Corporate Legal Manager (Saudi Talent)

Daikin Middle East & Africa is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration technology. The company designs, manufactures and brings to market a broad portfolio of equipment, as well as tailor-made solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). To date, Daikin EMEA has over 12 000 employees across more than 59 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 12 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria, and the UK. Our aim is to drive sustainable and effective solutions, sparking a good climate for the generations to come. And all this can only be achieved because of our People.

About the Role

The Corporate Legal Manager (Saudi Talent) will be based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will serve as the primary legal business partner for Daikin Saudi Arabia. The role is part of the Daikin Europe Legal Team, which is responsible for providing legal support to the Daikin Europe Group’s activities across the EMEA region.

The role provides comprehensive legal support to the business across Saudi Arabia and, where required, the wider Middle East region. You will advise the business on a broad range of legal, regulatory, compliance, and corporate governance matters while supporting commercial objectives and ensuring the effective management of legal risk. The role requires close collaboration with senior management, regional legal teams, and external stakeholders. You will lead and further develop the local Legal Department, fostering a high-performing, business-oriented legal function.

How You Will Make an Impact

You will collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders to deliver legal support, strengthen corporate governance and compliance, and proactively manage legal risk while enabling sustainable business growth, and key responsibilities will include:

Commercial Contracts:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including sales agreements, service contracts, turnkey agreements, supplier agreements, and partnership agreements.
• Provide legal advice and support to various business functions, including Sales, Procurement, and Marketing, on contract terms, obligations, legal risks, and compliance matters.
• Ensure all contracts comply with applicable local and international laws and regulations, as well as Daikin's internal policies and procedures.

Corporate Governance

• Monitor and advise on legal and regulatory changes in Saudi Arabia and other jurisdictions affecting Daikin's operations, ensuring the company is compliant with laws and industry regulations.
• Assist in implementing and managing internal compliance programs to ensure adherence to local and global standards.
• Provide legal training and support to internal teams regarding compliance issues, anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and corporate governance.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution:

• Manage and oversee any legal disputes and litigation matters, working closely with external legal counsel as needed.
• Report to Daikin Europe N.V. on dispute status and cooperate to agree on the strategy and the best course of action to resolve disputes efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Where required for providing legal support, attend meetings with government authorities, regulatory bodies, and other external parties when required.

Legal Advice and Risk Management:

• Provide proactive legal advice on a range of matters, helping business units assess and mitigate legal risks.
• Work with business leaders to resolve legal issues promptly and effectively, protecting the company’s interests while fostering business growth.
• Assist in the preparation of internal policies and procedures to manage legal risks.
• Capture of relevant legislation to the business activities of Daikin in the Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East region and correct interpretation of such legislation.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with other functions such as finance, procurement, sales and operations to support the business in Saudia Arabia and in the Middle East region.
• Work closely with the members of Daikin’s legal team to ensure consistency in legal practices and alignment with Daikin’s policies.

Leadership & Management:

• Provide direct leadership, coaching and performance management to two direct reports, ensuring appropriate allocation of responsibilities and workload.
• Foster the professional development of team members and contribute to building a high-performing Legal Department.

What You Need to Succeed

• Master's Degree (LL.M.) in Law from a recognized university.
• Qualified lawyer/admitted to practice in a recognized jurisdiction is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years' post-qualification legal experience, including substantial in-house experience within an international and multicultural environment; experience in manufacturing, engineering, construction or industrial sectors is highly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Saudi Arabian laws and regulations is a must.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing legal professionals within a corporate environment.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to provide pragmatic, business-focused legal advice.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Arabic.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with legal technology solutions and contract management systems is desirable.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and perform effectively in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.

Good climate starts with people 
Our employees are the beating heart of our company. At Daikin, you get to work in a positive environment backed by trust, creativity and continuous improvement. Together, we create our top-quality solutions by empowering talented teams. You will get plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. We are deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that reflects the communities we serve. Good climate starts with people.