[What the role is]
About SAFCo
The Singapore Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company (SAFCo) is a mission-driven entity supporting Singapore’s national SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) policy. SAFCo manages SAF levy collection, procures SAF to meet regulated demand, and develops the voluntary SAF market. As a lean and agile startup, SAFCo is building foundational capabilities to ensure operational excellence, transparency, and credibility in the SAF ecosystem.
Role overview
The Senior Legal Counsel will report to the Director of Legal at CAAS for functional alignment and to SAFCo’s CEO for business strategy and operational excellence. The Senior Legal Counsel will serve as SAFCo’s principal in house legal advisor, with responsibility for all commercial, contractual, sustainability, corporate governance and compliance matters across SAFCo’s operations. The role is pivotal in ensuring that SAFCo’s activities are underpinned by robust, internationally credible legal and governance frameworks, enabling SAFCo to operate with confidence, integrity and accountability as a national sector enabling entity. This position is well suited to an experienced legal counsel who thrives in a dynamic start up environment and is able to bridge public sector governance and regulatory requirements with commercial pragmatism and market based execution.
[What you will be working on]
Energy, SAF & Commercial Contracting
1) Lead drafting, review and negotiation of commercial agreements relating to:
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) procurement, offtake and participant arrangements
- aviation fuel supply, blending, storage and logistics
- shipping, transportation and terminal services
2)Advise on key commercial and contract terms, including Incoterms, title transfer, risk allocation, force majeure and liability structures in cross‑border fuel and commodities transactions
3)Provide end‑to‑end contract lifecycle support, including:
- RFP, tender documentation and counterparty onboarding/negotiation
- amendments, addenda and side letters
- contract execution support and dispute avoidance
4) Work closely with commercial, procurement and operations teams to ensure contracts are commercially workable, executable and aligned with SAFCo’s programme objectives
Foundational Templates & Contract Playbooks
1)Develop, maintain and continuously refine SAFCo’s core legal templates, including:
- SAF / jet fuel Sales & Purchase Agreements (SPAs)
-Environmental Attribute (EA) SPAs
-NDAs, MOUs, indemnities and framework agreements
2)Ensure consistency, auditability and alignment across all SAFCo contractual documentation
Sustainability & Environmental Attributes
1)Advise on legal structuring and documentation of arrangements involving:
- Environmental attributes associated with SAF
- Certificates and other clean-fuel or environmental market‑based mechanisms
2)Draft and review contracts to ensure clear treatment of:
- ownership, transfer, use and retirement of environmental attributes
- avoidance of double counting and issuance
- alignment with recognised international sustainability standards, certification schemes and audit requirements
3)Translate evolving sustainability and environmental market requirements into clear, contractually enforceable provisions that support SAFCo’s credibility with industry, corporates, regulators and international stakeholders
KYC, Due Diligence & Counterparty Compliance
1)Conduct and oversee legal due diligence for SAFCo counterparties, including:
- sanctions screening
- AML / PEP checks
- legal and corporate status reviews
2)Prepare, update and manage onboarding documentation and compliance records for suppliers, offtakers and partners
3)Advise on escalation and risk mitigation for counterparties presenting heightened legal or compliance risk
Compliance, Governance & CLG Obligations
CLG & Corporate Governance
1)Advise management and Board on obligations arising from SAFCo’s status as a Company Limited by Guarantee, including:
- Companies Act requirements
- directors’ duties and fiduciary obligations
- constitution‑related matters
2)Support governance best practices, including:
- delegation of authority frameworks
- conflicts of interest management
- decision documentation and audit trails
Regulatory & CAAS Interface
1)Support compliance with requirements arising from SAFCo’s relationship with CAAS and other government stakeholders, including:
- grant or funding conditions
- policy implementation safeguards
- governance and accountability expectations
2)Act as the legal interface with CAAS Legal / Compliance where appropriate, while preserving SAFCo’s operational independence
Compliance Framework & Controls
1)Design, implement and maintain SAFCo’s internal legal and compliance framework, including:
- policies and procedures
- compliance registers and tracking mechanisms
- escalation and reporting protocols
2)Advise on compliance implications of new procurement models, market mechanisms or system changes prior to launch
IP, Technology, Data & Cybersecurity Contracting
1)Advise on intellectual property and data rights relating to SAFCo’s systems including management and ownership of
- technology licensing agreements
- data‑sharing and data access arrangements
- platform‑related commercial contracts
2)Ensure compliance with applicable data protection and cybersecurity requirements under Singapore law
External Counsel & Assurance Management
1)Instruct, manage and coordinate external legal and compliance advisors where specialised advice or independent assurance is required
2)Support internal and external audits, reviews and assurance exercises from a legal and governance perspective
3)Maintain cost discipline and clear scoping of external advisory engagements
Cross‑Functional & Stakeholder Advisory
1)Act as a trusted legal and compliance advisor to internal teams, translating legal requirements into clear, practical, commercially viable operational guidance
2)Support preparation of Board papers, policy notes and external engagement materials from a legal and governance lens
3)Engage credibly with industry participants, regulators and international partners
Capability‑building and training:
1)Design and deliver targeted training, briefings and practical guidance to SAFCo staff and relevant stakeholders to build organisational understanding of key legal, contractual, governance and compliance matters underpinning SAFCo’s operations, including SAF procurement, environmental attributes, contracting frameworks and compliance obligations.
[What we are looking for]
Qualified lawyer admitted to practice in Singapore or another major common‑law jurisdiction
8 - 12 years post‑qualification experience, ideally with substantial experience in:
energy, oil & gas, fuel trading or commodities law
complex commercial contract negotiation
Demonstrated ability to operate independently as senior in‑house counsel
Strong judgement in balancing legal risk, commercial realities and public‑interest considerations.
Ideally in‑house experience in an energy company, trading house, utilities group, infrastructure platform or government‑linked entity
Some familiarity with:
aviation fuel/fuel/energy related commodity, international trade or logistics contracting
sustainability‑linked or environmental market transactions
governance or compliance in CLGs, public‑private or policy‑adjacent organisations
Why Join SAFCo?
Be part of a pioneering team shaping Singapore’s sustainable aviation future.
Grow your career in a dynamic, purpose-driven startup.
Work closely with leadership and contribute to high-impact initiatives.