Legal Counsel (Civil)

[What the role is] HSA is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Civil law Legal Counsel with at least 2 to 3 years of related experience to join our legal team. The ideal candidate will provide essential legal support in the development, negotiation and management of contracts, ensuring compliance with written laws and public sector standards. This role is critical in safeguarding the integrity of our contract and procurement processes and for promoting effective collaboration across the various HSA departments to achieve our organisational objectives. [What you will be working on] • Provide legal support on Civil law matters, including management of civil disputes, claims, complaints, pre-litigation matters. • Assist in legal risk assessment, mitigation strategies, and preparation of legally sound correspondence and documentation. • Support institutional governance through compliance with statutory obligations and internal policies. • Advise internal stakeholders on administrative law issues arising from HSA’s regulatory functions. • Draft, review and negotiate a variety of contracts, tenders and other documents, including vendor-related agreements, research collaboration agreements, service contracts, board resolutions, non-disclosure agreements, data/material transfer agreements, and licensing agreements. • Create and modify templates for standard contracts to ensure compliance with legal requirements and organisational policies. • Negotiate contract terms with suppliers and service providers, including deliverables, timelines, and performance standards. • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure contracts and tenders are aligned with their policy and operational objectives and regulatory requirements. • Conduct legal research to support contract development and to stay updated on relevant laws, regulations and statutory board directives and circulars affecting contract management. • Advise on contractual rights and obligations, identifying potential risks and recommending mitigation strategies. • Assist in the development and implementation of contract management policies and procedures. • Maintain accurate records of contracts and legal documentation and ensuring timely renewals and compliance with contractual obligations. • Ensuring compliance with internal policies, statutory board requirements and legal standards. [What we are looking for] • Relevant qualifications from approved institutions of higher learning such that the candidate is a “qualified person” for the purpose of the Legal Profession Act and its rules. • 2-3 years of experience in civil law or related area, preferably in a public sector or statutory body environment. • Strong knowledge of contract law and negotiation principles. • Familiarity with government procurement processes and best practices, including supplier evaluation, contract management, and compliance with procurement policies is a plus. • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. • Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment and manage the review of multiple contracts simultaneously. • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. • Ability to draft clear, precise, and legally sound contracts tailored to specific policy and operational needs while considering applicable laws and regulations. • Proven track record of negotiating favourable contract terms, effectively balancing risk and benefit, and fostering positive relationships with external partners. • Proficiency in analysing complex contracts, identifying key obligations, rights, and risks, and providing actionable recommendations to internal stakeholders. • Strong ability to conduct thorough legal research to support contract negotiations and compliance, staying informed about relevant laws, regulations, and best practices. • Understanding of relevant laws, regulations, guidelines etc. related to contract management and the ability to ensure compliance in all agreements. • Ability to identify potential risks associated with contractual agreements and develop strategies to mitigate those risks. • Strong organisational abilities to manage multiple contracts and deadlines efficiently while maintaining meticulous records. • Competence in working collaboratively with team members and internal stakeholders, including procurement, finance, and other policy-making departments, to align contract strategies with overall policy objectives. The successful candidate will be offered a 1-year contract (with option for automatic renewal for a further one year) in the first instance. Shortlisted candidates would be contacted within 30 days from the closing date of the advertisement. We regret that only shortlisted candidates would be notified.