Head of Legal – Saudi GCC Cluster (MENA)

Role Purpose

As the senior legal representative for DHL across the Saudi GCC Cluster, covering Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Yemen, you will lead the legal function and provide strategic legal advice to senior management and all DHL business units. You will ensure that legal risks are identified, assessed and mitigated while supporting business objectives and commercial growth across the cluster.

Working in a matrix organization, you will collaborate with regional and global Legal Services teams, business leaders and external partners to implement legal strategies, establish effective processes and procedures, and protect DHL’s legal and commercial interests across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Legal Leadership: Lead the legal function across the assigned countries and business units, aligning legal strategies with regional and global business objectives and advising senior management on key legal matters and risks.
• Legal Risk & Compliance: Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, monitor legal developments, and develop strategies to identify, assess and mitigate legal and regulatory risks.
• Commercial Contracts & Negotiations: Advise on, draft and negotiate commercial contracts with customers, suppliers and other third parties, protecting DHL’s interests while supporting business objectives and commercial opportunities.
• Litigation & Dispute Management: Oversee litigation, claims and other legal proceedings, developing appropriate strategies and managing external legal counsel and related costs.
• Business Partnering: Work closely with management teams across DHL’s business units, including Supply Chain, eCommerce, Express and Global Forwarding, providing practical legal advice and contributing to strategic decisions and business initiatives.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead and develop a team of legal professionals and support staff, fostering collaboration, sharing legal expertise and ensuring high-quality, consistent legal services across the cluster.
• Governance & Cost Management: Establish effective legal processes and procedures, ensure transparency and control of internal and external legal costs, and collaborate with auditors, regulatory authorities and other relevant stakeholders.
• Specialist Legal Matters: Provide leadership or support on matters including competition law, employment and labour relations, real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, compliance investigations, data protection and tax-related disputes, as required.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation: Identify opportunities to improve legal service delivery, including the effective use of legal technology, knowledge-sharing tools and training initiatives. Your Profile

• University degree in Law and relevant professional legal qualifications.
• More than 20 years of legal experience in a commercial law firm or an in-house legal department.
• Proven experience leading a legal function and managing legal professionals, ideally in an international and matrix organization.
• Strong understanding of business operations and the ability to translate complex legal matters into practical, business-oriented advice.
• Experience advising senior management and supporting strategic business decisions across multiple countries or jurisdictions.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong budgeting and cost-control capabilities, including the management of external legal counsel.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, both written and spoken, is essential.
• Familiarity with civil law traditions and the legal environments of the Saudi GCC Cluster is an advantage.
• A proactive, solution-oriented approach, with the ability to balance legal risk management with commercial priorities and work effectively across diverse cultural and business environments.