Lead Legal Counsel - Operation

Job title

Lead Legal Operations

Grade

Stream

Legal

Function

Legal Operations

Location

Oman – Muscat

Budget control

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

Reporting to

Manager, Legal Operations

Direct reports

-

Job purpose

Provide specialized legal support to OQEP’s operational functions, ensuring effective implementation of legal frameworks, risk mitigation, and compliance across upstream activities. Operating under the guidance of the Manager, Legal Operations, the role leads the delivery of legal services for assigned business streams (e.g., technical, commercial, HSE, or supply chain), including contract review, regulatory alignment, and legal process execution. Acts as a key legal point of contact for operational teams and ensures legal risks are identified, addressed, and reported in a timely and business-aligned manner.

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

• Provide legal advice and support to operational teams on matters including contracts, regulatory obligations, HSE compliance, and procurement activities.


• Draft, review, and negotiate operational agreements such as service contracts, EPC, drilling, logistics, and supply agreements.


• Ensure alignment of operational activities with applicable laws, license terms, and company policies.


• Identify and analyze legal risks in contracts and operations, propose mitigation measures, and escalate complex issues to the Manager when needed.


• Support contract lifecycle processes including reviews, renewals, amendments, and close-outs.


• Contribute to dispute avoidance/resolution efforts related to operational performance or compliance.


• Support implementation of legal and compliance frameworks, policies, and internal controls relevant to operational functions.


• Assist with compliance monitoring, internal reviews, and coordination of responses to audits or regulatory inquiries.


• Maintain accurate legal records, trackers, and contribute to regular reporting to Manager Legal Operations and Legal Leadership.


• Act as a legal focal point for assigned business units or functions, ensuring their legal needs are understood and addressed proactively.


• Liaise with external legal counsel for specialized matters under the direction of the Manager.


• Coordinate with internal functions such as Contracts & Procurement, HSE, Technical, and Projects to ensure integrated legal support.


• Support improvements in legal workflows, document templates, contract registers, and knowledge tools.


• Share legal knowledge and raise awareness of legal requirements through informal guidance or structured training as needed.


• Perform any other legal tasks or assignments as directed by the Manager, Legal Operations or General Counsel.

Key interactions

Internal: OQEP 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

• 10+ years’ experience in similar role, in a large oil industry industrial organization. (transactional, operational) essential, ideally both internationally and in Oman including the following sectors:
  
  
  
  • Oil (Upstream)
  
  
  • Gas
  
  
  • Alternative / Renewables Energies
  
  
  • Petrochemical
  
  
  • Commercial for Oil products and polymers
  
  
  • Oil & Energy Projects
  
  
  
  

• Strong experience in:

• 
  
  
  
  • Legal frame for the assigned  Business Unit
  
  
  • Legal Compliance,
  
  
  • Legal Operation
  
  
  • Corporate Law, Omani law or British law under Oil & Gas frame.
  
  
  • Corporate Governance. Multinational contracts & agreements
  
  
  
  

• People’s management skills


• Analytical skills


• Maintaining effective, accurate and transparent communication with all stakeholders & community


• Negotiation


• Planning skills


• Forward thinking


• ethics & guidelines


• Engages & inspires people to collaborate and share knowledge to achieve common goals


• Models and ensures commitment with business aspirations,


• Pursues innovation & continuous improvement


• Acts as an agent for change, constructively challenging the status quo


• Leads a solution-based approach to plan and deliver competitive results


• Transforms strategic insight into achieving business excellence


• Takes accountability for a performance culture that delivers continuous transformation.

Technical Competencies:

• Excellent business and technical report writing skills


• Very good knowledge in using PC software.


• Legal Operation


• Business Partnering


• Contracting & Procurement


• Litigations


• Multinational contracts & agreements


• Corporate,


• Banking,


• Planning & business.


• Litigation and Arbitration.


• Projects Oil & Gas


• Claims & Disputes


• legal frame for Oil & Gas industry


• Corporate Law,


• Omani law or British law under Oil & Gas frame..