Lead Legal Counsel - Corporate & Compliance

Lead Legal Counsel - Corporate & Compliance

Job title

Lead Legal Counsel Corporate & Compliance

Grade

Stream

Legal

Function

Legal Corporate & Compliance

Location

Oman – Muscat

Budget control

* OPEX and/or CAPEX and/or Revenue amount as relevant*

Reporting to

Manager Legal Corporate, Compliance and Governance

Direct reports

-

Job Purpose

Provide specialized legal support to OQ Exploration and Production SAOG (“OQEP”) corporate, compliance and governance functions, ensuring the effective implementation of legal governance, regulatory adherence, and risk mitigation across upstream activities. Operating under the guidance of the Manager Legal Corporate, Compliance and Governance, the role leads the delivery of legal services in areas such as corporate support, corporate governance, statutory compliance, policy implementation, and regulatory engagement.

Acts as a key legal point of contact for corporate and control functions, ensuring that legal risks are identified, managed, and reported in alignment with OQEP’s governance framework and regulatory obligations.

The position will act in accordance with the OQEP’s Mission, Vision, Values & Strategies, as well as policies, guidelines, and international standards, supported by an IT Technology platform, HSE standards, Omani government & other legal justifications, and best international practices in consonance with national objectives.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and guidance on corporate governance matters, including shareholder resolutions, board processes, and entity management.
• Draft, review, and negotiate corporate legal documents such as shareholder agreements, and internal resolutions etc…
• Ensure proper legal maintenance of company entities, branches, and records in compliance with applicable laws.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on OQEP’s corporate obligations.
• Support compliance with statutory filings, licenses, and regulatory submissions, coordinating with external counsel where needed.
• Act as a liaison with regulators, government bodies, and notaries on corporate and compliance matters.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and periodic review of corporate legal and compliance policies and procedures.
• Support internal reviews or gap assessments to ensure policies are in line with group governance standards and applicable laws.
• Identify legal and compliance risks related to corporate and propose mitigation strategies.
• Support audits, internal reviews, and investigations, and ensure timely and accurate legal documentation.
• Prepare or contribute to reports and updates for senior legal leadership.
• Serve as a key point of contact for internal stakeholders (e.g., Finance, Strategy, HR) on corporate legal matters.
• Coordinate with external legal counsel and advisors as required by the Manager Legal Corporate, Compliance and Governance.
• Support cross-functional projects involving legal compliance or governance implications.
• Provide guidance and quality control on deliverables from more junior legal staff within the team.
• Support knowledge transfer, training, and awareness initiatives related to corporate legal and compliance topics.
• Perform any other legal tasks or responsibilities assigned by the Manager Legal Corporate, Compliance and Governance or Legal Leadership, in line with business and compliance needs.

Key Interactions

Internal: OQEP Business Units

Notable Working Conditions

Office environment, intensive computer screen use, sporadic visits to operation site.

Education Requirements

Minimum qualification required is a college graduate degree in law, Master or any other qualification is a plus.

Language

Excellent knowledge of written, read, and spoken English (required)

Background and Experience

Competencies and Skills

• Minimum 8+ years of legal experience, within the oil & gas or broader energy sector.
• Strong background in upstream oil & gas contracts, labor law, company law, corporate work, corporate governance, compliance, financial disclosures, financing, and publicly listed companies.
• Experience dealing with financial regulators (FSA, MSX and MCD).
• Analytical skills
• Maintaining effective, accurate and transparent communication…