General Counsel

Council Jobs; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% superannuation

Competitive salary

Job summary

The City of Stonnington is seeking a trusted senior legal professional to lead its in-house legal function as General Counsel, delivering strategic, risk-based advice to the CEO and executive team within a complex municipal framework.

You will oversee external providers, manage budgets, and build internal capability to gradually reduce reliance on external advice while ensuring practical, commercially-minded governance for the community in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Qualifications

• Substantial post-admission legal experience at Senior Associate, Special Counsel or equivalent level.
• Experience across procurement, contracts, property, employment law and statutory interpretation.
• Strong expertise in administrative law and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience managing complex legal matters, disputes and litigation.
• Proven track record building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for executive audiences.
• Experience coaching and developing legal professionals.
• Strong judgement, risk assessment and problem-solving.
• Current Victorian Working with Children’s Check.
• Experience in local government or highly regulated environment.
• Knowledge of Local Government Act 2020 and governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, practical and risk-based legal advice to the CEO, Executive Team and managers across all service areas.
• Interpret and advise on relevant legislation, including the Local Government Act 2020 and broader regulatory and administrative law frameworks.
• Support organisational compliance, governance and risk management objectives.
• Deliver clear, solutions-focused legal advice and recommended courses of action.
• Manage a broad range of legal matters, determining the most effective approach for delivery either internally or through external providers.
• Oversee Council's Legal Services Panel and monitor performance, quality and value for money.
• Manage legal budgets and external legal expenditure.
• Provide regular reporting and insights on legal services usage and expenditure.
• Drive opportunities to build internal capability and reduce reliance on external legal advice over time.
• Advise on contracts, procurement, commercial agreements and property matters.
• Oversee litigation, dispute resolution processes, VCAT proceedings and other legal actions involving Council.
• Provide expert advice on governance matters, including councillor conduct, conflicts of interest, delegations and statutory obligations.
• Support Council's compliance with privacy, freedom of information and public sector governance requirements.
• Identify emerging legal risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.

Skills

Legal leadership

Governance

Regulatory frameworks

Contracts

Procurement

Property law

Employment law

Administrative law

Litigation management

Stakeholder management

Coaching

Job description

Stonnington City Centre, 311 Glenferrie Road, Malvern + Working from home

We are seeking a trusted legal professional to join our organisation as General Counsel, providing expert legal leadership and strategic advice across a diverse and complex operating environment.

Reporting to the Executive Manager Governance and Public Affairs, this role serves as Council's principal in-house legal adviser and trusted counsel to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and senior managers. You will play a critical role in helping Stonnington by delivering practical, commercially minded and risk-based legal advice that supports sound decision making, strong governance and organisational integrity.

As General Counsel, you will lead Council's legal function, manage significant legal matters, oversee external legal providers and build legal capability across the organisation. This is an outstanding opportunity for a senior practitioner seeking meaningful work that delivers substantial outcomes for our community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic, practical and risk-based legal advice to the CEO, Executive Team and managers across all service areas.
• Interpret and advise on relevant legislation, including the Local Government Act 2020 and broader regulatory and administrative law frameworks.
• Support organisational compliance, governance and risk management objectives.
• Deliver clear, solutions-focused legal advice and recommended courses of action.
• Manage a broad range of legal matters, determining the most effective approach for delivery either internally or through external providers.
• Oversee Council's Legal Services Panel and monitor performance, quality and value for money.
• Manage legal budgets and external legal expenditure.
• Provide regular reporting and insights on legal services usage and expenditure.
• Drive opportunities to build internal capability and reduce reliance on external legal advice over time.
• Advise on contracts, procurement, commercial agreements and property matters.
• Oversee litigation, dispute resolution processes, VCAT proceedings and other legal actions involving Council.
• Provide expert advice on governance matters, including councillor conduct, conflicts of interest, delegations and statutory obligations.
• Support Council's compliance with privacy, freedom of information and public sector governance requirements.
• Identify emerging legal risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.

Join us in this full-time permanent Senior Officer role, offering a competitive salary range of $180K - $220K, plus 12% superannuation.

What you’ll need to succeed:

• Substantial post-admission legal experience at Senior Associate, Special Counsel or equivalent level.
• Demonstrated experience providing advice across procurement, contracts, property, employment law and statutory interpretation.
• Strong expertise in administrative law and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience managing complex legal matters, disputes and litigation.
• A proven track record in building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and influencing decision making.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, briefings and presentations for executive audiences.
• Experience coaching, mentoring and developing legal professionals.
• Strong judgement, risk assessment and problem-solving capabilities.
• Valid and current Victorian Working with Children’s Check.
• Experience within local government, the public sector or another highly regulated environment.
• Knowledge of the Local Government Act 2020 and associated governance frameworks.

EnquiriesFor enquiries relating to the role, please contact Xavier Smerdon, Executive Manager Governance and Public Affairs at ********@stonnington.vic.gov.au.

For enquiries relating to the system and the application process, please contact a member of the Talent Acquisition team on 8290 1333.

The City of Stonnington is a child-safe, equal opportunity employer valuing diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Here at the City of Stonnington we aspire to be a leading local government authority and to do this we need the very best people who share our belief in community and who want to make a difference. We value everyone's contributions, lived experience and expertise. We provide an inclusive and respectful workplace culture where everyone is supported to thrive and be authentic. There is a variety of offerings available for our people, have a look at “Why Stonnington”.

If you have any support or access requirements, or would like to speak to someone about employment please contact Council’s Talent Acquisition team on 8290 1333.