EL2 - Special Counsel

Director of Public Prosecution; Sydney; On-site; AUD 146,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) invites applications for a Special Counsel role based in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney. You will contribute to robust legal advice, governance and policy development, leading teams and enhancing integrity across the Australian Public Service.

Successful candidates will engage in complex investigations, provide high-quality legal services, and support FOI processes while working with senior leadership in a dynamic public sector environment.

Qualifications

Responsibilities

Job description

Director of Public Prosecution – Sydney NSW

Classification: Executive Level 2
Salary: $145,737 – $164,217 plus service allowance
Location: Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney

The National Anti-Corruption Commission

The National Anti-Corruption Commission enhances integrity in the Commonwealth public sector by deterring, detecting and preventing corrupt conduct involving Commonwealth public officials. It does this through education, monitoring, investigation, reporting and referral.

Working with us

This is an exciting time to join the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). We are looking for outstanding individuals to embed robust systems and processes, deliver exciting and diverse projects and demonstrate innovation and commitment to integrity in the public service.

NACC staff work in a complex and dynamic setting where exceptional judgement and an ability to achieve results is critical.

Successful candidates will have the ability to cooperate, manage, lead and perform successfully across corporate and operational functions.

About this opportunity

The NACC has a Special Counsel position available for immediate filling in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney. A merit list will be established to fill vacancies arising in the next 18 months.

About the role

The work of a lawyer at the NACC is meaningful and important. You will leave work each day knowing you have contributed to the integrity of the Australian Public Service through the detection, investigation, and prevention of serious or systemic corrupt conduct.
NACC staff work in a complex and dynamic setting where exceptional judgement and an ability to achieve results is critical.
Successful candidates will have the ability to cooperate, manage, lead and perform successfully across corporate and operational functions.

Duties

The successful candidate will report to the General Manager Legal working collaboratively with the General Counsels Corporate and Operations.

Special Counsel will contribute to the effective and efficient performance of the Commission and foster a positive culture and innovation as a member of the Commission’s leadership team.

Key activities of this position include:

• Under broad direction provide high quality legal advice in response to the most complex and significant issues dealt with by the Branch and/or particularly urgent requests arising out of:
• preliminary investigations and corruption investigations, including the use of investigative and coercive powers under the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 (Cth) (NACC Act) and related laws, including the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (Cth) and the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 (Cth),
• corporate legal services, including relating to jurisdictional issues, workplace relations, governance, administrative law, and commercial law,
• Parliamentary Privilege, confidentiality and information sharing provisions under the NACC Act, and memorandoms of understanding.
• Advising on the Commission’s delegations, authorisations and reporting obligations.
• Supervising the Commission’s Freedom of Information function (on a rotational basis), and processing FOI requests as necessary.
• Assisting with responding to requests from the Inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
• Assisting with clearing/settling advice from junior lawyers supporting General Counsel and General Manager Legal as required.
• Contributing to the development of legal policy and legislative reform.
• Contributing to legal knowledge within the NACC and jurisdictional agencies through a commitment to legal education and delivery of internal and external training.
• Leading project and policy development and development of Branch resources and knowledge management, including the preparation and revision of processes, procedures and guidance material to facilitate the work of the Commission.
• Assisting with capability building within the Branch and in the Commission.
• Representing the interests of the NACC and helping to manage the NACC’s relationships with relevant stakeholders, internally and externally.

The NACC is a small agency. In addition to these activities, from time to time you may be asked to undertake tasks that are outside your usual span of duties but that are within the range of your capabilities. Supporting one another in this way provides opportunities for exposure across the agency and is an integral part of the NACC’s positive workplace culture.

Employment with the NACC is subject to the following conditions:

Citizenship– applicants must be an Australian Citizen.

Security clearance– this is a Designated Security Assessment Position. The occupant of this position will be required to undergo and maintain asecurity clearance to Negative Vetting 1.

Suitability assessment– the NACC must be satisfied that successful applicants are of suitable character. They must undergo a rigorous pre-employment suitability screening process that can be intrusive in nature including (but is not limited to) detailed background, character, employment, police and financial checks.

Probation– a probation period will apply to a new ongoing engagement in the Australian Public Service.We encourage applications from the Australian community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of all ages, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with disability.

Contacts

The key duties of this position and capabilities required are listed in the Information Pack below. If after viewing this information you have questions, please contact Franz on (03) 9393 8***.

For assistance with the online application system, please email***********@nacc.gov.au.

Applications Close

Sunday, 9 November 2025 at 11:30pm (AEDT).