• Ensure full legal compliance across core digital banking initiatives, including e-KYC/digital onboarding frameworks, micro-merchant acquiring, consumer protection guidelines, and national switch (ACH/RTGS/Mobile Switch) integrations.
• Act as a key strategic partner to executive leadership (COO/C-Suite) and cross-functional teams to legally structure, vet, and launch innovative digital banking products, card programs, and financial features.
• Draft, negotiate, and review high-value commercial contracts, vendor agreements, and strategic partnerships with payment processors, technology providers, and financial institutions.
• Manage and mentor the internal legal unit, building operational capabilities across banking regulatory affairs and commercial law.
• Monitor changes in Iraqi law and CBI regulation (payments, e-money, banking, consumer protection, data, tax, labor) and advise leadership on their business impact.
• Manage litigation, arbitration, and pre-litigation disputes, including selection and supervision of external counsel and management of the external legal budget.

Requirements

• Law degree.
• 10+ years of legal experience, with at least 4 in a senior/leadership role — ideally in banking, payments, fintech, telecom, or a CBI-regulated institution.
• Full professional fluency in Arabic and English (drafting and negotiation in both).