Position Summary
The position reports to the General Counsel and supports the General Counsel across all functional areas of the University. Leads and manages assignments independently and coordinates with teams of key stakeholders, including senior leadership. Provides guidance and legal advice to all academic and administrative areas of the University, with a focus on projects, major procurements, the University's investment fund and research and academic affairs. As a generalist role, the position also provides advice related to the University's collaborative research, intellectual property, student matters, IT matters, data privacy and protection, property and compliance with relevant national and international laws. Serves as a strategic partner in the development and implementation of University policies, procedures and initiatives and in matters involving litigation and dispute resolution.
Major Responsibilities
- Drafts, reviews and negotiates strategic transactions and contracts, such as those related to technology commercialization, research collaborations, information technology, and strategic partnerships.
- Works with University stakeholders to find effective, reasonable and practical solutions to challenging legal and business problems.
- Works with the KAUST Innovation Fund in relations to investment in start-ups.
- Provides legal advice and general counsel on a wide range of matters to KAUST management and departments including the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President for Research, NTI and the Office of the Provost.
- Supports the General Counsel by advising on the University's policies, programs, practices, and activities that are affected by legal considerations.
- Works with other University departments to promote compliance with University policies and procedures and the alignment of department actions with the University's research, academic and economic development missions.
- Provides training on and information about legal developments of interest, in particular, to University leadership and managers.
- Conducts legal research and related due diligence on a variety of complex legal and business matters.
- Provides advice and assistance to those responsible for administering the University's strategic risk assessments to ensure proper administrative oversight and to identify and manage areas of special interest that pose a risk to the University.
- Provides guidance to members of the University's senior leadership team, department administrators and management with regard to risk-based decision-making to facilitate their understanding of the legal and business causes and effects of their actions and to ensure adherence to governance, policy, risk, and legal compliance requirements, with appropriate attention to any legal and other risks to the University.
- Serves on University committees and participates in other University activities as requested.
- Supports the General Counsel and other personnel in performing all the activities of the Office of General Counsel, as assigned.
Competencies
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal and business issues in terms that are understandable to non-lawyers.
- Ability to manage multiple assignments and to complete them effectively and promptly with little or no supervision.
- Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions and exercise good judgment.
- Strong listening, interpersonal and leadership skills with an ability to engage effectively with University colleagues and third parties.
- Proven ability to mentor and support junior lawyers and supervise their work on a day-to-day basis.
- Ability to identify, analyze and resolve complex legal and business issues effectively.
- Superior attention to detail.
- Superior integrity and work ethic.
- Ability to instill confidence in his or her capability to achieve results and maintain confidentiality.
- Mature understanding of how to interact with a diverse, multi-cultural group of stakeholders and University partners to develop and maintain long-term positive relationships.
- Knowledge of Shari'a law and Middle East culture is desirable, but not essential.
Leadership Competencies
- Communicates and inspires a shared vision both within and outside the team.
- Maximizes the impact of the team activities to contribute to KAUST's vision, mission & strategic objectives.
- Fosters trust and collaboration among team and all stakeholders.
- Empowers people to learn and develop.
- Embraces diversity of all levels.
- Drives agility and innovation in activities to support an innovative and changing environment.
- Demonstrates connected thinking across the University, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in the wider global context.
Qualifications
- A law degree from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials.
- Minimum of 15 years of experience practicing in a broad range of legal areas within a complex organizational structure, preferably in a higher education or a research-based environment.
- Licensed to practice law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, or an equivalent jurisdiction.
