Senior Legal Counsel – Business Development (Legal)

About the role

Provide dedicated legal support to Business Development teams on power and water projects, focusing on Operations & Maintenance (O&M), PPP/PFI structures, and ACWA’s role as O&M provider across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. The role involves risk allocation, drafting and negotiating complex contracts, and delivering results within compressed bid timelines.

Key responsibilities

• Lead negotiation of Operation & Maintenance Agreements, Long‑Term Service Agreements, Technical Services Agreements and related subcontractors.
• Support review of PPAs, IWPP/IWP structures and concession agreements from an O&M risk perspective.
• Ensure alignment of operational risk between OMA and PPA/EPC terms, advise on liability caps, indemnities and performance regimes.
• Assist lender counsel on O&M‑related matters, review step‑in rights and satisfy conditions precedent for project finance.
• Coordinate with Business Development, technical, operations and corporate legal teams to deliver bid documentation under tight timelines.

Required profile

• Qualified in English law or New York law, with 5–8 years post‑qualification experience.
• In‑house or top‑tier law firm background in power and water projects, PPP/PFI or project‑financed infrastructure.
• Proven experience negotiating O&M contracts, PPAs, EPC and LTSA agreements.

Required skills

• Commercially pragmatic with strong drafting and negotiation capability.
• Ability to operate independently on defined workstreams and manage multiple bids simultaneously.
• Clear communication under high‑pressure timelines.