Development Lawyer

Western Sydney University; Parramatta; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff banking benefits

Parking salary sacrifice

Novated lease

Employee assistance program

Flu vaccination

Fitness Passport

Discounted private health cover

Onsite childcare benefits

Job summary

Western Sydney University in Parramatta invites an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to own a complex portfolio of property, construction, environmental and planning matters. Based in the Office of General Counsel, you will craft strategies, manage risk, and deliver commercially sound outcomes aligned with university objectives.

You will draft and negotiate contracts, oversee major projects, advise senior stakeholders, mentor junior lawyers and paralegals, and coordinate with external counsel to

Qualifications

• Law degree and NSW practising certificate with eligibility to practise in NSW.
• Unrestricted NSW practising certificate or ability to obtain before commencement.
• At least seven years post-admission experience in property, construction, environmental and planning law.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice across property, construction, environmental and planning matters.
• Lead drafting, negotiation, and settlement of complex contracts and project documents.
• Manage external counsel and mentor junior lawyers and paralegals.
• Advise senior stakeholders and establish governance structures for major projects.

Skills

Strategic legal advice

Negotiation

Stakeholder communication

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Education

Law degree and NSW practising certificate

Seven years post-admission experience

Job description

• Parramatta South campus with flexible working arrangements.
• Competitive senior-level remuneration, commensurate with experience.

Provide strategic legal advice on complex property, construction, environmental and planning matters across the University.

The Opportunity

In this role, you will take end-to-end ownership of a complex portfolio of property, construction, environmental and planning legal matters. Working within the Office of General Counsel, you will establish legal strategies, manage institutional risk and deliver commercially sound outcomes aligned with University objectives.

You will provide authoritative advice to senior stakeholders and lead the structuring, drafting, negotiation and settlement of complex contracts, project documentation, agreements, disputes and memoranda of understanding. You will guide property transactions and major project opportunities, establishing appropriate legal, commercial and governance structures.

You will advise on legislation, regulatory reviews, University policies and compliance initiatives, while managing external legal service providers for timely and cost-effective outcomes. You will also support the capability of the Office of General Counsel by mentoring junior lawyers and paralegals and sharing specialist knowledge.

What Success Looks Like:

• Deliver commercially sound outcomes across complex property, construction, environmental and planning matters.
• Provide clear, authoritative legal advice that identifies risk and offers practical strategies.
• Lead the negotiation and settlement of complex legal documents and transactions.
• Establish effective legal, commercial and governance structures for major projects and property matters.
• Manage external legal service providers to achieve timely and cost-effective outcomes.

Please refer to the Position Description for full details.

About You

• A law degree or equivalent qualification and registration, or eligibility for registration, to practise law in New South Wales.
• An unrestricted New South Wales practising certificate, or the ability to obtain one before commencement.
• At least seven years’ post-admission experience, including substantial property, construction, environmental and planning law experience.
• Demonstrated experience across property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, leasing, licensing, easements and covenants.
• Strong commercial judgement, negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to advise senior and non-legal stakeholders.

We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Alongside a rewarding career, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your financial, personal and family wellbeing.

• Financial benefits: Access to staff-only products and offers with selected banking partners, salary sacrifice options for onsite parking, and novated motor vehicle leasing.
• Health and wellbeing support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP), complimentary annual flu vaccination, eligibility for Fitness Passport membership, and access to discounted private health cover.
• Onsite childcare: Long day care and early learning services operate at our Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta, and Penrith campuses. Staff may be eligible for discounted fees and salary packaging, with places subject to centre capacity.
• Position Enquiries: Direct to Johan Haaring, Senior Development Lawyer via [e-mail]. Please include the job reference code REF1921H
• Closing Date: 11:59pm, Tuesday 10th November 2026
• Working Rights: You must provide evidence of full-time working rights in Australia at application.

We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For Reasonable Adjustments during the application process, please contact [e-mail].

About Western

This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.

For the latest please visit our website and LinkedIn.