Assistant Commissioner, Law Design and Practice

Australian Taxation Office; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government agency located in Melbourne is looking for an Assistant Commissioner in Litigation and Legal Services. The role entails providing senior leadership across the legal functions, overseeing high-risk matters, and driving legal strategy. Candidates must have strong backgrounds in tax and superannuation law and experience in leading complex legal teams to ensure high-quality service delivery. The position embraces diversity and encourages applications from individuals from all backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in legal environments and leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of tax and superannuation laws.
• Proven track record of managing high-stakes legal matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership across legal advisory and litigation functions.
• Oversee high risk and strategically important legal matters.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams in delivering legal services.

Skills

Leadership in legal advisory

Understanding of tax and superannuation law

Stakeholder engagement

Litigation strategy

Education

Relevant legal qualifications

Job description

We are seeking experienced leaders in law with a strong record of excellence and delivery to join our Law Design and Practice team, helping to ensure Australia’s tax and super laws are informed, understood, and applied with confidence, integrity and community trust.

As an Assistant Commissioner in Litigation and Legal Services (LLS), you will:

• provide senior leadership across legal advisory and litigation functions
• oversee high risk and strategically important legal matters affecting the Commissioner and the ATO
• lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver high quality, timely, and accurate legal services
• strengthen the ATO’s legal capability and promote consistent, legally defensible decision making
• build strong partnerships with internal business lines and external legal stakeholders
• contribute to shaping ATO wide legal strategy, governance, and risk management.

As an Assistant Commissioner in the Tax Counsel Network (TCN), you will:

• lead teams of tax and superannuation law specialists delivering advice and making decisions relating to high profile, high risk and complex matters that can have major system, revenue or reputational impacts
• determine the ATO view on significant issues in respect of the tax and superannuation law, its interpretation and application having regard to impacts on the broader tax and superannuation systems
• deliver the ATO’s public advice and guidance to improve the community’s understanding and application of the tax and superannuation laws
• strategically lead the ATO’s significant litigation, ensuring arguments are consistent with the ATO view
• identify policy and law design issues and work with colleagues and stakeholders to assist in solving them
• build strong partnerships with ATO stakeholders, Treasury, external advisors, and whole of government stakeholders to ensure cohesive and informed technical decision making
• contribute to shaping ATO wide legal strategy, governance, and risk management.

The merit pool will be used to fill future permanent and temporary vacancies as required.

Roles in Litigation and Legal Services may be offered on an ongoing or non-ongoing basis in Adelaide, Brisbane CBD, Melbourne CBD, Perth or Sydney CBD.

Roles in Tax Counsel Network may be offered on an ongoing or non-ongoing basis in Adelaide, Box Hill (VIC), Brisbane CBD, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne CBD, Moonee Ponds, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth or Sydney CBD.

We embrace the strength of diversity — through our people and the perspectives they bring. We are committed to inclusive recruitment practices and encourage applications from people with disability or neurodivergence, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and individuals from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments can be provided throughout the recruitment process.