Assistant Vice President - Legal Counsel (UAE National)
Job Purpose
Act as legal counsel on construction and development projects, providing legal advice on procurement strategies and the drafting, review and negotiation of construction-related agreements. The role is responsible for managing contractual and legal risk across the project lifecycle and supporting project teams on claims, variations and dispute resolution to safeguard Aldar’s commercial and legal interests.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of construction and project-related agreements, including main contracts, consultancy agreements, and related project documentation.
- Advise on procurement strategies and contract structuring to ensure appropriate risk allocation and alignment with project objectives.
- Provide legal support throughout the project lifecycle, from tender stage through project delivery to close-out.
- Advise project teams on contract interpretation, administration, and compliance with contractual obligations.
- Support the management of variations, claims, and extension of time matters, ensuring legal and commercial risks are mitigated.
- Provide strategic advice on dispute avoidance and resolution, including managing pre-dispute processes, negotiations, and formal dispute proceedings (arbitration/litigation).
- Liaise with and manage external legal counsel where required, including oversight of advice, budgets, and deliverables.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders including project, commercial, procurement, and finance teams to ensure consistent and practical legal support.
- Develop and maintain standard form construction contracts, templates, and playbooks in line with market practice and Aldar requirements.
- Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal governance policies in all construction-related matters.
- Support risk management initiatives by identifying legal risks and proposing mitigation strategies across projects.
- Contribute to internal knowledge sharing and continuous improvement of legal processes related to construction and project delivery.
RELATED YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Min of 8+ years of experience in legal practice ideally in construction/real estate (private practice or in-house)
FIELD OF EXPERIENCE
Construction, Infrastructure, Project Procurement
TECHNICAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
- Attention to detail
- Systematic organizing capability
- Ability to deal with senior executives
- Time management
- Negotiating skills
- Excellent communication and relationship management skills
- English language drafting mandatory - contracts and correspondence with counterparties and government entities
- Arabic language capabilities would be beneficial
QUALIFICATION
- Bachelors degree / Law degree
- Legal qualifications (as applicable in country of qualification)