The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is currently seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Lead Counsel, Contracts / Business Services. This role is essential for negotiating, drafting, reviewing, and finalizing corporate and consultancy contracts, as well as supporting various departments in procurement and tendering processes.
Objectives
The primary objectives for the Lead Counsel, Contracts / Business Services include:
- Negotiating, drafting, reviewing, and finalizing corporate and consultancy contracts.
- Supporting user departments and companies with shared services in procurement and tendering.
- Handling corporate services related to employee/HR issues and training legal staff.
Key Responsibilities
The Lead Counsel will be tasked with several critical responsibilities to support NNPC’s legal operations, including:
- Agreement Preparation
- Draft and prepare various agreements necessary for corporate operations.
- Support user departments in contract negotiations and reviews to ensure compliance and protect NNPC’s interests.
- Legal Opinions and Employee Relations
- Provide opinions on employment law concerns and statutory requirements.
- Offer legal advice on employee relations and other related legal matters across the NNPC value chain, including company policies.
- Capacity Building
- Suggest and implement capacity-building programs for NNPC lawyers to enhance their skills and knowledge.
- Legal Representation and Compliance
- Provide legal representation in committees, project teams, and working groups.
- Ensure compliance with trademarks, patents, intellectual property, and trade secrets.
- Regulatory and Community Inquiries
- Draft responses to inquiries from regulatory agencies, customers, and the business community.
- Provide timely and regular reports on the activities of the Unit to the Manager.
Educational Qualifications
Candidates must possess the following qualifications:
- A university degree in Law.
- Barrister at Law (BL) qualification is mandatory.
- Professional qualifications and membership in relevant professional bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are required.
Experience
The ideal candidate should have:
- A minimum of 9 years of relevant post-qualification experience.
- Experience in the oil and gas industry will be an added advantage.
- An age limit of 37 years.
Competence
The role requires a robust skill set, including:
- Negotiation skills.
- Conflict resolution skills.
- Knowledge of oil and gas industry regulations and laws.
- Expertise in legal case handling and analytics.
- Awareness of statutory laws.
- Proficiency in legal advisory and legislation interpretation.
Application Process
Interested and qualified candidates should apply before the closing date on August 20, 2024. Applications can be submitted online via the following link: NNPC Lead Counsel Application.
This position presents an exciting opportunity for a seasoned legal professional to contribute significantly to NNPC’s operations. As the Lead Counsel, Contracts / Business Services, you will play a key role in ensuring the legal soundness of NNPC’s contracts and business dealings, supporting the corporation’s objectives, and driving compliance across the organization.