SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL
JOB DESCRIPTION
Sahara Group Oil & Gas is looking for a suitably qualified professional to fill the position of Senior Legal Counsel
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
To provide efficient and professional, Legal and contractual support to the Upstream companies of Sahara Group, thereby promoting communication, anticipating risks, reducing liabilities, preventing litigation, defending corporate interests and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, whilst reducing costs of external counsel
KEY DELIVERABLES:
The successful candidate will amongst other duties be required to:
Guarantee the company’s interests in all dealings
Take decisions on legal issues and provide advice and support to team members and management in acquisition of upstream assets
Supervise the Legal team and provide direction for the day to day performance of the Legal function
Responsible for drafting and negotiation of commercial and contractual agreements and follows through their implementation
Responsible for monitoring the execution of contracts to ensure due compliance.
Renders legal support to team members on various commercial and contractual agreements
Takes part in negotiation with partners, contractors and government agencies
Provide legal advice on laws, regulations and rules for the Upstream industry in Oil and Gas, and ensure compliance.
Will be expected to attend top level meetings with private and public corporations.
Select and manage the work of external legal counsel engaged by the company
Liaise with external solicitors for litigation and other transactions
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:
Strong commercial legal background along with extensive demonstrable negotiation skills
Must be well versed in West African legal and regulatory frameworks such the Nigerian Petroleum Sharing Contract (PSC) and other West African regulatory regimes. Knowledge of the draft Nigerian Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would be an added advantage.
Working knowledge of Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) and Crude Handling Agreements (CHA).
Relevant experience of most energy and natural resource laws.
Law degree and professional legal qualification and must be called to the Nigerian Bar
Excellent writing and negotiation skills.
Good knowledge of Microsoft Office especially MS Word and PowerPoint.
Strong academic background and capable of applying jurisprudence in real situations
Very strong legal contracting skills
Influencing, negotiating and facilitation skills
Ability to work as part of a team and with both internal and external stakeholders with diverse cultural backgrounds
Good verbal and written communication skills
Good drafting skills
Fluent written and spoken English
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION / EXPERIENCE:
The ideal candidate should have 10 years post call experience, 5 of which must be core experience in a law firm or commercial oil and gas environment
PERSONALITY TRAITS:
Good team spirit
In-depth knowledge and experience in drafting and reviewing contracts.
Excellent business judgment and ability to apply business solutions to legal problems
Excellent track record (with demonstrated successes).
Demonstrated planning and organizational skills, including the ability to anticipate tasks, set priorities, meet deadlines, and function smoothly under strict deadlines and shifting priorities
Ability to think strategically and to envision and balance
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Executive Management and Board members
Team members
Group Legal
Joint Venture Legal partners
External Solicitors;
Regulatory bodies with jurisdiction over the SEFL’s business namely NNPC, NAPIMS, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) etc.
DUE DATE: 27/09/2012
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