About the role
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced senior lawyer to join our dynamic legal team. Reporting to the Senior Director, the Legal Director - MENAT will play a crucial role in overseeing and managing Pearson’s affairs within the MENAT region and will be responsible for providing expert advice and support on a wide range of legal and compliance matters. The Legal Director - MENAT will work closely with senior management and other internal stakeholders to manage legal risk, protect Pearson’s interests and support strategic objectives. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience of working internationally, and particular experience and a deep understanding of the MENAT region’s legal and cultural landscape. Whilst the main focus of the role will be the MENAT region, the Legal Director - MENAT will also support on a broader scope of work (including across the wider EMEA region) as required.
An overview of the roles scope and focus:
Key responsibilities
- Legal Advisory: Act as a trusted advisor and provide high-quality, accurate and timely legal advice to senior management and key stakeholders on a diverse range of legal and strategic matters, including contracts, commercial matters, corporate governance, intellectual property, product launches, partnerships and market expansions.
- Commercial contracts: Draft, negotiate and proactively manage complex commercial arrangements whilst ensuring compliance with applicable laws and best practices. You will have broad experience of drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial contracts, including vendor agreements, sales and distribution agreements, marketing agreements and other legal documents, and supporting on government tenders.
- Risk management: Ensure compliance with local, regional, and international laws, including proactively monitoring developments in laws, regulations, industry trends and best practices, and providing training and advice to business teams on the same. Identify and assess legal risks across business operations and offer proactive advice and mitigation strategies to manage risk.
- Specialist legal support – Provide specialist legal support (including data privacy, disputes, IPR, labour law, marketing and advertising rules) to local business teams (such as HR, tax, finance and marketing) as required and work collaboratively with Pearson subject-matter experts where necessary.
- Compliance: Partner with Pearson’s Global Compliance Office and act as Local Compliance officer for the MENAT region, including by providing training (on topics such as anti-bribery and corruption, sanctions and anti-trust) and supporting the implementation of Pearson policies.
- Corporate governance: Act as a local governance representative for Pearson companies in the MENAT region. Ensure the company’s corporate governance practices are aligned with regional regulations, best practices, and internal policies.
What we are looking for:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a keen attention to detail and a proactive approach to managing risk and advising the business.
- Ability to handle multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop relationships through the organisation and influence and collaborate effectively with a broad range of teams.
- Strong communication and negotiation skills with the ability to clearly explain complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
- Strong leadership skills, ethical standards and professional integrity. Sets high standards of performance for self and others and demonstrates composure and resilience under difficult and challenging circumstances.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken) is required.
Experience & Qualification
- A law degree or equivalent legal qualification from a reputable university. Licence to practice law in a relevant jurisdiction.
- At least 8–10 years of experience as a legal professional.
- Experience of operating internationally, including particular experience and knowledge of the MENAT region and its legal systems, regulations and ways of working.
- In-house counsel experience required. Law firm training and experience of working across several jurisdictions highly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience of the areas listed, including supporting complex commercial arrangements, and advising senior business stakeholders on a broad range of legal and compliance matters in the MENAT region.
Who we are:
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: https://plc.pearson.com/
Pearson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We strive for a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities.
If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.
To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, navigate to: http://www.pearson.com/careers/diversity-and-inclusion.html.
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