EL1 Senior Legal Adviser, Statutory Oversight

Aurion; Australia; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Comcare (Australian Government) is seeking a Senior Legal Adviser for its Statutory Oversight team. This role involves providing high-level legal advice, managing compliance with statutory obligations, and supporting a small team in delivering legal services.

The ideal candidate will have legal qualifications, experience in Privacy and FOI, and strong relationship management skills. This opportunity offers a chance to contribute to significant statutory processes and ensure adherence to legal frameworks.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of post-qualification experience.
• Experience in FOI and Privacy is desirable.
• Experience in information technology and cyber security is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level legal advice on statutory obligations.
• Conduct Privacy Threshold Assessments and Impact Assessments.
• Manage and develop a small team for legal services.

Skills

Legal research and analysis

Relationship management

Conflict resolution

Continuous improvement

Education

Tertiary qualifications in law

Current practising certificate

Job description

EL1 Senior Legal Adviser, Statutory Oversight - Vacancy Details

Overview of the team

The Statutory Oversight team is responsible for providing expert advice on the application of statutory processes to business areas within Comcare and acts as Comcare’s liaison with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and the Commonwealth Ombudsman. The team is responsible for receiving Public Interest Disclosures (PID) and co‑ordinating PID investigations.

Statutory Oversight team actively promotes Privacy and develops Comcare‑wide privacy training and is responsible for ensuring Privacy Impact Assessments are completed and that Comcare’s activities are consistent with the Privacy Act 1988.

Statutory Oversight processes Freedom of Information 1982 (FOI) and facilitates administrative access to personal information under the statutory requirements in the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act).

Overview of the role

The Senior Legal Adviser supports the Principal Legal Adviser and provides client‑focused high‑level, specialist legal and strategic advice and support to Comcare staff to ensure compliance with statutory obligations.

The Senior Legal Adviser will resolve problems and manage risk effectively and manage their own workload in a manner consistent with the APS Values and Code of Conduct, the Legal Services Directions 2017, and internal Comcare procedures.

The Senior Legal Adviser will achieve organisational objectives through successful planning and participation, contribution and collaboration across Comcare and with external stakeholders. The position manages a small team that has responsibility for Comcare’s obligations under various statutory processes and is responsible for:

Key responsibilities

• conducting and advising on Privacy Threshold Assessments and Privacy Impact Assessments on complex and high risk projects including IT projects
• legal research, analysis and evaluation, preparing reports and providing advice in administrative law areas including Privacy and FOI
• nurturing complex relationships with internal and external stakeholders including clients, service providers, licensees and premium payers
• supervision, quality assurance, training, support and development of other team members
• initiating and driving continuous improvement and managing change
• following reasonable directions given by the Principal Legal Advisor and General Manager of Legal Group
• deliver high quality, timely strategic advice on complex administrative law matters including FOI and privacy and undertake complex administrative decision making on sensitive matters
• lead, develop and manage team members to deliver legal services including providing professional supervision, settling and second counselling their work
• develop and maintain internal and external relationships that manage risk for Comcare, fostering teamwork and collaboration across the organisation, problem solving and conflict resolution skills
• develop and implement business improvements, strategies, frameworks, policies, procedures and guidance, draft reports and/or briefs, update Legal group reporting documents
• contribute to business planning, and formulate recommendations on legal and policy issues

Qualifications and experience

• Tertiary qualifications in law
• Current practising certificate
• Post‑qualifications experience, ideally 4 plus years

Desirable qualifications

• Experience in FOI and Privacy
• Experience in information technology and cyber security

Eligibility and specific conditions of employment

• Australian citizenship
• Character clearance (Australian Criminal History Check)
• Employee health declaration
• Six months probationary period for new engagements