Job details

Behind every transformative infrastructure project is a network of people, systems, and ideas working in sync.

We are a leading buildings, infrastructure engineering and advisory firm with over 90 years of experience across Africa and the Middle East. While our work shapes physical infrastructure, from schools to stadiums, dams to bridges, it is powered by the strength of our people and the systems that support them.

We are seeking individuals who bring clarity, structure, and insight to complex environments, enabling our teams to deliver meaningful, sustainable impact at scale.

About the role:

The Senior Legal Counsel is responsible for providing expert legal and commercial advisory services to the business, ensuring legal compliance, mitigating contractual and operational risk, and protecting the organization's interests across all stages of the project and commercial lifecycle. The role serves as a trusted legal advisor to business leadership, supporting contract negotiations, claims management, dispute resolution, debt recovery, governance, and regulatory compliance throughout Zutari’s Middle East region.

The incumbent applies in-depth legal expertise and commercial judgement to complex matters, balancing legal risk with business objectives while enabling sustainable growth and successful project execution. This role is based in the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the incumbent must be fluent in both English and Arabic.

Key responsibilities:

Commercial Contracting and Transaction Support:

• Review, draft, negotiate, and finalise a wide range of commercial agreements and legal documentation, including consultancy and sub-consultancy agreements, joint venture agreements, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and service and supplier agreements, ensuring legal compliance, effective risk management, and alignment with organisational objectives.
• Advise stakeholders on contractual obligations, liabilities and risk exposure.
• Develop legally compliant contracting solutions that support business objectives.
• Lead legal participation in commercial negotiations with clients, partners and suppliers.
• Escalate significant contractual risks and propose mitigation strategies.

Legal Risk Management:

• Identify legal, regulatory and commercial risks arising from contracts and business activities.
• Provide practical legal solutions to reduce organizational exposure.
• Support enterprise risk management activities from a legal perspective.
• Participate in legal and compliance audits.
• Monitor emerging legislative and regulatory developments affecting the business.

Claims and Dispute Resolution:

• Manage contractual claims and disputes arising from projects and commercial engagements.
• Provide strategic legal advice regarding dispute avoidance and resolution.
• Support negotiation and settlement of claims.
• Liaise with external legal counsel where necessary.
• Assist business leaders in preparing dispute and litigation strategies.

Regulatory Compliance and Governance

• Ensure compliance with Saudi Arabian legal and regulatory requirements, applicable international laws and standards, corporate governance obligations, and internal policies and procedures, providing legal guidance and oversight to support ethical business practices, effective risk management, and organisational governance objectives.

• Conduct periodic compliance reviews and assessments.
• Support investigations involving legal and compliance matters.

keholder Advisory and Business Partnering:

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to business leaders and project teams.
• Build and maintain collaborative, trusted relationships with key stakeholders across Business Development, Finance, Procurement, Risk Management, Project Management, and Executive Leadership, providing proactive legal support and advice to enable informed decision-making, manage legal and commercial risks, and support the achievement of strategic business objectives.
• Deliver legal training and awareness programmes.
• Translate complex legal issues into practical business recommendations.

Debt Recovery and Commercial Support:

• Support collection and recovery of outstanding debt.
• Review contractual rights and remedies relating to payment disputes.
• Assist in negotiations relating to debt settlements.
• Support escalation of significant debt recovery actions.

Legal Knowledge Management:

• Maintain accurate records of contracts, disputes, claims and legal opinions.
• Develop and continuously improve legal templates and precedent documents.
• Contribute to legal policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Share legal knowledge and lessons learned across the business.

Requirements:

Experience:

• Minimum 6-8yrs+ experience in a similar role
• Minimum of 2-4 yrs experience within a multinational engineering, construction infrastructure company, or within professional services. Fluent in English and Arabic, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of contract law and commercial agreements in the Middle East.
• Proven experience in negotiating and drafting contracts.
• Familiarity with claims management and dispute resolution processes.
• Proficiency in legal research tools and software.
• Knowledge of industry-standard contracts (FIDIC).

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in law
• An admitted attorney
• Degree in Business law or contract management qualification

We believe that a diverse workforce is a key to our business success. We seek the best people for our jobs based on their skills, qualifications and experience. We embrace the principle of equal opportunity in employment, and we work towards eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination in our employment practices.