Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Counsel for Legal

NYU; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in Abu Dhabi seeks an experienced Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Counsel for Legal. This senior role involves managing the legal department, providing counsel on governance and compliance, and overseeing contract negotiations. The ideal candidate must hold a JD or LLM and have at least 12 years of relevant legal experience in higher education or corporate practice. Strong leadership and negotiation skills are essential, alongside a deep understanding of local and international legal frameworks.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in higher education or corporate legal practice.
• Extensive knowledge of U.S. and international laws affecting academic institutions.
• Fluency in Arabic is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the legal department.
• Provide expert legal counsel to senior leadership.
• Oversee policy development and contract negotiations.
• Manage external legal counsel efficiently.
• Develop training and compliance programs.

Skills

Leadership skills

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bachelor's degree

Master of Laws (LLM)

Job description

UAE nationals are encouraged to apply

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a highly experienced legal professional to serve as the Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Counsel for Legal reporting jointly to the NYUAD Vice Chancellor and the NYU General Counsel.

This role is the seniormost legal position at NYUAD and is instrumental in providing expert legal counsel and support for the University’s operations within a global higher education environment.

As the chief legal officer for NYU Abu Dhabi the Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Counsel for Legal will oversee the legal team and provide strategic legal counsel to the Vice Chancellor and other university leaders. This role encompasses multiple areas of legal practice including corporate governance, HR and immigration matters, contract drafting and review and compliance with NYU policies and guidelines. The Chief Counsel will also manage external legal counsel and ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations. The ideal candidate will possess strong advocacy, analytical and leadership skills with a deep understanding of legal frameworks relevant to higher education and international operations.

Detailed information on key responsibilities, skills and competencies is available upon request.

*** Please do not apply via this portal *** This search is being managed externally by Korn Ferry applications including a current CV and letter explaining interest and relevant experience should be sent to the following address exclusively:

All communications will be held in strict confidence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage NYUAD’s legal department ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal services across corporate governance, research technology transfer, procurement, HR, immigration and contract management;
• Provide expert legal counsel to senior leadership on key institutional matters including regulatory compliance, risk mitigation and institutional policies;
• Anticipate and address legal issues proactively offering strategic advice in a dynamic and evolving environment;
• Oversee policy development, contract negotiations and institutional agreements to support NYUAD’s academic research and administrative functions;
• Supervise external legal counsel and manage legal resources efficiently to safeguard the University’s interests;
• Develop training and compliance programs to ensure adherence to UAE and international legal standards.

Qualifications

Required Education

• Bachelors degree
• Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Laws (LLM)

Required Experience

• Minimum 12 years of relevant legal experience in a higher education institution, corporate legal practice, or law firm
• Strong leadership skills with demonstrated experience managing legal teams
• Extensive knowledge of U.S. and international laws affecting academic institutions, contracts, employment, research and compliance
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a complex multicultural environment

Preferred Education

• Member of a U.S. state bar

Preferred Experience

• Experience working in the UAE or the Gulf region
• Knowledge of higher education governance and nonprofit legal frameworks
• Fluency in Arabic is an advantage

Additional Information

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree‑granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York and NYU Shanghai form the backbone of NYU’s global network university an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought advanced research, knowledge creation and sharing through its academic research and creative activities.