Legal Counsel

Main Purpose:
Reporting to the General Counsel, the successful applicant will be in charge of legal and contractual support and representation for the Company’s entities and businesses in Colombia and will assist the Company in providing legal support to other regions if necessary. Additionally, the successful applicant will manage the corporate legal administration and act as compliance officer for a number of Puma Energy group companies in Colombia, and Central and South American regions, and assist in drafting and reviewing related documentation in relation to the statutory compliance of the companies.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities, Key Responsibilities:
Key Legal responsibilities
- Drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on a variety of commercial contracts;
- Advising on intercompany agreements;
- Supporting dispute prevention and resolution and management of claims and litigation issues;
- Supporting M&A transactions and joint ventures;
- Managing external counsel, advising on local and specialized issues;
- Keeping abreast of relevant legal and regulatory developments to anticipate potential risks and propose proactive measures;
- Facilitating sharing of knowledge and best-practice within wider team;
- Preparing and submiting regulatory filings, reports, and other documentation as required by relevant authorities;
- Providing day-to-day legal advice on issues arising and key legal issues;
- Working closely with relevant stakeholders in the Central and South American regions to ensure delivery of the Company’s business objectives and priorities, including evaluation of legal and commercial risks and enabling risk-based decisions;
- Seeking opportunities for innovation and process improvement to increase overall efficiency of the services delivered by the legal function.

Key Compliance Management Responsibilities
- Developing and implementing effective compliance programs, policies, and procedures to ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.
- Conducting regular compliance assessments, audits, and reviews to identify potential risks and ensure proper controls are in place.
- Monitoring changes in legal and regulatory requirements and proactively update the company on emerging compliance issues.
- Providing compliance training and awareness programs to employees and management to promote a culture of ethics and compliance.
- Investigating compliance violations, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions to prevent future non-compliance incidents.

**Requirements**:
Skills / Qualifications:

- Fluency in Spanish and English
- Qualified to practice law in Colombia.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience gained at a high-quality law firm and/or multinational company. Strong preference for solid law firm experience. Previous in-house experience in an international company of advantage.
- Company Secretarial qualification would be advantageous.
- In-depth knowledge of laws, regulations, and industry standards relevant to the downstream oil business.
- Experience of downstream industry would be advantageous.
- Availability to travel frequently, including domestic and international travel.

Competencies:

- Strong business mindset and problem-solving attitude, with strong aptitudes to identify and foster pragmatic approaches.
- Ability to handle complex situations and transactions. prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines with little or no supervision.
- Ability to influence and persuade key stakeholders, shareholder representatives and senior counterparties.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile environment and to manage workload and priorities as part of a team and work under pressure.
- Strong communication skills, with an ability to communicate in a concise and clear manner.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multinational, multicultural environment.

Key Relationships and Department Overview:

- Internal - Group Legal Team, Regional Legal Team, Country Management teams, Regional Function teams
- External - Legal Authorities, External Counsels