JOB DESCRIPTION

Legal and Contractual Affairs Specialist

Job Title: Legal and Contractual Affairs Specialist

Report to: MCPMU Director (technical direction); WGA Human Resources and Administrative Manager (administrative and contractual)

Program: Jordan Water Governance Activity (WGA)

Location: Management Contract Performance Management Unit (MCPMU)

     Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) - Amman, Jordan.

Position type: Full-Time Local Professional

Duration: Fixed-term through December 31, 2026

BACKGROUND 

The Water Governance Activity (WGA) program is a multi-year project funded by USG, which aims to support the GOJ in achieving measurable improvements and greater sustainability of the water sector by providing technical assistance to strengthen strategic planning, financial sustainability, policy development, data-driven decision-making, and capacity-building efforts to enhance utility performance. In addition, to increase accountable, sustainable water sector management and governance by supporting and strengthening the National Conveyor Project's Project Management Unit, strategic planning, financial management, policy development and implementation, and capacity-building efforts. 

The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) has entered into a Management Contract (MC) for the Yarmouk Water Company (YWC) to improve the efficiency, performance, and sustainability of water and wastewater services in the Yarmouk service area. The Management Contract Performance Management Unit (MCPMU) is established to act as WAJ’s institutional mechanism to safeguard public interests, ensure accountability of the Management Contractor, and support successful implementation of the Management Contract throughout its duration.

JOB SUMMARY

The Legal and Contractual Affairs Specialist serves as the MCPMU’s in-house legal and contractual resource for the Management Contract for the Yarmouk Water Company (YWC). The position supports WAJ in safeguarding its legal and contractual interests by reviewing the Management Contractor’s deliverables and submissions, monitoring compliance with the Management Contract, Assignment Agreement, Articles of Association, and related legal documents, advising the MCPMU Director and WAJ leadership on contract interpretation, compliance, and governance matters, and supporting the management of claims, disputes, and contractual remedies. The Specialist works under the day-to-day technical direction of the MCPMU Director as an embedded member of the MCPMU, with administrative and contractual reporting to the WGA project.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent’s main responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Review the Management Contractor’s deliverables from a legal and contractual perspective.
• Conduct an initial comprehensive legal review of the Management Contract, Assignment Agreement, Articles of Association, and related legal documents, and establish a compliance monitoring checklist for use by the MCPMU.
• Identify legal and contractual risks, develop and maintain a legal and contractual risk register, and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
• Prepare periodic progress reports on legal and contractual matters, and an end-of-service report summarizing the status of outstanding issues and recommendations for follow-up by the MCPMU and WAJ.
• Monitor compliance with the Management Contract, Assignment Agreement, Articles of Association, and related legal documents.
• Provide legal advice to the MCPMU and WAJ on contract interpretation, compliance, and governance matters.
• Review contractual correspondence, notices, claims, variations, and legal submissions related to the Management Contract.
• Support the assessment of non-compliance events, disputes, and available contractual remedies.
• Prepare legal opinions, reports, and recommendations for the MCPMU Director and WAJ leadership.
• Support negotiations and dispute resolution processes related to the Management Contract.
• Liaise with external legal counsel and relevant stakeholders, as required.
• Assist the PPP Unit in the legal preparation, structuring, and procurement of PPP projects, as requested.
• Ensure that all monitoring activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, and contractual obligations.
• Perform other legal and contractual tasks as assigned by the MCPMU Director and WGA direct supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong understanding of the public sector regulatory and institutional framework governing water and wastewater services.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Strong coordination and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with the Management Contractor, WAJ departments, YWC staff, and external stakeholders. 
• Full professional proficiency in Arabic and English (spoken and written), including legal drafting in both languages.
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling sensitive legal, contractual, and commercial information.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in law; an advanced degree or specialization in contract, commercial, or administrative law is an advantage.
• Relevant legal experience, including advising on contracts, preferably within the public sector, utilities, or infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of Jordanian contract, administrative, and commercial law, and of the legal and regulatory framework governing the water sector and public utilities.
• Proven ability to review, interpret, and advise on complex contractual arrangements, including performance-based and management contracts, with a sound understanding of claims management and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience with management contracts, PPP arrangements, or other performance-based contractual frameworks is preferred; experience with donor-funded projects is an asset.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Chemonics is committed to the goal of equal employment opportunity. Chemonics recruits, hires, trains, and promotes people in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, or any other category specified by labor laws. All employment decisions will be consistent with the principle of equal employment opportunity. All personnel actions such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoff, company sponsored training, education, tuition assistance, social and recreational programs will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, or any other category specified by local labor laws.