Senior Legal, Contracts & Compliance Manager

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

We have been present in Saudi Arabia for 40 years and with over 600 employees to date, we are growing rapidly. Together we are delivering our signalling, control and train protection systems for the North –South Railway (NSR), the longest system of it’s kind in the world. Together we are key suppliers of In-flight entertainment and connectivity systems as well as air traffic management solutions in Saudi. We are making Saudi Arabia a safer place by securing the country’s critical infrastructure and e-security solutions that secure the country’s electronic payment systems. Thales has been selected to supply major electronic systems for air defence and the Group also supplied communication and optronic systems for the Army, the Saudi Arabia National Guards and the Air Force.

JOB OBJECTIVE

The Senior Legal, Contracts & Compliance Manager supports the Director Legal, Contracts & Compliance in delivering high-quality legal, contractual, governance, and compliance services across Thales entities in Saudi Arabia and Central Asia.

The role is designed as a senior, high-impact position with strong leadership potential, contributing to legal risk management, compliance maturity, corporate governance excellence, and contract lifecycle support, while acting as a trusted advisor to the business and a key interface with Saudi authorities and external stakeholders.

The position plays a critical role in strengthening local governance, ensuring regulatory compliance, supporting strategic transactions, and embedding a strong compliance culture, with a clear development path toward future leadership within the function.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Legal Advisory & Corporate Support

• Provide proactive legal advice to the business on Saudi and regional laws, regulations, and corporate requirements.
• Support all legal matters relating to commercial operations, projects, bids, tenders, and contractual arrangements, in close coordination with contracts and commercial teams.
• Assist in the management of disputes, claims, and litigation matters, including coordination with external counsel.
• Support legal risk assessment and mitigation strategies across business activities.

2. Contract Management & Commercial Support

• Support the Director in overseeing the contract lifecycle, including drafting, review, negotiation, and interpretation of commercial contracts.
• Provide legal support to project teams on contractual risk, variations, claims, and dispute avoidance.
• Ensure alignment of contracts with internal policies, compliance requirements, and delegation of authority.
• Promote contractual best practices and contribute to the development of templates, playbooks, and guidance notes.

3. Compliance & Ethics (Four Pillars Ownership Support)

Actively support the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of Thales compliance framework, with a strong focus on the following pillars:

• Antitrust & Competition Law
• Anti-Corruption & Integrity
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Third-Party Risk / Ethics & Compliance Controls

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting compliance risk assessments and mitigation plans.
• Assisting in compliance investigations, internal reviews, and remediation actions.
• Contributing to compliance reporting, dashboards, and regulatory submissions.
• Supporting compliance training, awareness programs, and “tone from the top” initiatives.
• Acting as a local compliance ambassador and trusted point of contact for business teams.

4. Corporate Governance & Corporate Secretarial

• Support the Director in managing corporate governance frameworks across KSA and Central Asia entities.
• Handle or coordinate corporate secretarial activities, including:
  • Board and shareholder resolutions
  • Powers of attorney
  • Articles of Association updates
  • Regulatory filings and statutory registers
• Ensure compliance with Saudi Companies Law and local regulatory requirements.
• Support the streamlining and optimization of corporate structures in coordination with HQ.

5. M&A, Corporate Transactions & Structural Optimization

• Support mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions.
• Assist with due diligence processes, transaction documentation, and regulatory approvals.
• Coordinate with HQ legal teams, external advisors, and authorities on transaction execution.
• Contribute to post-transaction integration from a legal, governance, and compliance perspective.

6. Government & External Stakeholder Interface

• Act as a key legal interface with Saudi authorities, regulators, and government entities.
• Support regulatory inspections, inquiries, and official communications.
• Manage relationships with external law firms and advisors under the Director’s supervision.
• Represent the Legal & Compliance function in internal and external meetings when required.

7. Leadership, Capability Building & Future Readiness

• Demonstrate strong leadership behaviors and act as a role model for ethics, professionalism, and collaboration.
• Support the development of legal, compliance, and governance capabilities within the team.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, process optimization, and digitalization efforts.
• Be identified and developed as a potential future leader of the Legal, Contracts & Compliance function.

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS          

• 8–10 years of progressive experience in legal, contracts, and compliance roles.
• Strong experience in Saudi Arabia, preferably within multinational or complex regulated environments.
• Demonstrated exposure to:
  • Corporate governance and corporate secretarial work
  • Commercial contracts and project-based environments
  • Compliance programs and investigations
  • Regulatory and governmental interface
• Experience in defense, infrastructure, energy, industrial, or similarly regulated sectors is a strong advantage.

QUALIFICATION, CERTIFICATION & EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS         

• Master’s Degree in Law (LL.M) – Commercial Law, Corporate Law, or equivalent.
• Fully qualified lawyer (not only legal studies background).
• Strong knowledge of Saudi laws and regulatory framework.
• Exposure to international legal standards and comparative legal systems is a plus.

PREFERRED SKILLS  

• Saudi national (Saudization requirement).
• Fluency in Arabic and English (mandatory).
• Strong legal judgment with a pragmatic, business-oriented mindset.
• High integrity, ownership mentality, and leadership potential.
• Ability to manage complexity, multiple stakeholders, and sensitive matters.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• High learning agility and ambition to grow into senior leadership roles.

HSE RESPONSIBILITIES*

• Ensure both your own safety and the safety of others at all times.

• Maintain an active role in achieving the objectives and adhering to the HSE Thales Policy
• Comply with local HSE laws and legislation.
• To use safety equipment (including PPE) as required and intended.
• Lead by example and actively encourage departments to look at ways to conserve water & energy, minimise the generation of waste, and encourage recycling.
• Every one within Thales has the right to stop work if they believe that their activities may affect their health and safety or that of others. In this circumstance, such conditions must be reported immediately to their line manager and the HSE department.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here, apply now!