Governance & Legal Officer

Heriot-Watt University; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international university in Dubai is looking for a detail-oriented Legal and Governance Officer. This role focuses on legal documentation, compliance with governance structures, and stakeholder engagement. Candidates should hold a Bachelor's degree in Law with at least 3 years of experience in legal or compliance environments. This full-time position offers a starting salary based on experience and is ideal for organized professionals with strong engagement skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years experience in a legal or compliance environment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in drafting and reviewing legal agreements and contracts.
• Organise and maintain legal files and the document repository.
• Provide legal advice under supervision of the Head of GALS.

Skills

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Customer service skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

The GALS Directorate Services

The GALS Directorate is responsible for the provision of a range of services to the University as follows:

• Legal Services Custodianship of the legal repository; drafting reviewing and supporting the approval of legal documents in line with the Universitys 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 Universitys 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 Universitys 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.

Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities

Inthisroleyouwillprimarilybe responsible for administrative tasks related to legal matters internal audit internal stakeholder management with a particular emphasis on ensuring compliance with the Universitys governance structure and delegations and local Laws and Regulations. You will also be expected to support in the broader areas of services offered by the GALS Directorate from time-to-time.

The Role

The role will work closely with theHead of GALS and other GALS team members at the Dubai Campus. The detailed job description is as follows:

• Assist in drafting reviewing and coordinating the approval process for legal agreements contracts and Memorandums 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 Universitys operations.
• Working closely with all Professional services directorates across the campus to assist the Head of GALS to conduct quarterly internal reviewsto identify potential risks recommend mitigation strategies and track follow-up actions.
• Provide general support for 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

• Bachelors 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 Values

Our values are:

• Belong
• Collaborate
• Inspire
• Celebrate

Please submit your application via the Heriot-Watt online recruitment system attaching a Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post and an updated CV

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to complete an on-demand-video interview as the first stage of the selection process. Successful candidates will then proceed to in-person formal interviews at our Dubai campus where you will be asked to deliver a brief presentation on a relevant topic. Following the formal interview the preferred candidate will attend a second interview with senior staff at the Dubai campus before a final offer decision is made.

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