Legal Counsel

SUEZ; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SUEZ ANZ in Australia is seeking a commercially minded Legal Counsel to join its growing legal team, supporting water, resource recovery, recycling and energy-from-waste projects.

You will work closely with executive stakeholders on procurement, delivery and long-term asset management, negotiating complex contracts and advising on risk and governance. Rhodes-based with relocation to central Sydney in early 2027, the role offers broad exposure to senior decision-makers and meaningful impact.

Qualifications

• Australian legal qualification and current practising certificate (or eligibility to obtain one).
• Approximately 6-8 years' post-qualification experience.
• Experience in leading law firm, in-house environment, or both.
• Strong experience across construction, projects, infrastructure, utilities or energy sectors.
• Expertise negotiating complex commercial and construction contracts, including EPC, D&C and O&M agreements.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and commercial negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Advising on major infrastructure, water and energy-from-waste projects.
• Supporting complex bids, tenders and strategic business development initiatives.
• Negotiating and drafting construction, operations, procurement and commercial agreements.
• Providing practical advice on contract administration, variations, claims and dispute avoidance.
• Supporting joint ventures, consortium structures and project delivery models.
• Contributing to governance, compliance and risk management across the business.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Construction law

Commercial negotiations

Stakeholder engagement

In-house experience

Education

Australian legal qualification

Job description

Shape the legal framework behind Australia's next generation of sustainable infrastructure.

SUEZ ANZ is seeking an accomplished Legal Counsel to join its growing legal team at a time of significant investment and expansion across water, resource recovery, recycling and energy-from-waste infrastructure projects. Reporting directly to the General Counsel, this role offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of some of the most complex and commercially significant projects in the market.

This is an ideal opportunity for a construction, projects or infrastructure lawyer who enjoys being embedded within the business, influencing commercial outcomes and partnering with senior leaders on high-value, long-term projects.

The Opportunity

As a trusted legal adviser, you will support the business across the full project lifecycle, from pursuit and procurement through to delivery, operations and long-term asset management. You will play a key role in helping stakeholders navigate legal and commercial risk while supporting strategic growth initiatives across the organisation.

Working closely with executive stakeholders, project directors, procurement leaders and commercial teams, you will have a genuine seat at the table and the opportunity to contribute to decisions that shape the future of critical infrastructure and the circular economy.

Key Areas of Focus

• Advising on major infrastructure, water and energy-from-waste projects.
• Supporting complex bids, tenders and strategic business development initiatives.
• Negotiating and drafting construction, operations, procurement and commercial agreements.
• Providing practical advice on contract administration, variations, claims and dispute avoidance.
• Supporting joint ventures, consortium structures and project delivery models.
• Contributing to governance, compliance and risk management across the business.

About You

You are a commercially minded lawyer who combines strong technical ability with sound judgement and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving. You are comfortable operating in complex project environments and have a genuine interest in partnering with the business to achieve commercially successful outcomes.

You will likely possess:

• An Australian legal qualification and current practising certificate (or eligibility to obtain one).
• Approximately 6-8 years' post-qualification experience.
• Experience gained within a leading law firm, in-house environment, or a combination of both.
• Strong experience across construction, projects, infrastructure, utilities or energy sectors.
• Expertise negotiating complex commercial and construction contracts, including EPC, D&C and O&M agreements.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and commercial negotiation skills.

Why This Role?

This is more than a traditional in-house legal position.

You will join a business playing a critical role in Australia's sustainability transition, advising on nationally significant infrastructure projects that deliver lasting environmental and community impact. You'll enjoy broad exposure, high levels of autonomy, direct engagement with senior decision-makers and the opportunity to influence major commercial outcomes from inception through to delivery.

For lawyers seeking challenging, meaningful work within a collaborative and forward-looking organisation, this represents a rare opportunity to build a long-term career while helping shape the future of sustainable infrastructure.

(We are currently located in Rhodes and relocating to central Sydney early 2027).