General Counsel

Job title

General Counsel

Grade

Stream

Legal

Function

Legal

Location

Oman - Muscat   

Budget control

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

Reporting to

OQEP CEO  

Direct reports

• VP Legal
• Principal Legal Counsel (2)
• Business Partner Legal

Job purpose

To lead and oversee the company’s legal, governance, and compliance functions, ensuring the organization operates within a robust legal and regulatory framework while supporting the delivery of strategic and operational objectives. The General Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team, providing authoritative guidance on legal risk, corporate governance, commercial transactions, and regulatory compliance across all business activities. The role ensures the development and implementation of an integrated legal strategy that protects the company’s interests, supports major commercial and operational initiatives, and strengthens governance, compliance, and ethical standards across the organization.

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, QHSE & Energy Management System requirements standards, Omani’s government & other legal justifications, and best international practices in consonance with national objectives.

Main tasks and responsibilities

Strategic Legal Leadership

• Serve as the chief legal advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team on all legal, regulatory, and governance matters affecting the organization.
• Develop and implement the company’s legal strategy aligned with corporate objectives, risk appetite, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide legal oversight for major commercial agreements, strategic partnerships, investments, joint ventures, and complex transactions.
• Ensure proactive legal risk management across all operational, commercial, and corporate activities.

Corporate Governance & Compliance

• Lead the development and implementation of robust corporate governance frameworks aligned with regulatory requirements and best practices.
• Oversee compliance programs to ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.
• Advise the CEO and Board on governance matters, legal exposure, and regulatory developments affecting the company.
• Promote a strong culture of ethics, integrity, and compliance across the organization.

Legal Support for Business & Operations

• Provide legal oversight and guidance for operational and commercial activities including technical service divisions, maintenance operations, HSSE activities, operational contracts, and project development initiatives.
• Ensure legal support is effectively provided to operational departments including B60 operations and other core upstream activities.
• Guide legal review of major capital projects, procurement strategies, operational agreements, and service contracts.
• Support operational leadership in mitigating contractual, regulatory, and operational legal risks.

Corporate & Support Function Legal Advisory

• Provide legal advisory and oversight for corporate and support functions including HR, Finance, IT, and other corporate services.
• Ensure employment practices, financial governance, procurement activities, and digital initiatives comply with applicable legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Support transformation initiatives, corporate restructuring, and strategic business changes from a legal perspective.

Contracting & Commercial Risk Management

• Oversee legal review and negotiation of complex commercial agreements, including upstream contracts, service agreements, partnerships, and procurement arrangements.
• Ensure contractual frameworks appropriately allocate risk and protect the company’s financial and operational interests.
• Support dispute prevention and resolution strategies including arbitration, mediation, and litigation when necessary.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead and develop the Legal function to ensure high-quality legal advisory services across the organization.
• Provide leadership to direct reports including the VP Legal and Principal Legal Counsel, ensuring effective delivery of legal services across operational and corporate functions.
• Foster strong collaboration between legal teams and operational, commercial, and corporate departments.
• Develop internal legal capabilities, processes, and systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of legal services.

Stakeholder & External Relationship Management

• Represent the organization in legal matters with regulators, partners, joint ventures, and external legal advisors.
• Manage relationships with external counsel and ensure effective use of legal resources.
• Support the CEO and leadership team in negotiations with key stakeholders and strategic partners.

Key interactions

Internal: OQ.SAOC, EP Functions

External: Staffing specialized Contractors, Vendors & Suppliers

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

Education requirements

Minimum qualification required is a college graduate 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

• 18+ years of experience in law as a senior member of a corporate legal function (required) 
• Legal for Energy Industry with +5 years as senior member of a corproate legal function or partner in a law firm.
• A deep understanding of relevant laws and regulations is essential for this role, including expertise in areas such as environmental law, labour law, and contract law.
• Strong experience in:
  1. Long experience in Upstream legal frame.
  2. Legal Compliance,
  3. Legal Operation
  4. Corporate Law, Omani law or British law under Oil & Gas frame.
  5. Corporate Governance.
  6. Deep understanding of Local and multinational contracts & agreements relevant laws and regulations is essential for this role, including expertise in areas such as environmental law, labour law, and contract law.

Soft:

• Strong leadership skills: Leader able to inspire and motivate a team, and who can work effectively with other members of the executive team to achieve the company's goals.
• Ability to analyse complex legal and business issues, identify potential risks, and develop strategies to mitigate those risks.
• Strategic thinking about the business and its goals, and to develop legal strategies that align with those goals.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate complex legal issues to non-legal stakeholders and to negotiate effectively with outside parties and negotiate / influence.
• Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders and to communicate at various corporate levels.
• Ability to work across different functions.
• Ability to work with diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Engages & inspires people to collaborate and share knowledge to achieve common goals.
• Empowering & developing high performing Teams for a competitive advantage
• Promotes Teamwork and an environment of Diversity & Inclusion
• Builds trust by meeting commitments & creating an environment of transparency and accountability.
• Models and ensures commitment with business aspirations, ethics & guidelines.
• Maintaining effective, accurate and transparent communication with all stakeholders & community
• Pursues innovation & continuous improvement.
• Takes accountability for a performance culture that delivers continuous transformation.
• Ethics and integrity Capable of inspiring and leading change

Technical:

• Computer literacy including MS Office
• Ability to balance legal requirements with commercial goals and to build strong relationships with stakeholders is key to success in this role.
• Strong understanding of the Upstream industry and its commercial drivers
• Conduct legal negotiation.
• Ability to identify and manage legal risks, including the ability to develop and implement risk management strategies.
• Leads a solution-based approach to planning and deliver competitive results.

• Transforms strategic insight into achieving business excellence