Senior Legal Counsel

Job Purpose

The Senior Legal Counsel – Nuclear Energy Law, will provide expert legal support to the company in all matters related to nuclear energy law. This role involves advising on regulatory compliance, safety standards, international treaties, licensing, liability, environmental protection, export controls, and other legal aspects of nuclear operations.

Key Activities, Responsibility & Accountability

Legal Advisory Services

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Advise on legal requirements for the safe operation of nuclear facilities, including compliance with international safety regulations.
2. Advise on licensing processes for nuclear installations and operators.
3. Liaise with nuclear regulatory authorities to address compliance issues and obtain necessary approvals.
4. Advise on compliance with laws related to the protection of nuclear materials and facilities from sabotage, theft, and unauthorized access.
5. Advise adherence to international treaties and agreements such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and IAEA Safeguards Agreements and FANR Regulations.
6. Draft and review agreements covering civil nuclear liability, including compliance with conventions such as the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage.
7. Advise on insurance requirements to ensure financial protection against nuclear incidents.
8. Advise on compliance with export control regulations related to nuclear materials, technology, and dual-use goods.
9. Ensure proper licensing and documentation for import/export transactions involving nuclear materials.
10. Provide legal counsel on radiological protection laws to safeguard the environment and public health.
11. Oversee legal compliance in radioactive waste management and spent fuel disposal.
12. Support decommissioning projects, ensuring environmental restoration and regulatory compliance.
13. Assist in the development of legal frameworks for nuclear accident preparedness and emergency response.
14. Advise on laws governing the commercial aspects of nuclear energy production and distribution.
15. Advise on compliance with workplace radiation protection laws and standards.
16. Advise on penalties, sanctions, or legal remedies for non-compliance.
17. Train, develop and manage team members to support provision of legal advisory services.
18. Manage external counsels to support resolution of specific legal matters.

Governance

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Provide feedback regarding Nawah legal compliance and any internal/external identified risk, recommend mitigating actions, advise on relevant regulations.
2. Provide input into the development of the strategic plan for the Legal Department to ensure alignment with Nawah’s vision, mission, and strategic goals under Nawah’s business model.

Contract Negotiation, Investigation and Dispute

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Review, draft, negotiate and manage contractual documents and queries to deliver the best outcomes for Nawah.
2. Lead disputes with third parties to ensure timely resolution and prevent escalation of disputes.
3. Draft settlements, NDAs, amendments, and other contractual documents that have elements of Nuclear Laws & Regulations.
4. Interface and manage external counsels on litigation, arbitration, or other formal dispute resolution to adopt the strategy most favorable to Nawah.
5. Contribute to/or manage internal investigations to ensure integrity and success of the investigation.

Budget

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Provide input into the development of the Section’s budget, and monitor financial performance versus the budget to ensure alignment.
2. Review and manage invoices from instructed external legal consultants to validate for approval by general counsel and proactively work to minimize external legal costs.

Operational Planning

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Provide input into the development of the Division’s systems, processes, and procedures, as well develop, and implement the Department’s systems and processes, identifying potential areas of improvement to ensure efficient, effective, safe, and risk-free operations as well as compliance with corporate and regulatory requirements.
2. Monitor, control and report Operational and financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to the Department, to track performance and recommend corrective or mitigating actions.
3. Ensure that all relative reports are prepared timely and accurately and meet the Department’s requirements and standards.

Health and Safety, Security and Business Continuity

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Ensure compliance with all relevant health, safety, and environmental management policies, procedures, and controls across the Department by delivering the Health and Safety Management Program to guarantee employee safety, legislative compliance, delivery of high-quality services, and a responsible environmental attitude.
2. Follow all relevant Security policies, processes, procedures, and instructions to ensure security compliance in all aspects of work, by applying them on self, others, and corporate assets.
3. Ensure compliance with Business Continuity and Resilience requirements for adherence to policies, procedures, and instructions related to the effective planning for, and response to, incidents and/or business disruptions in order to continue critical business processes and activities with minimal adverse impact.

People Management

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Manage the effective achievement of the Organization’s objectives by setting individual targets, developing, and motivating staff, and providing formal and informal constructive feedback and appraisal – in order to maximize subordinate and Department’s performance.
2. Contribute to the development of UAE employees in a manner that supports the objectives of the corporation and its Emiratization strategy.
3. Contribute to knowledge dissemination/sharing in a way that assists with building internal capabilities of UAE where applicable and maximize their effective performance.

Excellence and Quality Management

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Ensure commitment to a culture of continuous improvement by eliminating waste, following operations procedures, practicing innovation, problem solving, and teamwork; complying with Quality Management System policies and procedures; providing and receiving constructive feedback, and striving to meet quality standards and stakeholder expectations.
2. Ensure Commitment to Nawah Fundamentals.

Professional Certifications

Minimum

N/A

Qualifications

Minimum

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Energy Law, Nuclear Law, or International Law.
2. Minimum 8 years of experience in legal roles, with a focus on nuclear energy law, energy policy, or regulatory compliance.
3. Strong familiarity with international nuclear law frameworks, including IAEA regulations and nuclear-related treaties.
4. Required law degree (Juris Doctorate or equivalent) from a major law school and admitted as an attorney in the US, UK, Canada, UAE or similar jurisdiction.
5. 12+ years of legal experience in a leading Local or international law firm or experience managing a person or a team.

Experience