Unit Head Legal - Banking - Bahrain - Job Ref: 26039

Job Title: Unit Head Legal

Salary : up to 5K BD per month

Sector: Banking

Role Type: Permanent

Location: Bahrain

Job Ref: 26039

About the role:

Lead and manage the Legal support function of the Bank in the following areas: litigation, product development, HR, Operations, Risk, Audit, Compliance and Sharia - to ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, provide strategic legal advice, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks while supporting business growth.

Responsibility Title: Litigation Management:

• Lead and oversee all litigation and dispute resolution matters involving the Bank, including civil, commercial, and regulatory cases.
• Manage external counsel, ensuring effective representation, cost efficiency, and alignment with the Bank’s legal strategy.
• Develop litigation strategies, assess legal risks, and provide timely updates and recommendations to senior management.

Responsibility Title: Product Development Support:

• Provide legal advice on structuring, development, and launch of new banking products, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and Sharia principles.
• Review and approve product documentation, terms and conditions, and customer agreements.
• Collaborate with business units to identify legal risks and implement mitigation measures during product lifecycle.

Responsibility Title: HR Support:

• Advise HR on legal matters related to employment, labour disputes, disciplinary actions, and termination processes.
• Review and draft employment contracts, policies, and HR frameworks to ensure compliance with labour laws and internal policies.
• Support handling of employee disputes, investigations, and regulatory inquiries involving staff.

Responsibility Title: Operations Support:

• Assist in resolving operational legal issues and enhancing process efficiency through legal advisory.

Responsibility Title: Risk Support:

• Advise the Risk function on legal and regulatory implications of credit, market, and operational risks.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks associated with business activities and strategic initiatives.
• Support development and implementation of legal risk frameworks, policies, and controls.

Responsibility Title: Audit Support:

• Support internal and external audits by providing legal inputs, documentation, and clarifications.
• Address audit findings related to legal matters and ensured timely remediation and compliance.
• Collaborate with audit teams to strengthen governance and control frameworks from a legal perspective.

Responsibility Title: Compliance Support:

• Provide legal interpretation of regulatory requirements and ensure the Bank’s adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
• Support Compliance in responding to regulatory inquiries, inspections, and reporting obligations.

Responsibility Title: Sharia Support:

• Ensure all legal documentation and transactions comply with Sharia principles and guidelines relating to the departments and matters under the Litigation and Support Unit.
• Liaise with the Sharia Department on product structures, contracts relating to the Litigation and Support Unit, and dispute matters.
• Support resolution of Sharia-related legal issues and ensure alignment between legal and Sharia requirements.