Director, Legal

NSW Department of Education; Parramatta; Hybrid; AUD 238,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

NSW Department of Education is seeking a Director, Legal in Parramatta/Eveleigh. The role provides strategic legal advice on construction-related disputes within the School Infrastructure portfolio and manages external counsel. It requires senior expertise and a strong understanding of public education governance.

You will mentor lawyers, liaise with Ministers and senior executives, and drive outcomes that support students and the department's Plan for NSW Public Education.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in construction law.
• Experience in managing disputes and litigation.
• WWCC clearance required.
• Commitment to public education.
• Knowledge of Aboriginal Education Policy and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice to the School Infrastructure team.
• Lead disputes in infrastructure projects and supervise external lawyers.
• Support senior departmental staff and Ministers.
• Mentor junior lawyers and oversee practice areas.

Skills

Dispute management

Construction law

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Tertiary qualifications in law

Unrestricted practising certificate

Job description

Employment Fill Type: Permanent (Ongoing)

Location

Parramatta, NSW, AU, 2150 Eveleigh, NSW, AU, 2015

Description

• Full time ongoing role
• Join a group transforming education in NSW, and make a difference to students in NSW
• Ongoing Public Service Senior Executive Band 1 role with a remuneration range of $238,174 - $263,868 per annum
• Based in Parramatta and Eveleigh with flexible work options

About us

At the NSW Department of Education , we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

We ensure young children get the best start in life by supporting the early childhood education and care sector. We unlock excellence and unleash the potential of two-thirds of school children in NSW. We're proudly public and the largest education system in Australia. We nurture opportunities for every learner to develop the skills needed for their chosen career path, helping shape the industries of tomorrow.

We respect and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as First Peoples of Australia.

The Legal Services directorate provides strategic legal advice across a range of different matters. This is an opportunity to bring your expertise to the Department of Education and join a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about public education and committed to delivering the Plan for NSW Public Education.

About the role

Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, the Director, Legal is a trusted legal advisor to the School Infrastructure team and is required to provide accurate, timely and strategic legal advice and support on complex legal matters and sensitive issues to senior departmental staff, senior executives including Ministers so that the best interests of the department are served and protected.

This is a highly autonomous role with a key focus on construction, disputes management and litigation including areas of intellectual property and insolvency. Front end construction work and matters ancillary to project infrastructure work will also be part of this portfolio.

Supervision and mentoring of other lawyers and management of external lawyers is a key part of this role.

The role will suit an experienced legal practitioner with expertise and recent experience managing disputes in an infrastructure/construction environment.

About you

You are a seasoned professional with demonstrated legal experience relevant to the position and a strong track record in managing disputes in a similar context. You will have solid experience in a senior role and in fostering a culture of collaboration and participation.

As a senior lawyer you will join a team focused on driving improved ways of working to deliver meaningful and long-lasting impact. You will be collaborative, courageous, agile, have strong communication skills and disciplined about delivering outcomes for the students of NSW.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in law and admission as a legal practitioner with an unrestricted practicing certificate.
• Have at least 10 years' experience in construction law, preferably back end managing construction disputes and litigation.
• Hold a valid clearance to work with children (Working with Children Check).
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.
• Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department’s Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.

As a condition of employment, successful candidates who have not previously worked for the department will be required to provide a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number. This option would allow the WWCC to naturally expire without further communication needed with the employee. The employer obligations under the WWCC would apply for duration of the WWCC’s validity (up to 5 years).

Applications Close:

11:59pm on Sunday, 22 November 2026

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage .

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months. Candidates on a talent pool may be chosen and directly offered employment in other or similar roles (ongoing or term) in the near future.