Director, Legal Services at T2 (Formerly 9Mobile)

Job Summary       
Serve as the principal legal officer in the formulation of Etisalat's legal, corporate, business, commercial and investment policies and other strategic matters by providing legal opinion to protect its interests and mitigate risks.
Oversee the Legal Services Division and guide its personnel and activities to meet Etisalat's overall corporate goals and objectives.

Principal Functions       

• Oversee the articulation of the departmental strategy in line with the overall corporate strategy
• Demonstrate ownership of and communicate the department's strategic direction and objectives to all staff.
• Provide legal inputs in the formulation of Etisalat's business and investment policies.
• Advice on telecoms matters with respect to relevant regulatory matters and liaise with Regulatory and Corporate Affairs or other relevant departments of Etisalat as required.
• Coordinate the execution of the department's work programs and plans.
• Establish professional litigation and legal opinion management processes, policies and procedures to ensure consistent and prudent legal advice and action.
• Communicate the activities and achievements of the division to all relevant stakeholders.
• Champion the definition of the division's processes, policies and procedures.
• Continually review and assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the department's policies, procedures and processes and identify improvement opportunities.
• Keep abreast of local and global best practices and make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer on how this impacts the department's role.
• Prepare and monitor the annual budget for the Legal Services division and take corrective actions in case of any variation.
• Provide legal advice to the Board of the Directors and its various committees including the Executive Committee as required.
• Co-ordinate the handling of litigation by and against Etisalat and advice Management/Heads of Departments on likely litigation cases.
• Liaise with external legal counsels and consultants as required on litigation matters involving Etisalat.
• Interpret local laws, regulations, directives, and decrees affecting Etisalat, and render advice where required to Senior Management and relevant user departments.
• Advise on new laws or amendments to existing legislation.
• Ensure proper coordination between the legal function and other user departments with respect to contracting with suppliers, vendors and 3rd parties ensuring that the interest of the organisation is adequately protected.
• Provide leadership and guidance to direct reports.
• Oversee and coordinate the day to day activities of the division and ensure alignment with the overall goals and objectives of Etisalat.
• Coordinate the preparation and compilation of agreed periodic activities and performance reports for the attention of the Chief Executive Officer.
• Review and authorise key expenditures/transactions of the division in line with approved authority limits.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.       

Educational Requirements   

• First degree in law.
• Postgraduate/relevant professional qualification will be an added advantage.      

Experience, Skills & Competencies  

• Twelve (12) to fifteen (15) years work experience with at least four (4) years at senior management level.
• Minimum of ten (10) years experience at the bar.
• Good understanding of the telecoms business and telecoms regulations.
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Ability to provide advisory services to the Board and Executive Management 
• Ability to lead and work within a multi-disciplinary setting to achieve consensus
• Must be detail-oriented, flexibility, creativity and objectivity at all times.
• Telecoms Regulations
• Legislation and Compliance
• Legal Contract Drafting
• Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution
• Communication
• Decision Making
• Leadership and People Management
• Strategic thinking
• Passion for Excellence
• Integrity
• Empowering people
• Growing people
• Team work
• Customer Focus