Assistant Vice President - Legal Counsel (UAE National)

• Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of construction and project-related agreements, including main contracts, consultancy agreements, and related project documentation.
• Advise on procurement strategies and contract structuring to ensure appropriate risk allocation and alignment with project objectives.
• Provide legal support throughout the project lifecycle, from tender stage through project delivery to close-out.
• Advise project teams on contract interpretation, administration, and compliance with contractual obligations.
• Support the management of variations, claims, and extension of time matters, ensuring legal and commercial risks are mitigated.
• Provide strategic advice on dispute avoidance and resolution, including managing pre-dispute processes, negotiations, and formal dispute proceedings (arbitration/litigation).
• Liaise with and manage external legal counsel where required, including oversight of advice, budgets, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders including project, commercial, procurement, and finance teams to ensure consistent and practical legal support.
• Develop and maintain standard form construction contracts, templates, and playbooks in line with market practice and Aldar requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal governance policies in all construction-related matters.
• Support risk management initiatives by identifying legal risks and proposing mitigation strategies across projects.
• Contribute to internal knowledge sharing and continuous improvement of legal processes related to construction and project delivery.

RELATED YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Min of 8+ years of experience in legal practice ideally in construction/real estate (private practice or in-house)

FIELD OF EXPERIENCE

Construction, Infrastructure, Project Procurement

TECHNICAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Attention to detail
• Systematic organizing capability
• Ability to deal with senior executives
• Time management
• Negotiating skills
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills
• English language drafting mandatory - contracts and correspondence with counterparties and government entities
• Arabic language capabilities would be beneficial

QUALIFICATION

• Bachelors degree / Law degree
• Legal qualifications (as applicable in country of qualification)