Governance & Legal Officer - Dubai Campus

Heriot-Watt University; Dubai; On-site; AED 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Dubai is seeking a Legal and Governance Officer to provide legal documentation advice, support compliance with governance structures, and engage with internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Law, at least 3 years of experience in a legal environment, and a strong knowledge of UAE laws. This full-time role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic setting where attention to detail and stakeholder engagement are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years experience in a legal governance or compliance-related environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly and efficiently in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in drafting, reviewing and coordinating the approval process for legal agreements.
• Organise and maintain legal files, contracts and the legal document repository.
• Provide timely and pragmatic legal advice under supervision.
• Stay informed about legal and regulatory developments in the UAE.
• Support risk management training and development activities.

Skills

Strong organisational and time management skills

Excellent attention to detail and accuracy

Ability to communicate clearly and professionally

Strong stakeholder engagement and customer service skills

Working knowledge of UAE laws and regulations

Education

Bachelor degree in Law or a related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Posting Title: Legal and Governance Officer

Position Title: Legal and Governance Officer

Grade and Salary: Grade 6 (Starting Salary AED 00 Annually Depending on Experience)

FTE and working pattern: Full Time

Organisation Name: Heriot Watt University (Dubai Campus)

About our School/Directorate and Team:

The Governance Assurance and Legal Services (GALS) Directorate supports effective and accountable governance compliance and institutional safety to enable the delivery of Strategy 2035. Our mission is to drive improvement in legal services governance and compliance through high-quality legal advice monitoring of compliance and capacity building at the Dubai Campus of Heriot‑Watt University.

We are seeking a detail‑oriented and proactive Legal and Governance Officer to join our team with a primary focus on legal documentation advice research and internal stakeholder engagement. This role will also support broader activities within the GALS portfolio.

Key Services Provided by GALS

• Legal Services Custodianship of the legal repository; drafting reviewing and supporting the approval of legal documents in line with the University’s governance structure; providing clear and pragmatic legal advice; contract negotiation; and preparing legal updates for senior stakeholders.
• Information Governance Ensuring compliance with local and international data protection laws; developing and implementing related policies and procedures.
• Risk Management Supporting the maintenance of the University’s risk registers and risk management framework; contributing to reporting for University committees and governance groups.
• Internal Review Activities Supporting internal compliance and governance reviews in coordination with the University’s internal audit providers.
• Business Continuity Planning Assisting with the development and communication of business continuity plans and staff/student training.
• Insurance Supporting the management of institutional insurance cover and handling of queries including travel and consular documentation.
• Controls Assurance Supporting development and implementation of a business assurance framework and monitoring the effectiveness of key internal controls.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

In this role you will primarily be responsible for administrative tasks related to legal matters, internal audit, internal stakeholder management with a particular emphasis on ensuring compliance with the University’s governance structure and delegations and local Laws and Regulations. You will also support broader services offered by the GALS Directorate from time‑to‑time.

• Assist in drafting, reviewing and coordinating the approval process for legal agreements, contracts and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) related to the Dubai Campus.
• Organise and maintain legal files, contracts and the legal document repository to ensure accurate and efficient document management.
• Provide timely and pragmatic legal advice under supervision of the Head of GALS in line with University policy and local regulations to all internal stakeholders.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of governance and legal processes to ensure alignment with University policies and relevant UAE laws and regulations.
• Provide internal guidance on legal and governance issues, business processes and control effectiveness.
• Stay informed about legal and regulatory developments in the UAE, UK and other jurisdictions relevant to the University’s operations.
• Work closely with all Professional services directorates across the campus to assist the Head of GALS to conduct quarterly internal reviews to identify potential risks, recommend mitigation strategies and track follow‑up actions.
• Provide general support for the Head of GALS on production of papers for the University Executive, the Court (its governing body) and Committees of Court guidance notes, procedures, reports and coordinating training workshops.
• Support risk management training and development activities.

Education, Qualifications & Experience Attributes

Essential

• Bachelor degree in Law or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years experience in a legal governance or compliance‑related environment.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally both verbally and in writing.
• Experience using Microsoft Office and other relevant IT tools.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly and efficiently in a dynamic environment.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and customer service skills.
• Working knowledge of UAE laws and regulations.

Desirable

• Experience in a higher education or similar public sector setting.
• Understanding of risk management principles and frameworks.
• Prior experience conducting or supporting compliance reviews.
• Background in legal practice or in‑house legal support.

Heriot‑Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labour and Immigration formalities and the start date will need to be delayed if the employment visa is not in place.

Required Experience: Unclear Seniority