Deputy General Counsel

ENGIE

A major player in the energy transition, whose purpose is to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. With 98,000 employees in 30 countries, the Group covers the entire energy value chain, from production to infrastructure and sales. ENGIE combines complementary activities: renewable electricity and green gas production, flexibility assets (notably batteries), gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks, local energy infrastructures (heating and cooling networks) and the supply of energy to individuals, local authorities and businesses. Every year, ENGIE invests more than €10 billion to drive forward the energy transition and achieve its net-zero carbon goal by 2045.

Purpose of the Job

The Deputy General Counsel’s responsibility is to manage the KSA projects/assets and provide legal support to KSA projects throughout their construction and operation phases.

Key Accountabilities

• In general, take the legal lead, in coordination with the General Counsel-GCC-KSA, to support all the management, construction and operation of the KSA projects/assets.
• Be accountable for monitoring regulatory trends in KSA in which the Group has or is developing projects.
• Be accountable for monitoring trends in dispute resolution.
• Supervision of and responsibility for work prepared by Senior, Mid-Level and Junior Counsel and Paralegals.
• Ensure compliance with policies and procedures of the ENGIE Groups.
• Awareness and reporting of ethical issues, if any, as they arise.
• Encourage a culture of compliance with laws and integrity in the Group.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of procedures for the interface and cooperation with project companies and operation and maintenance companies in the region.
• Contribute to the implementation and use of the document management system.
• Assist in planning allocation of legal resources to advise project companies or operation and maintenance companies in respect of disputes or legal questions as they arise.
• Take the lead responsibility for legal aspects of asset management, operation and construction projects as part of the hand-over after financial close of a project.
• Take the lead responsibility for legal aspects of asset management, operation and maintenance companies as part of the hand-over leading up to the first commercial operation date of a project.
• Identify issues during the construction and operation phases of a project that may affect the financing of a project and provide legal advice to project managers to assist in resolving such issues.
• Provide general legal advice on contract management and legal matters as they arise (including regulatory and local law issues in coordination with local counsel) during the construction and operation phases of a project.
• Provide legal advice and counsel in connection with construction claims, including change orders, force majeure, owner failure, punch list, completion delays and warranty claims.
• Provide dispute resolution advice and counsel to project companies and operation and maintenance companies whether arising under contracts with third parties or with other affiliates of the Group.
• Lead or assist (whichever is applicable under the circumstances) the management of due diligence for divestments and rotations of assets.
• Monitor and report on non-compliance with policies or procedures, pending or threatened violations of law or ethical values of the Group.
• Control the hiring, use, quality and cost of external legal counsel on development projects.

Qualifications

• Law Degree from a reputable university, with 12+ years of legal experience.

Language

• Excellent command of written and spoken English. Arabic is a plus.

Experience

• Large law firm experience and/or large corporate practice preferred.
• Experience in the energy industry.
• Experience in litigation and arbitration.
• Experience in public private partnerships.
• Experience in construction of large infrastructure projects.
• Experience in project financing.

Knowledge and Skills

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of EPC Contracts, PPA, PWPA and other project documents.
• Strong contract drafting and contract interpretation skills; Advanced negotiating skills.
• Ability to provide commercially sound legal advice in construction disputes.
• Ability to provide commercially sound legal advice to operating companies, including in relation to disputes among affiliates involved in O&M arrangements.
• Multi-tasking in order to work on files while supporting senior and junior counsel in the management of their projects.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills – able to influence and persuade others and deliver success through others.
• Has the personal stature and capability to influence key decision makers and to represent the Group in contact with key stakeholders.
• Organizational skills to achieve objectives on time.
• Ability to make decisions or judgment calls even when working with ambiguous or conflicting data.
• Good understanding of cultural differences and ability to manage them.
• Ability to maintain high levels of focused drive and energy, setting personally challenging goals.
• Respectable, professional, ethical, fair, trustworthy.
• Attention to details and legal acumen.
• Ability to see the big picture in a complex, international organization.
• Strong intellectual capacity – able to deal with complexity.
• Gives above what is required to get the job done – takes personal accountability for success.
• Has the flexibility and resilience to overcome setbacks and obstacles.

Location/travel

• Based in Riyadh, KSA.
• Flexibility to travel (including to Dubai).