Executive General Counsel

Eastern Health; City of Whitehorse; On-site; AUD 230,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastern Health in Melbourne is seeking an Executive General Counsel to serve as the organisation's most senior legal adviser and head of the Legal Services function. You will report to the Chief Executive and act as a trusted strategic partner to the CEO, Board and Executive Leadership Team.

The role provides independent, authoritative advice on governance, regulatory and reputational matters, and leads the legal strategy across major transformations while managing external providers and a

Qualifications

• Tertiary law qualification and admission as an Australian legal practitioner.
• Current Victorian practising certificate or eligibility to obtain one.
• Senior post-admission experience at executive/general counsel level.
• Extensive experience advising a Board, CEO and senior executives.

Responsibilities

• Provide frank, independent, solutions-focused counsel to the CEO, Board, and executives.
• Contribute enterprise-wide perspective to strategy, transformation, and major decisions.
• Lead legal strategy, risk, and regulatory assurance across the organisation.
• Advise on statutory obligations, governance, probity and public sector accountability.
• Oversee major transformation initiatives, partnerships, capital projects and complex commercial arrangements.
• Provide strategic oversight of disputes, investigations and regulatory actions.
• Address employment, privacy, information access, insurance and medico-legal matters.
• Build relationships with health regulators, government agencies and partners.
• Lead and develop a high-performing legal team and manage external providers.

Skills

Enterprise judgement

Strategic partnership

Board engagement

Regulatory affairs

Dispute management

Leadership

Influencing

Emotional intelligence

Public sector governance

Education

Law degree

Admission as Australian legal practitioner

Victorian practising certificate

Job description

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Executive General Counsel

• Executive appointment reporting directly to the Chief Executive
• Serve as Eastern Health's most senior legal adviser and a trusted strategic partner to the Chief Executive, Executive and Board
• Lead the legal strategy and legal function of one of Melbourne's largest public health services
• Shape significant organisational decisions across governance, transformation, commercial, regulatory and contentious matters

Eastern Health

Eastern Health is one of Melbourne's largest public health services. We provide acute, subacute, mental health, community and residential care, alongside specialist and statewide services, to diverse communities across Melbourne's east and beyond.

Our Employee Value Proposition is "Being a part of Eastern Health means belonging to a welcoming team of healthcare experts".

This statement aligns with our promise to our communities, patients, consumers and staff that we will be HEALTHIER TOGETHER. Bolder than a vision for the future, our promise calls us to action. We know that working together is the only way we can achieve what is necessary for a healthier future.

About the role

This is a significant executive leadership opportunity to serve as Eastern Health's most senior legal adviser and lead a contemporary, enterprise-focused Legal Services function.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Executive General Counsel will be a trusted strategic partner to the Chief Executive and Board and a senior adviser to the Executive Leadership Team. The role will provide independent, authoritative and commercially astute advice on Eastern Health's most significant legal, governance, regulatory and reputational matters.

The Executive General Counsel will bring judgement that extends beyond technical legal advice. They will identify emerging issues early, test assumptions, frame clear choices and help leaders make sound and defensible decisions in circumstances that may be complex, sensitive or contested.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing frank, independent and solutions-focused counsel to the Chief Executive, Board, Board Committees and Executive leaders
• Contributing an enterprise-wide perspective to strategy, transformation, service development and major organisational decisions
• Leading Eastern Health's legal strategy, legal risk and regulatory assurance arrangements
• Advising on statutory obligations, governance, delegations, probity, integrity and public sector accountability
• Leading legal strategy for major transformation initiatives, structural reform, partnerships, capital projects, digital initiatives and complex commercial arrangements
• Providing strategic oversight of significant disputes, litigation, coronial matters, regulatory action, investigations and critical incidents
• Advising on complex and high-risk employment, occupational health and safety, privacy, information access, insurance and medico-legal matters
• Building credible relationships with the Department of Health, regulators, integrity bodies, government agencies and other health-sector partners
• Leading and developing a high-performing legal team with clear priorities, strong service standards and an enterprise orientation
• Managing external legal providers and expenditure to ensure quality, consistency and value
• Strengthening legal literacy and decision‑making capability across Eastern Health

The Executive General Counsel will have the courage and independence to raise difficult issues and challenge constructively, including where advice may be unwelcome. Equally, they will understand how to work alongside leaders to develop practical solutions that protect the organisation while enabling safe, effective and sustainable healthcare.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will possess:

• A tertiary qualification in law and admission as an Australian legal practitioner
• A current Victorian practicing certificate, or eligibility to obtain one
• Substantial senior post‑admission experience at Executive General Counsel, senior in‑house counsel, partner or equivalent level
• Extensive experience advising a Board, Chief Executive and senior executives within a large, complex and highly regulated organisation
• Exceptional enterprise judgement and the ability to integrate legal, clinical, commercial, ethical, government, stakeholder and reputational considerations
• Demonstrated leadership of significant organisational, commercial, regulatory, contentious or transformation matters
• A strong understanding of public sector governance, statutory decision‑making, delegations, probity and assurance
• The ability to distil complex issues into clear choices, consequences and recommendations
• The credibility and confidence to influence, challenge and build alignment at Board and executive level
• Demonstrated professional integrity, independence, discretion and sound ethical judgement
• Strong emotional intelligence, composure and relational judgement in sensitive and high‑pressure circumstances
• Experience leading and developing a high‑performing legal function and strategically managing external legal providers
• Experience in health, government or another comparably complex regulated environment will be highly regarded

This role calls for an accomplished legal executive who combines intellectual rigour and professional independence with pragmatism, courage and a genuine commitment to public service.

Interested in joining us?

You must be eligible to work in Australia. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to arrange an interview, and all applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application. Appointment to this position is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, compliance with mandatory vaccination requirements, including annual influenza vaccination, and evidence of immunity to vaccine‑preventable diseases where required.

Our commitments

We are an equal opportunity employer and actively promote equality for people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and for people living with disability across the communities we serve and within our Eastern Health team. We provide a culturally safe and welcoming environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. As a child‑safe organisation, we ensure child safety and wellbeing is embedded in our everyday culture. We are shaping a culture that delivers exceptional care for our community, and an exceptional experience for all the people who make it possible.

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Job Posting End Date:

04/10/2026

Need help submitting your application?

Contact the person listed in the advertisement or our Talent Acquisition team for support on [phone] (option 1) or [e-mail], including discussing any adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.

Our Values in Action:

Respect for all | Safe and Welcoming | Partnering in care | Innovate, Learn and Lead