Head of Legal – North Africa and Levant (MENA)

Job description

Role Purpose

As the senior legal representative for DHL across North Africa (including the Maghreb) and the Levant, you will lead the legal function across Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. You will provide strategic legal advice to senior management and all DHL business units, ensuring that legal risks are identified, assessed and mitigated while supporting business objectives and growth. 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 region.

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 15 years of legal experience in a commercial law firm or an in-house legal department, with substantial experience in commercial law and complex legal matters. Proven experience leading a legal function and managing a team of 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 knowledge of contract law, litigation, regulatory compliance and legal risk management. Excellent 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. Proficiency in French is desirable. Familiarity with civil law traditions and legal environments across North Africa and the Levant 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.