Head of Legal - Property and Projects

St Vincent's Health Australia Limited; Sydney; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

St Vincent's Health Australia seeks a seasoned Head of Legal – Property and Projects to lead the National Legal Team from Sydney or Melbourne. You will direct legal strategy for property, infrastructure and capital works, advising on acquisitions, leasing, major projects and partnerships across a large national portfolio.

You will manage a specialist team, collaborate with executives and boards, and shape risk and governance across hospitals, aged care and virtual care initiatives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of post-qualification experience in property, construction, infrastructure and commercial law.
• Proven success leading legal strategy on major transactions and development initiatives.
• Experience partnering with executive leaders and boards to manage risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Property and Projects Practice Group and provide strategic legal advice across national operations.
• Oversee property acquisitions, disposals, leasing, licensing and land-use matters.
• Advise on capital works, infrastructure developments, construction contracts and redevelopment initiatives.
• Develop legal frameworks and processes to support project delivery and risk management.
• Mentor and develop lawyers within the practice group.

Skills

Legal leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

People leadership

Risk management

Property law

Construction law

Education

Tertiary qualification in Law

Admission as Solicitor in Australia

Job description

Lead the legal strategy behind the projects, infrastructure and partnerships that help deliver better healthcare. Drive legal leadership across nationally significant property and infrastructure projects: Lead legal oversight of complex property transactions, developments, construction projects and strategic initiatives across one of Australia's largest health and aged care organisations. Influence major decisions at the highest levels of the organisation: Partner with executive leaders, Boards, senior operational stakeholders and external advisers to manage legal risk and enable strategic growth across public hospitals, private hospitals, aged care and virtual care. Shape the future of healthcare through property and project excellence: Use your expertise to support the facilities, infrastructure and developments that allow St Vincent's to deliver life-changing care to patients, residents and communities.

About St Vincent's Health Australia

At St Vincent's Health Australia, we are shaping a future health and aged care system that supports people with life-changing care, wherever and whoever they are. Founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1857, St Vincent's is one of Australia's leading not-for-profit health and aged care organisations. Our 30,000 dedicated people provide compassionate care through public and private hospitals, aged care residences, virtual care and services delivered at home across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. Our vision is for every person to receive excellent and compassionate care through a better and fairer health and aged care system. Together, we are focused on enhancing our impact, connecting care and transforming the system. Our work is grounded in our values of Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence.

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a highly experienced Head of Legal – Property and Projects to join our National Legal Team in Sydney or Melbourne. Reporting to the National Director Legal and Risk, this executive leadership role is responsible for leading the Property and Projects Practice Group and providing strategic legal direction across St Vincent's extensive national property, infrastructure and capital works portfolio. You will advise on some of the organisation's most significant legal and commercial matters, including property acquisitions and disposals, leasing arrangements, major redevelopment projects, construction contracts, strategic partnerships and infrastructure investments. Leading a specialist team of lawyers and legal professionals, you will work closely with executive leaders, Board committees, operational stakeholders and external advisers to manage legal risk and enable the delivery of projects that support the future of healthcare and aged care across Australia. This is a rare opportunity to combine sophisticated legal practice, people leadership and strategic influence within a purpose-led organisation making a meaningful difference to communities nationwide.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Property and Projects Practice Group and provide strategic legal advice across St Vincent's national operations.
• Oversee legal matters relating to property acquisitions, disposals, leasing, licensing and land use arrangements.
• Advise on major capital works, infrastructure developments, construction projects and redevelopment initiatives.
• Develop and implement legal frameworks, systems and processes that support effective project delivery and risk management.
• Provide legal oversight across the full project lifecycle, from planning and procurement through to delivery and completion.
• Identify, assess and manage legal and regulatory risks associated with property and projects activities.
• Partner with executive leaders and senior stakeholders to support organisational priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Manage external legal providers and ensure the delivery of high-quality, commercially focused legal services.
• Contribute specialist expertise to broader legal, governance, risk and commercial matters across the organisation.
• Lead, mentor and develop lawyers and staff within the Property and Projects Practice Group.
• Build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government bodies, consultants, contractors and development partners.

About You

You are a highly accomplished legal leader with 15+ years' post-qualification experience and a proven track record advising on complex property, construction, infrastructure, projects and commercial matters. You have successfully led legal strategy on major transactions, developments and business-critical initiatives, balancing legal risk with commercial outcomes in complex and highly regulated environments. You are a trusted adviser to executive leadership teams, Boards and senior stakeholders, recognised for your sound judgement, strategic thinking and ability to influence critical decisions. Combining deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen, you deliver practical solutions that support organisational priorities while safeguarding long-term interests. An experienced people leader, you have built, led and developed high-performing legal teams and foster cultures of collaboration, accountability and excellence. You are comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, navigating competing priorities and leading through complexity. Most importantly, you are motivated by the opportunity to apply your expertise within a purpose-led organisation. You understand that hospitals, aged care facilities and healthcare infrastructure are fundamental to delivering exceptional care, and you are inspired by the opportunity to help shape the projects, partnerships and investments that will support patients, residents and communities for generations to come.

• Number of tertiary qualification in Law.
• Admission as a Solicitor or Barrister in Australia.
• Eligibility to hold a practising certificate without supervision requirements.
• Significant post-qualification experience in property, construction, infrastructure, projects or commercial law.
• Experience gained within a leading law firm, major corporation, government organisation or complex in‑house legal environment.
• Demonstrated expertise across property transactions, leasing, development projects, construction contracts and infrastructure matters.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to provide practical, risk‑based legal advice.
• Experience partnering with executive leaders and senior stakeholders.
• Proven leadership capability, including mentoring and developing legal professionals.
• Highly developed negotiation, communication and relationship management skills.
• Strong organisational and project management capability within a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment.
• The ability to work strategically while maintaining a practical and solutions‑focused approach.
• A commitment to St Vincent's values and an appreciation of the social purpose of healthcare and aged care services.

Why Join St Vincent's?

• Lead work that leaves a lasting legacy.
• Help shape the hospitals, healthcare facilities and infrastructure that support communities across Australia.
• Work on high-profile and complex matters.
• Advise on property transactions, major developments, construction projects and strategic initiatives across a large and diverse national organisation.
• Influence at the executive level; partner with senior leaders, Board committees, operational executives and key external stakeholders on critical organisational decisions.
• Lead a specialist legal practice; develop and guide a high‑performing team while contributing to the broader success of the National Legal function.
• Join a values‑led organisation; build your career in an organisation guided by Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence, with a longstanding commitment to delivering better and fairer care.

Make a Meaningful Difference

This is more than a property and projects leadership role. It is an opportunity to help create and maintain the infrastructure, facilities and partnerships that enable life-changing healthcare and aged care services for generations to come.

Additional Information

Employment is subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks, including identification, right‑to‑work, reference and nationally coordinated criminal history checks. The successful applicant must also comply with applicable St Vincent's Health Australia policies and screening requirements.

St Vincent's Health Australia welcomes people from all backgrounds and beliefs. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and empowered to contribute their unique experiences.

Closing Date: 3 October 2026 11:59pm

Reconciliation Action Plan: At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at [e-mail].

View Code of Conduct.

St Vincent’s Health Australia has been serving Australians with compassionate health and aged care since our first hospital was established in Sydney in 1857. Founded by the Sisters of Charity more than 180 years ago, St Vincent’s is a clinical, research and education leader delivering private hospital, public hospital and aged care services across NSW, VIC and QLD. Our founder, Mary Aikenhead’s vision, commitment and inspiration lives on in us and the work we do. From modest beginnings, St Vincent’s Health Australia is today the nation’s largest not-for-profit health and aged care provider, offering services in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, including public and private hospitals and aged care facilities. The St Vincent’s family comprises 22,000 outstanding nurses, researchers, cooks, doctors, executives, administrators, cleaners, volunteers and more.