Senior Legal Counsel

Central Asian University is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to provide comprehensive legal support across university operations, including governance, contracts, compliance, and risk management, while ensuring alignment with applicable laws and institutional standards.

• Responsibilities:

• Legal advisory: Provide timely, practical legal advice to the Head of Legal department, management, faculties, and support units on university operations and strategic initiatives.

• Governance support: Support university governance (Senate/Academic Council, Board/Trustees) by reviewing agendas/materials, drafting/resolving minutes and resolutions, and ensuring decisions are legally valid and properly documented.

• Contracting & negotiations: Draft, review, negotiate and manage a wide range of agreements (academic and research collaboration, grants, MOUs, service contracts, procurement, consultancy, sponsorship, licensing, IT/software, facilities, events).

• Regulatory compliance: Monitor and support compliance with applicable laws and regulator requirements relevant to higher education (licensing/accreditation, quality assurance, student rules, academic integrity, public reporting where applicable).

• Employment & academic staff matters: Advise on hiring, contracts, performance/disciplinary procedures, academic appointments, conflicts of interest, secondments, and termination matters; ensure compliant HR templates and processes.

• Student legal matters: Support on student policies and disputes (admissions, tuition/fees, scholarships, discipline, misconduct, appeals, complaints) and ensure fair procedures and defensible decisions.

• Dispute management & litigation: Manage disputes, claims, and pre-litigation strategy; coordinate external counsel; oversee evidence collection, legal holds, settlements, and enforcement where required.

• Risk management: Identify legal risks, propose mitigation measures, maintain a legal risk register for key projects, and advise on escalation/approval thresholds.

• Policy development: Draft, update, and implement internal policies (code of conduct, conflict of interest, gifts/hospitality, whistleblowing, data retention, student/employee policies, contract approval policy).

• Data protection & confidentiality: Advise on handling personal data and confidential information (students, staff, research), data-sharing arrangements, cross-border transfers, and incident response with IT/security.

• Intellectual property & research: Support IP protection, research contracts, publication and commercialization issues, authorship/ownership, NDAs, and technology transfer/licensing (where applicable).

• Procurement & vendor management: Review tender/selection documentation, contractual protections, service levels, penalties, and vendor compliance; support procurement governance.

• Partnerships & international activities: Support cross-border partnerships, visiting faculty arrangements, exchange programs, dual degrees (where applicable), and international service providers.

• Real estate & facilities: Legal support for leases, construction/renovation contracts, campus operations, insurance requirements, and contractor compliance.

• Corporate/affiliate support: Support legal structuring, intercompany arrangements, authorizations, and compliance for university-related entities/projects.

• External counsel management: Select, instruct, and manage external lawyers; control legal spend; ensure quality and consistency of advice and documentation.

• Training & legal awareness: Deliver training to staff on contracting do’s/don’ts, compliance, data/privacy, conflicts of interest, and policy implementation.

• Reporting: Provide periodic reporting to senior management on key legal matters, risks, disputes, and compliance status.

• Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor of Laws from one of Uzbek law schools.

• Master of Laws from internationally recognized university, obtained through on-campus study abroad.

Work Experience:

• 7–10 years of relevant legal experience, preferably in corporate law, commercial law, contract law, labour law, regulatory compliance, licensing, and dispute support.

• Prior experience in the education sector is preferred.

• Proven experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and providing day-to-day legal support to business or institutional functions.

• Experience in advising on employment, compliance, internal policies, governance documentation, and operational legal matters will be an advantage.

• Experience in handling or supporting claims, disputes, regulatory matters, and external counsel coordination is preferred.

Hard skills:

• Strong contract drafting, review, and negotiation skills.

• Good understanding of corporate, commercial, labour, and regulatory law.

• Ability to identify legal risks and propose practical and commercially sound solutions.

• Ability to prepare legal memoranda, policies, internal guidelines, resolutions, minutes, and formal correspondence.

• Good knowledge of compliance, licensing, accreditation, and governance-related legal matters relevant to institutional operations.

• Ability to manage multiple legal matters simultaneously and maintain accurate legal documentation.

• Strong legal research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Fluent in Uzbek, English, and Russian, both written and spoken.

Soft skills:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to explain legal issues in a clear, practical, and business-friendly manner.

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in drafting and reviewing documents.

• Good organizational and time-management skills.

• Ability to work independently on assigned matters while escalating complex or sensitive issues appropriately.

• Sound professional judgment and problem-solving ability.

• Ability to build effective working relationships with academic, administrative, and management teams.

• High level of integrity, discretion, and confidentiality.

• Proactive, responsible, and able to work in a fast-paced institutional environment.

Desirable Criteria:

• German and Turkish languages

• Work schedule: 5/7, from 9:00 to 18:00.
• Atmosphere: Friendly and energetic team of young professionals.
• Support: Professional support of the existing team.
• Employment: Official with a probationary period.
• Salary: To be discussed based on the successful outcome of the interview.
• Vacation: Annual paid leave of 28 working days;
• Benefits: Discussed individually.
• Workplace: Modern campus.