Assistant General Counsel

Acwa; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 550,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

ACWA Power seeks a Director - Legal to support the development of power, water and green hydrogen projects across its international portfolio. The role centers on legal and commercial arrangements, demanding strong drafting, negotiation, and independent leadership of complex transactions.

Candidates should have 10+ years of experience in project development, ideally with international law firm exposure, and be willing to be based in Riyadh.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws or JD required with substantial project development experience.
• Experience negotiating complex project agreements and contracts.
• Proven ability to work with business, technical and finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal support for multiple projects, advising on transaction structures and legal risks.
• Draft, review and negotiate project and development agreements including off­take and JV deals.
• Collaborate with business development, technical and finance teams to craft bankable contracts.
• Lead negotiations with partners, counterparties and external advisers.
• Identify legal risks and suggest practical mitigations throughout development.
• Manage external legal counsel and coordinate advice across jurisdictions.
• Support project acquisitions and other transactions as needed.
• Mentor junior lawyers and contribute to templates and processes.

Skills

Project development

Contract negotiation

Drafting

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Cross-border transactions

Education

Bachelor of Laws / JD

Job description

ACWA Power is seeking a Director - Legal to support the development of power, water and green hydrogen projects across its international portfolio.

This role focuses on the legal and commercial arrangements underpinning project development. We are looking for an experienced projects lawyer with strong drafting and negotiation skills, commercial judgement and the ability to independently lead complex transactions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead legal support for multiple projects, advising business development teams on transaction structures, contractual arrangements and legal risks.
• Draft, review and negotiate project and development agreements, including relevant offtake, joint venture, construction and operations agreements.
• Work closely with business development, technical and finance colleagues to develop commercially workable and bankable contractual arrangements.
• Lead negotiations with partners, counterparties and external advisers, protecting ACWA Power's interests while supporting project delivery.
• Identify legal risks and recommend practical mitigation measures throughout the development process.
• Manage external legal counsel and coordinate advice across relevant jurisdictions.
• Support project acquisitions and other transactions where required.
• Mentor junior lawyers and contribute to the development of legal templates, knowledge and working practices.

What we're looking for

• A Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor.
• At least 10+ years of relevant legal experience, with substantial experience advising on project development and negotiating complex project agreements.
• Experience with an international law firm is strongly preferred. Relevant experience with a power developer, infrastructure developer or EPC contractor will also be considered.
• Experience in power, renewables, water, green hydrogen or major infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage transactions and negotiate directly with counterparties.
• A practical, responsive approach to supporting internal clients, with strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Willingness to be based in Riyadh.

Direct experience with project and development agreements is essential. Candidates whose experience is solely in financing or banking documentation would need broader projects experience to meet the requirements of this role.

We welcome applications from Saudi and international candidates.