Labor & Employment Senior Manager

OVERVIEW                                                                                               

NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a new future might look like. A region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea, NEOM is being built from the ground up to include hyperconnected, cognitive cities, ports, next-generation infrastructure and industries, enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues and tourist destinations.

As a destination, it will be a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation.

As a workplace, it is a place for people who share our core values of care, curiosity, diversity, passion, respect, and becoming a catalyst for change.

Are you ready to help NEOM find solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges? Are you prepared to create a lasting legacy that benefits generations to come? Then we want to hear from you!

ROLE OVERVIEW

This position is to lead the Labor and Employment Department within the central NEOM legal team and will report to Chief Legal Officer. It will work closely with General Counsel in the Regions and Subsidiaries in addition to working with NEOM Company head office functions such as Human Resources, Governance Risk & Compliance, Internal Audit, NEOM Authority, Community Services and Public Safety.

The role will provide strategic employment law advice in relation to employment related matters to support NEOMs increasingly complex and diverse employment landscape. In addition to advising on KSA related Labor Laws to support NEOMs global vision the role will provide strategic advice on employment related matters arising from NEOM’s geographical expansion outside of KSA. 

The role will seek to reduce legal employment risk to NEOM whilst ensuring that existing operational activity (benefits and mobility programs, diversity, recruitment, acquisitions and divestitures) are aligned to applicable local and international laws and incorporate global best practice

REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

• Provide legal advice and guidance on employment and immigration law issues and requirements including hiring, constructive discipline, performance, discrimination & harassment, terminations, pay and benefits, restrictive covenants, business transfers and corporate transactional support
• Provide legal advice and input on NEOM employment policies and procedures
• Coordinates external employment counsel advice as required

Horizon Scanning

• Scans the regulatory landscape to identify new laws / regulations (KSA and International) that may impact NEOM
• Provides periodic reporting to NEOM legal on upcoming changes
• Supports impact assessments and strategies to address new legal requirements

Drafting

• Review and guide the drafting and development of documentation such as contracts of employment, severance agreements, policies, guidelines and procedures and other templates
• Such guidance to cover disciplinary, performance management and grievance, annual leave, sickness, harassment, conduct, behavioral abuses and discrimination

Case Management

• Provides advice on sensitive senior exits and terminations
• Agrees appropriate responses with relevant stakeholders
• Provides advice on employment related high impact reputational risks such as sexual harassment, serious behavioral abuses and discrimination
• Support on internal investigations involving employment related high impact reputational risks when required
• Acts as the Legal touchpoint between IA and HR working with all parties to ensure IA/SpeakUp investigation reports are transitioned to HR and that findings are understood, recommendations aligned and agreed actions implemented in an appropriate timeframe
• Ensure employment breaches are addressed appropriately with consistent consequence management applied by HR and lessons learned captured and utilized positively
• Advises on investigation findings and outcomes and exposure to the business
• Advises on remedial and proactive actions

Stakeholder Management

• Provides a single point of contact within NEOM Legal to ensure consistent and streamlined integration between NEOM Legal and the business on employment matters
• Engages with Executive Leadership (DECO, CHRO, CGRCO) as required to provide advice
• Ensures consistent input from NEOM Legal on employment legal matters involving cross functional activities such as SpeakUp complaints, Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, Anti Bribery and Corruption, ERM Risks etc.
• Develops a positive collaboration between NEOM Legal and HR to maintain and enhance awareness of employment law requirements

Incorporation Matters

• Supports Entities Governance on employment law regarding corporate structures and formations
• Supports Entities Governance on employment law issues / risks regarding joint mergers and acquisitions and the transfer of employees to NEOM
• Provides Legal and the business with legal advice on employment matters related to restructuring and employee transfers

Training

• Provides employment Employment Law Briefings to NEOM Legal
• Partners with Compliance and HR on employment related training on topics such as sexual harassment, discriminatory behavior, and cultural awareness as well as involvement in broader campaigns on code of conduct
• As requested, delivers training / awareness materials related to employment law topics for the business

Employment Litigation

• Supports NEOM Legal in defending employment related claims
• Manages employment litigation cases and external Counsel
• Department Leadership Develop the Labor and Employment department in line with the business need
• Supervises and manages Labor and Employment department team members

ROLE COMPETENCIES & ACTIVITIES

Employment Law

• Strong understanding KSA labor laws
• Good understanding of employment laws in other international jurisdictions (UAE, UK, US etc.)

Drafting

• Excellent drafting skills

Legal Analysis

• Ability to analyze processes, identify risks, and propose and document solutions

Communication / Negotiation Skills

• Very strong communication skills (verbal and written) to clearly inform and update senior stakeholders from different geographical regions
• Highly capable negotiator able to adjust their approach to engage with different stakeholders on different topics
• Ability to make effective and persuasive presentations on complex topics to key stakeholders.

Stakeholder Management

• Ability to build long term trusted relationships with business stakeholders

Culture and Values

• Embrace NEOM’s culture and Values https://www.neom.com/en-us/about.
• Act with honesty and integrity by following best practices, and upholding the robust standards and expectations set out in NEOM’s Code of Conduct.
• Maintain fair, ethical and professional work practices in accordance with NEOM’s Values and Code of Conduct.
• Adhere to NEOM’s Policies, procedures, and controls to ensure compliance with rules. 
• Excellent ability to function effectively across cultures, to think and act appropriately, and to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds – at home or abroad

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• 12+ years professional experience providing legal employment advice across various jurisdictions including Middle East
• Professional experience gained in private practice in KSA with local or international law firms
• Experience of working as an in-house advisor to the business in a large organization
• Experience of working in a business with a highly diverse workforce consisting of diverse and varied culture
• Experience of managing executive level business stakeholders and negotiating and implementing solutions

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Law or relavent field
• Relevant Professional Memberships/Accreditation.