In-House Counsel

Elecnor Australia; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Ongoing professional development

Competitive salary packaging

Job summary

Elecnor Australia is seeking an In-House Legal Counsel to support our renewable energy projects. You will provide commercially focused legal advice, draft and negotiate project contracts, and manage legal risk across tenders and procurement phases.

You will work with project teams to optimise contract terms, ensure compliance with construction laws and security of payment legislation, and coordinate with external counsel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws or JD and admission to practice in relevant jurisdiction.
• 2–3 years PQE, ideally in-house in construction/engineering or related private practice.
• Experience in corporate, regulatory or commercial legal environment.
• Experience managing external counsel and legal budgets.
• Strong front-end contract drafting and negotiation experience.
• Knowledge of construction law, security of payment legislation, commercial contracts, and regulatory compliance.
• Familiarity with standard form construction contracts (AS4000) and bespoke amendments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a business-minded approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for non-legal audiences.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, business-minded legal advice to project teams during tender and procurement phases.
• Advise on mitigating legal risks, optimising contract terms, and aligning project strategies with legal considerations.
• Identify and evaluate legal risks in construction operations and supply chain processes.
• Create briefing documents on complex contract terms for non-legal stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with construction regulations, security of payment legislation, and internal policies.
• Guide internal teams on contract administration and minor dispute resolution to minimise risks.
• Manage external counsel relationships and coordinate engagement of external experts when needed.
• Oversee cost-effective management of external legal resources and budgets.
• Prepare and present reports on legal risks, contract deviations, and decisions to leadership.
• Assist in developing training programs for contract administration, compliance, and risk management.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Legal advice

Risk management

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or JD

Tools

AS4000 contracts

Job description

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to grow your career in the renewable energy sector while contributing to Australia’s clean energy transition?

Join Elecnor, a global leader in high-profile renewable energy infrastructure projects, and play a key role in shaping Australia’s energy future.

As a the In-House Legal Counsel you will be part of Elecnor’s Legal team providing commercially focused legal advice, drafting and negotiating project contracts, and managing legal risk. With a strong focus on front-end contract negotiations, this role ensures that the business remains compliant with applicable construction laws and policies, while aligning legal processes with commercial and project objectives. The role plays a key part in facilitating successful project tenders, enhancing legal awareness across project teams, managing relationships with external counsel when required, and supporting the business in the practical application of legal guidance.

Key responsibilities

• Provide practical, business-minded legal advice to project teams, estimators, and management during the tender and procurement phases.
• Advise on mitigating legal risks, optimising contract terms, and aligning construction project strategies with legal considerations.
• Identify and evaluate legal risks inherent in construction operations, new project ventures, and existing supply chain processes.
• Create briefing documents and summaries of complex contract terms for non-legal stakeholders (e.g., project managers, engineers), focusing on strategic and operational implications.
• Ensure compliance with construction industry regulations, security of payment legislation, corporate policies, and internal WHS procedures.
• Guide internal teams on the strategic approach to contract administration and minor dispute resolution, focusing on minimizing risks and avoiding formal litigation.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel and coordinate the engagement of external experts when highly specialised or litigation advice is required.
• Oversee the cost-effective management of external legal resources and legal budgets.
• Prepare and present regular reports to project teams and executive leadership, summarising legal risks, contract deviations, and key decisions.
• Assist in the development and delivery of training programs for employees on contract administration, legal compliance, ethical standards, and risk management.

About you

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) and admission to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction.
• 2-3 years of Post-Qualification Experience (PQE), ideally gained in-house within the construction, engineering, or infrastructure sector, or in a relevant private practice construction team.
• Experience working in a corporate, regulatory, or commercial legal environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing external legal counsel and legal budgets.
• Demonstrated experience and strong capability in front-end contract drafting and negotiations.
• Knowledge of construction law, security of payment legislation, commercial contracts, and regulatory compliance.
• Familiarity with standard form construction contracts (e.g., AS4000 series) and bespoke amendments.
• Strong legal analysis and problem-solving skills with a pragmatic, business-minded approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially for non-legal audiences.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution capabilities.

Our Company

Elecnor is a leading Spanish business group in the infrastructure, renewable energy, services and new technology sectors w. With over 65 years of continuous growth and a presence in 55 countries.

Elecnor operates in various sectors, including electricity, gas, industrial plants, railways, telecommunications, water, control systems, construction, the environment, installations maintenance and aerospace engineering.

Elecnor’s strong international vocation has led the company to embark on a continuous expansion process that has opened doors to new markets all over the world, mostly in Europe, North America, Central America, South America, Africa, Australia and the Middle East. Elecnor is listed on the Continuous Market and has a team of highly qualified professionals and a workforce of over 21,000 employees.

Our Culture - why you’ll love being part of the Elecnor team

Elecnor is a trusted industry leader known for delivering innovative, sustainable solutions. We offer stable careers and genuine opportunities to grow, and our culture is built on respect and support, empowering our collaborative teams of recognised industry specialists, strengthening communities, and shaping the future of energy together.

Elecnor provides flexible and hybrid working arrangements, supportive leadership, and ongoing professional development, in addition to competitive salary packaging aligned to experience.

Our Inclusive Recruitment Process

At Elecnor, we are committed to building an environment where equal employment opportunities are central to everything we do.

Our inclusive and respectful culture welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and communities to join our recruitment process, ensuring that every opportunity is open to all.

Veterans and active defence reserve members, people of all ages, abilities, sexual orientation, gender identities, and cultures including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are strongly encouraged to apply.

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is accessible for everyone. If you require any adjustments during the application process, please let us know so we can accommodate your needs.

Together, we can create a future driven by innovation, creativity, and collaboration.