VP Legal

OQ

Main tasks and responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Support the General Counsel in overseeing the company s overall legal, compliance, and governance strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Lead and supervise two Legal Managers:
• Manager Legal Operations : responsible for contracts, procurement, litigation, claims, and project support.
• Manager Corporate, Compliance & Governance : responsible for corporate secretarial matters, compliance programs, governance frameworks, and regulatory affairs.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and performance oversight to direct reports and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous development.
• Drive team capability building through structured development programs, succession planning, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, ensuring the legal function evolves in line with business needs.

Strategic

• Support the General Counsel in developing and executing legal strategy aligned with corporate and regulatory objectives.
• Lead and mentor the Legal Team, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Provide legal guidance to Senior Management and business on strategic matters.

Legal Compliance

• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and listing requirements of the stock exchange/regulators.
• Strengthen and monitor corporate governance frameworks, Board and Committee processes, shareholder engagement, and disclosure obligations.
• Oversee compliance policies and programs, including anti-bribery, anti-corruption, sanctions, data protection, and ethics.
• Act as a key liaison with regulatory authorities, stock exchanges, and external auditors.

Financing Activities

• Provide legal support for the company s financing activities, including project finance, corporate finance, and debt/equity transactions.
• Advise on the structuring, negotiation, and execution of financing agreements, security documents, and related instruments.
• Liaise with financial institutions, external counsel, and internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in all financing matters.
• Review and negotiate loan agreements, guarantees, and other financial documentation to safeguard the company s interests.
• Support due diligence processes and ensure timely completion of all legal aspects of financing transactions.

Business Development

• Support mergers and acquisitions, divestments, and related commercial transactions, working closely with other departments such as finance and operations, and manage the legal and regulatory aspects of the transaction.
• Advise on sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption, and all compliance matters for local and international offices.

Contracts and projects

• Advise senior management on legal issues impacting business and projects.
• Provide legal support for project development, implementation, financing, restructurings, and claims.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements including supply, procurement and project documentation.
• Supervise negotiations with suppliers and stakeholders, ensuring commercial and legal interests are protected.
• Support contracts and procurement teams with standard agreements and tender clarifications.
• Ensure all project and contract documentation complies with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Stay updated on relevant legislation and provide general legal advice as needed.

Risk Management

• Conduct legal research, develop risk management strategies, and provide guidance on new initiatives.

Disputes

• Manage disputes that might arise in OQEP, whether they involve customers, suppliers, or other stakeholders.
• Oversee and advise on litigation and dispute settlement activities and lead instructions to external counsel.
• Manage disputes effectively to minimize their impact on the business by developing a litigation strategy that balances legal and commercial considerations, while managing legal costs and negotiating settlements that protect OQEP commercial interests.

Stakeholder

• Work closely with Senior Management in shaping the business strategy of OQEP.
• Foster collaboration within the Legal Team for OQEP and the business lines/other functions to ensure the Legal Team is appropriately positioned and utilized within OQEP.
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders, particularly governmental authorities and regulators, as well as external counsel and consultants.

Continuous Improvements and Innovation

• Design and implement digital transformation initiatives and embrace technology that enhances the efficiency of legal processes, improves collaboration and communication, and increases the accuracy and consistency of legal advice.
• Continuously review and improve legal processes, such as contract management and dispute resolution, to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve outcomes.
• Measure and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas where the legal function is performing well and areas where improvements are needed.
• Identify trends and patterns that may be useful in improving legal processes, identifying risks, and optimizing legal outcomes.

Supervisory

• Manage Legal Team resources to ensure appropriate skill sets and capacity to address the legal demands of the OQEP business.
• Provide oversight and accountability in supporting the OQEP Legal Team in leading the negotiations of agreements across a wide variety of transactions and discussions.
• Lead and manage the Legal staff, including workforce planning (hiring and deployment within the function), performance management, and development of direct reports to maximize their potential and engagement.