General Counsel / Head of Legal

About the role

Our client, a fast‑growing multi‑entity group based in Riyadh and preparing for a public listing, is creating its first in‑house legal function. As General Counsel / Head of Legal you will join the executive team and be the sole legal officer reporting directly to the CEO and Board, responsible for shaping the group’s legal, governance and compliance framework.

Key responsibilities

• Design, build and lead the in‑house legal team, defining its structure, priorities and annual plan.
• Own the group’s legal‑risk posture and advise the CEO and Board on material legal matters.
• Drive legal and governance readiness for the upcoming public listing, closing gaps to meet CMA and listing standards.
• Oversee board and company‑secretarial processes, including calendars, minutes, resolutions and statutory filings across all entities.
• Manage external counsel, legal panels and the legal budget with discipline.
• Set contract‑governance standards and control the legal sign‑off gate.
• Lead disputes and litigation strategy, protecting the group’s interests and quantifying exposure.
• Develop and maintain the compliance and integrity framework (code of conduct, anti‑bribery, conflicts of interest, whistle‑blowing).

Required profile

• Qualified lawyer with senior in‑house or top‑tier private‑practice experience.
• Strong Saudi corporate, commercial, labour and litigation expertise with multi‑jurisdiction awareness.
• Deep knowledge of corporate governance, capital‑markets and listing readiness, including CMA regulations.
• Proven ability to advise and constructively challenge senior executives and translate legal risk into clear business terms.
• Track record of building a legal function and managing external counsel within budget.
• Fluent in Arabic and English.

Required skills