Head of Legal

About the role

The Head of Legal will serve as the company’s chief legal advisor, responsible for establishing and leading the entire legal and compliance function for an Enterprise SaaS organization operating across multiple regions. This role requires a strong legal strategist with deep understanding of technology, cloud services, software licensing, data protection, and commercial contracting.

As a key member of the leadership team, a 3 to 4 under their supervision and a direct reporting line to the Group CFO, the Head of Legal will provide strategic counsel on corporate governance, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, commercial structuring, and cross‑border legal matters.

Experience in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)—especially with local regulatory frameworks, contract law, data residency rules, commercial registration, and government procurement—is a major advantage. Similarly, previous experience in SaaS, cloud, or broader tech sector is considered a powerful added value.

What you'll do

1.  Legal Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and lead the company’s global legal strategy aligned with business goals and risk appetite.
• Establish the legal department’s structure, operating model, and policies.
• Provide expert legal guidance to the executive leadership team.

2. Commercial & Contract Management
Oversee drafting, negotiation, and review of all commercial contracts, including:

• SaaS subscription agreements
• Enterprise licensing contracts
• Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
• Data Processing Agreements (DPAs)
• Partnership, reseller, and channel agreements
• Advise on contract renewal strategies, pricing models, liability structures, indemnifications, and SLAs.

3. Compliance & Regulatory Affairs
Ensure compliance with:

• Local and international data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, NCA, PDPL in KSA).
• Cloud security frameworks and SaaS-specific regulatory requirements.
• Government procurement rules (especially relevant in KSA for public‑sector SaaS contracts).
• Build processes to meet internal and external audit requirements.

4. Corporate Governance

• Manage corporate legal affairs across multiple jurisdictions and labour law.
• Advise on board governance, corporate filings, and entity structuring.
• Manage investor relations from a legal standpoint.

5. Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks associated with SaaS operations, including IP, cybersecurity, customer data, and international expansion.
• Develop company‑wide legal policies: acceptable use, privacy, compliance, data retention, and vendor relationships.
• Lead incident response from a legal and regulatory perspective (e.g., data breaches).

6. Litigation, Arbitration & External Counsel

• Manage disputes, litigation, and arbitration matters.
• Select and supervise external law firms, managing costs and performance.
• Provide strategic advice on legal claims, settlements, and regulatory inquiries.

7. Team Leadership & Development

• Build and lead a high‑performing legal and compliance team.
• Develop training programs on contract best practices, privacy compliance, anti‑corruption, and risk awareness for internal teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Law (LLB / JD or equivalent).
• Minimum 10 years of legal experience, preferably with at least 5 years at a leadership level.
• Strong background in commercial law, technology law, and contract negotiations.
• Proven experience supporting or working within SaaS, cloud, or enterprise software companies.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate international legal and compliance environments.

Highly Preferred:
KSA legal experience, especially:

• Saudi Commercial Law
• PDPL & data residency frameworks
• Government contracting (Etimad platform exposure is a plus)
• Understanding of CITC/NCA regulations
• Experience building or scaling a legal department in a fast-growing tech environment.
• Exposure to cross‑border SaaS sales, IP rights, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance.