Manager Legal

Oman Refinery; Muscat; On-site; OMR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Oman Refinery seeks a senior legal leader to direct the organisation's legal and compliance function. You will oversee strategic advisory, major negotiations, risk management and external counsel relationships to safeguard the company and enable business priorities.

The role requires a robust track record in strategic legal matters, strong leadership, and the ability to align legal work with corporate objectives. Excellent English communication is essential.

Qualifications

• LLB or equivalent with admission to a recognized Bar.
• 8–10+ years in law firm and/or in-house legal/compliance.
• Experience in strategic legal matters, negotiations and risk management.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Lead provision of strategic legal advice on commercial, regulatory and operational matters.
• Oversee complex negotiations, disputes and sensitive legal matters.
• Support strategic projects, investments, partnerships and financing arrangements.
• Direct legal risk management and mitigation of exposures.
• Advise executive management on significant business decisions and legal exposures.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations and contractual obligations.
• Oversee litigation, investigations and engagement with external counsel.
• Develop legal standards, templates and guidance for consistency and quality.
• Monitor legislative developments and assess organizational impact.
• Engage regulators and build key stakeholder relationships.
• Promote legal awareness and compliance culture across the organization.
• Drive improvements in legal service delivery with Legal Operations & Strategy.

Skills

Legal advisory

Contract negotiations

Dispute resolution

Legal risk management

Strategic management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

LLB / bar admission

Job description

Job purpose

Lead and manage the delivery of legal advisory and compliance services across the organisation ensuring timely consistent and commercially sound legal support aligned with business priorities Accountable for the performance and development of the Legal team allocation of legal resources oversight of material legal risks and effective management of legal matters and external counsel The position will act in accordance with the Group s Mission Vision Values amp Strategies as well as policies guidelines and standards supported by an IT Technology platform HSE standards Omani s government amp other legal justifications and best international practices in consonance with national objectives

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Lead the provision of legal advice and guidance on strategic commercial contractual regulatory and operational matters
• Oversee and provide direction on complex negotiations agreements disputes and sensitive legal matters
• Lead legal support for strategic projects investments partnerships financing arrangements and major commercial transactions
• Direct legal risk management activities and ensure proactive identification and mitigation of legal exposures
• Provide strategic legal advice risk assessments and recommendations to executive management on significant business decisions material legal exposures and emerging legal developments
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws regulations contractual obligations and organizational requirements
• Oversee litigation disputes claims investigations and engagement with external legal counsel
• Oversee the development and approval of legal standards templates guidance and best practices to ensure consistency and quality of legal advice across the organization
• Establish legal standards templates guidance and best practices across the organization
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess their impact on the organization
• Build and maintain relationships with regulators external counsel and key stakeholders
• Support the development of legal awareness and compliance culture across the organization
• Identify and drive improvements in legal service delivery in co-ordination with Legal Operations amp Strategy to enhance efficiency responsiveness and effectiveness

Background and experience

LLB or equivalent from a reputable university or law school with admission to a recognized civil or common law Bar (or equivalent body), in other words, qualified as a lawyer/solicitor/barrister.

Language

Excellent written and spoken English is a must.

Competencies and skills

• A minimum of 8-10 years of experience with a recognized law firm and/or in-house legal and compliance function within a recognised corporate entity
• Extensive experience in legal advisory, contract negotiations, dispute resolution, and legal risk management.
• Proven experience supporting executive management on strategic legal matters.
• Strong experience managing external legal counsel and high-value legal matters.

Soft:

• Ability to align legal priorities with organizational strategy and business objectives.
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing legal teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capabilities across senior leadership levels.
• Strong commercial judgment and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management capabilities.
• Ability to lead change and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrates exceptional integrity, professionalism, and accountability.

Technical Competencies:

• Ability to lead the provision of strategic legal advice across complex commercial and regulatory matters.
• Ability to oversee major negotiations, transactions, disputes, and high-risk legal matters.
• Strong knowledge of legal and regulatory frameworks impacting business operations.
• Ability to develop and implement legal risk management and compliance programs.
• Ability to advise executive management on legal exposures and business implications.
• Ability to evaluate emerging legal developments and their organizational impact.
• Ability to drive legal excellence and continuous improvement across the legal function.