Overview
Legal & Internal Control Assistant/Manager Jobs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates at CNPC R&D (DIFC) Company Limited
Title: Legal & Internal Control Assistant/Manager
Company: CNPC R&D (DIFC) Company Limited
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
CNPC R&D (DIFC) Company Limited is CNPC’s new R&D and Technical Support centre based in Dubai with mission to support the company’s asset interests in the Middle East (e.g., UAE, Iraq, Oman) and conduct strategic R&D projects in close collaboration with CNPC’s upstream research and engineering institutes in Beijing and other internal and external partners.
Role Purpose
We are seeking a proactive Legal Counsel (Legal & Internal Control role) to join our team. The successful candidate will provide comprehensive legal, compliance, internal control, and risk management support, while also contributing to administrative and governance-related functions as required. This role requires strong business acumen, high adaptability, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, multicultural, and matrixed environment.
Key Accountabilities
Legal & Compliance Management
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, legal instruments, and compliance-related documents.
- Provide legal advice and risk assessments across business activities, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.
- Develop, review, and maintain internal legal and compliance frameworks, including policies, procedures, guidelines, and standard contract templates.
- Prepare legal documentation including reports, memoranda, legal opinions, compliance assessments, and meeting minutes.
- Participate in dispute resolution and support management of legal claims and cases as required.
- Responsible for the filing, registration, and record management of contracts, other legal documents and policies, ensuring the systemization, completeness, and traceability of the archives.
Internal Control, Audit & Risk Management
- Coordinate with internal control, audit, and inspection bodies, including external and internal auditors.
- Support audit and inspection processes, including preparation of documentation, responses, corrective action plans, and follow-up on corrective actions.
- Assist in designing, implementing, and continuously improving internal control and risk management systems.
- Ensure proper documentation, filing, and governance of internal control, compliance, and audit records.
- Manage contract lifecycle documentation, including registration, archiving, tracking, and reporting.
- Perform additional administrative or governance-related tasks as assigned by the line manager.
Commercial & Legal Procurement Support
- Support commercial teams in bid review, contract structuring, and commercial negotiations.
- Provide legal and compliance support to procurement activities, including supplier evaluation, tender processes, and contract management.
Qualifications and Experience
Required:
- Master’s degree in law (LL.M. preferred). Graduation from a QS Top 50 university is preferred.
- Passed the bar examination and holding a valid Legal Professional Qualification Certificate（A）.
- Fluent in written and spoken English. English language proficiency certificate may be required (e.g., IELTS/TOEFL).
- Willingness to take on varied responsibilities, including administrative support as needed.
- Proactive, hands-on, and able to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
- 3–5 years of relevant professional experience, familiarity with corporate legal affairs, compliance, audit, and internal control management processes. For graduates of QS Top 30-ranked universities, working experience requirements may be waived or reduced.
- Experience in oil & gas industry is preferred.
- Overseas study and/or work experience is required.
Job-Specific Skills:
- Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
- Solid understanding of corporate governance, compliance frameworks, and internal control systems.
- Proficient in Microsoft PowerPoint and able to produce structured, executive-level presentations.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
- High level of adaptability and readiness to work in an international environment. Physically and mentally fit and able to adapt to an overseas working environment.
- Able to work independently and deliver tasks in an organised, rigorous, and timely manner.
