Senior Legal, Contracts & Compliance Manager

Location:

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

We have been present in Saudi Arabia for 40 years and with over 600 employees to date, we are growing rapidly. Together we are delivering our signalling, control and train protection systems for the North –South Railway (NSR), the longest system of it’s kind in the world. Together we are key suppliers of In-flight entertainment and connectivity systems as well as air traffic management solutions in Saudi.

We are making Saudi Arabia a safer place by securing the country’s critical infrastructure and e-security solutions that secure the country’s electronic payment systems. Thales has been selected to supply major electronic systems for air defence and the Group also supplied communication and optronic systems for the Army, the Saudi Arabia National Guards and the Air Force.
** JOB OBJECTIVE
** The Senior Legal, Contracts & Compliance Manager supports the Director Legal, Contracts & Compliance in delivering high-quality legal, contractual, governance, and compliance services across Thales entities in Saudi Arabia and Central Asia.

The role is designed as a senior, high-impact position with strong leadership potential, contributing to legal risk management, compliance maturity, corporate governance excellence, and contract lifecycle support, while acting as a trusted advisor to the business and a key interface with Saudi authorities and external stakeholders.

The position plays a critical role in strengthening local governance, ensuring regulatory compliance, supporting strategic transactions, and embedding a strong compliance culture, with a clear development path toward future leadership within the function.
** ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
**** 1. Legal Advisory & Corporate Support
*** Provide proactive legal advice to the business on Saudi and regional laws, regulations, and corporate requirements.
* Support all legal matters relating to commercial operations, projects, bids, tenders, and contractual arrangements, in close coordination with contracts and commercial teams.
* Assist in the management of disputes, claims, and litigation matters, including coordination with external counsel.
* Support legal risk assessment and mitigation strategies across business activities.
** 2. Contract Management & Commercial Support
*** Support the Director in overseeing the contract lifecycle, including drafting, review, negotiation, and interpretation of commercial contracts.
* Provide legal support to project teams on contractual risk, variations, claims, and dispute avoidance.
* Ensure alignment of contracts with internal policies, compliance requirements, and delegation of authority.
* Promote contractual best practices and contribute to the development of templates, playbooks, and guidance notes.
** 3. Compliance & Ethics (Four Pillars Ownership Support)
** Actively support the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of Thales compliance framework, with a strong focus on the following pillars:
* Antitrust & Competition Law
* Anti-Corruption & Integrity
* Data Protection & Privacy
* Third-Party Risk / Ethics & Compliance Controls

Key responsibilities include:

* Supporting compliance risk assessments and mitigation plans.
* Assisting in compliance investigations, internal reviews, and remediation actions.
* Contributing to compliance reporting, dashboards, and regulatory submissions.
* Supporting compliance training, awareness programs, and “tone from the top” initiatives.
* Acting as a local compliance ambassador and trusted point of contact for business teams.
** 4. Corporate Governance & Corporate Secretarial
*** Support the Director in managing corporate governance frameworks across KSA and Central Asia entities.
* Handle or coordinate corporate secretarial activities, including:  + Board and shareholder resolutions  + Powers of attorney  + Articles of Association updates…