member of the Legal Department, reporting directly to the General Counsel. The VP Legal will oversee two key managerial functions: (i) Legal Operations (contracts, procurement, litigation, claims, and projects) and (ii) Corporate, Compliance, and Governance. This role requires a strategic, business-minded legal professional who can lead complex legal matters, support financing and risk initiatives, ensure robust compliance and governance frameworks, and engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

The position will act in accordance with the OQEP’s Mission, Vision, Values & Strategies, as well as, policies, guidelines, and international standards, supported by an IT Technology platform, HSE standards, Omani’s government & other legal justifications, and best international practices in consonance with national objectives.

Main tasks and responsibilities

 

Leadership & Management

 

 

  • Support the General Counsel in overseeing the company’s overall legal, compliance, and governance strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and regulatory requirements.
  • Lead and supervise two Legal Managers:
  1. Manager – Legal Operations: responsible for contracts, procurement, litigation, claims, and project support.
  2. Manager – Corporate, Compliance & Governance: responsible for corporate secretarial matters, compliance programs, governance frameworks, and regulatory affairs.
  • Provide mentorship, guidance, and performance oversight to direct reports and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous development.
  • Drive team capability building through structured development programs, succession planning, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, ensuring the legal function evolves in line with business needs.

 

 

Strategic

  • Support the General Counsel in developing and executing legal strategy aligned with corporate and regulatory objectives.
  • Lead and mentor the Legal Team, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring alignment with business goals.
  • Provide legal guidance to Senior Management and business on strategic matters.

 

 

 

Legal Compliance

  • Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and listing requirements of the stock exchange/regulators.
  • Strengthen and monitor corporate governance frameworks, Board and Committee processes, shareholder engagement, and disclosure obligations.
  • Oversee compliance policies and programs, including anti-bribery, anti-corruption, sanctions, data protection, and ethics.
  • Act as a key liaison with regulatory authorities, stock exchanges, and external auditors.

 

Financing Activities

 

  • Provide legal support for the company’s financing activities, including project finance, corporate finance, and debt/equity transactions.
  • Advise on the structuring, negotiation, and execution of financing agreements, security documents, and related instruments.
  • Liaise with financial institutions, external counsel, and internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in all financing matters.
  • Review and negotiate loan agreements, guarantees, and other financial documentation to safeguard the company’s interests.
  • Support due diligence processes and ensure timely completion of all legal aspects of financing transactions.

 

 

Business Development  

  • Support mergers and acquisitions, divestments, and related commercial transactions, working closely with other departments such as finance and operations, and manage the legal and regulatory aspects of the transaction.
  • Advise on sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption, and all compliance matters for local and international offices.

 

Contracts and projects

  • Advise senior management on legal issues impacting business and projects.
  • Provide legal support for project development, implementation, financing, restructurings, and claims.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements including supply, procurement and project documentation.
  • Supervise negotiations with suppliers and stakeholders, ensuring commercial and legal interests are protected.
  • Support contracts and procurement teams with standard agreements and tender clarifications.
  • Ensure all project and contract documentation complies with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Stay updated on relevant legislation and provide general legal advice as needed.

Risk Management

  • Conduct legal research, develop risk management strategies, and provide guidance on new initiatives.

 

Disputes

  • Manage disputes that might arise in OQEP, whether they involve customers, suppliers, or other stakeholders.
  • Oversee and advise on litigation and dispute settlement activities and lead instructions to external counsel.
  • Manage disputes effectively to minimize their impact on the business by developing a litigation strategy that balances legal and commercial considerations, while managing legal costs and negotiating settlements that protect OQEP commercial interests.

 

Stakeholder

  • Work closely with Senior Management in shaping the business strategy of OQEP.
  • Foster collaboration within the Legal Team for OQEP and the business lines/other functions to ensure the Legal Team is appropriately positioned and utilized within OQEP.
  • Manage relationships with key stakeholders, particularly governmental authorities and regulators, as well as external counsel and consultants.

 

Continuous Improvements and Innovation

  • Design and implement digital transformation initiatives and embrace technology that enhances the efficiency of legal processes, improves collaboration and communication, and increases the accuracy and consistency of legal advice.
  • Continuously review and improve legal processes, such as contract management and dispute resolution, to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve outcomes.
  • Measure and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas where the legal function is performing well and areas where improvements are needed.
  • Identify trends and patterns that may be useful in improving legal processes, identifying risks, and optimizing legal outcomes.

 

Supervisory

  • Manage Legal Team resources to ensure appropriate skill sets and capacity to address the legal demands of the OQEP business.
  • Provide oversight and accountability in supporting the OQEP Legal Team in leading the negotiations of agreements across a wide variety of transactions and discussions.
  • Lead and manage the Legal staff, including workforce planning (hiring and deployment within the function), performance management, and development of direct reports to maximize their potential and engagement.

 

Notable Working Conditions. Office environment, intensive computer screen use, sporadic visits to operation site.

Education requirements

Minimum qualification required is a degree in law.  

Master or any other qualification is a plus.

Language

 

Excellent knowledge of written, read, and spoken English (required)

Background and experience

Competencies and skills

  • 14+ years of post-qualification legal experience, including at least 8 years in senior legal roles within the oil & gas or broader energy sector.
  • Strong background in upstream oil & gas contracts, corporate governance, compliance, financing, and dispute resolution.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience in managing teams and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Experience working in or with publicly listed companies and navigating securities regulations.
  • Fluent in English; Arabic language skills are an advantage.
  • Soft:  
  • Strategic and analytical thinker with strong business acumen. 
  • Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and communication skills. 
  • Strong leadership and people management skills. 
  • High integrity, sound judgment, and resilience under pressure. 
  • Ability to balance legal risks with commercial objectives. 

 

 

 

Technical:

  • Computer literacy including MS Office
  • Ability to balance legal and commercial objectives and build strong stakeholder relationships.
  • Strong understanding of the Upstream industry and its commercial drivers
  • Conduct legal negotiation.

Skills Required

Other Job Details