Legal Counsel (Construction/Major Projects)

Sigma Executive; Western Australia; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Flexible working arrangements

Long-term career opportunities

Job summary

Sigma Executive is partnering with a leading Australian infrastructure owner and asset operator in Western Australia to recruit a front-end construction lawyer with 4–6 years' PAE. The role covers drafting and negotiating construction and procurement contracts, and delivering commercially focused advice across project lifecycles.

You will work with project stakeholders to drive pragmatic legal guidance, manage risk, and support major capital works in a busy, corporate environment.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years' PAE in construction/infrastructure law.
• Experience in front-end construction work.
• Background in private practice or in-house environment.
• Ability to work with executives and commercial teams.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating construction and project delivery contracts (D&C, EPC, construct-only, consultancy and procurement).
• Advise on procurement strategies, tender docs, contract structures and risk allocation.
• Support delivery of major infrastructure and capital works from inception to completion.
• Advise on contract administration, variations, extensions of time, claims and disputes.
• Provide legal guidance across commercial and operational agreements including supplier and technology contracts.
• Support property and development matters including leasing and licensing.
• Coordinate external advisers and specialist legal support as needed.
• Collaborate with project directors, procurement and senior executives to deliver practical outcomes.

Skills

Construction contracts

Procurement strategies

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Job description

The Company

Our client is a leading Australian infrastructure owner and asset operator, responsible for delivering a significant portfolio of major capital works and long-term development projects.

With a substantial pipeline of complex infrastructure investments, the organisation is recognised for delivering projects that support long-term economic growth and community outcomes.

Operating within a sophisticated commercial environment, the business offers exposure to the full lifecycle of major projects, from procurement and delivery through to ongoing operations and asset management.

Joining a collaborative and high-performing legal team, you'll work closely with executives, commercial leaders and project stakeholders on some of the organisation's most strategically important initiatives.

The Role

This opportunity is suited to a front-end construction or infrastructure lawyer looking to move in-house while remaining closely involved in complex, high-value capital projects.

You will provide practical and commercially focused legal advice across a broad portfolio of construction, procurement, and development matters, partnering closely with the business throughout the entire project lifecycle.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating construction and project delivery contracts, including D&C, construct-only, consultancy, professional services, supply, and procurement agreements.
• Advising on procurement strategies, tender documentation, contract structures, risk allocation and commercial negotiations.
• Supporting the delivery of significant infrastructure, redevelopment and capital works projects from project inception through to completion.
• Advising on contract administration, variations, extensions of time, claims, disputes and dispute avoidance strategies.
• Providing legal advice across a broad range of commercial and operational agreements, including supplier, services, technology and strategic procurement contracts.
• Supporting property and development matters, including leasing, licensing, access arrangements and development agreements where required.
• Managing external legal advisers and coordinating specialist legal support on complex matters.
• Working closely with project directors, commercial managers, procurement teams and senior executives to deliver practical and commercially focused outcomes.

The Candidate

The successful candidate will be a high-calibre construction or infrastructure lawyer with approximately 4–6 years' PAE, gained within a leading private practice construction team or a sophisticated in-house environment.

You will have strong front-end construction experience and be comfortable working across complex infrastructure and capital projects. Importantly, you will be looking for an opportunity to move closer to the commercial decision-making process and work directly alongside the people responsible for delivering major projects.

This role will particularly suit someone who enjoys understanding the broader commercial objective, working collaboratively with project teams and providing pragmatic advice that enables the business to move forward while appropriately managing risk.

Ideally, you will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience drafting and negotiating construction and project delivery contracts, including D&C, EPC, construct-only, consultancy and procurement agreements.
• Strong understanding of procurement, contract administration, risk allocation, variations, claims and dispute avoidance.
• Experience supporting major infrastructure, transport, property or capital works projects.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to balance legal risk with practical business outcomes.
• Confidence engaging directly with senior executives, project directors and commercial stakeholders.
• A collaborative and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to operate autonomously within a sophisticated commercial environment.

What's on offer

• Join one of Western Australia’s most significant infrastructure and asset-owning organisations during a major period of investment and development.
• Work across a substantial pipeline of complex, high-profile infrastructure and capital works projects.
• A genuine opportunity for a front-end construction lawyer to transition from private practice into a commercially focused in-house environment.
• Work closely with senior decision-makers and become involved in projects from procurement and contracting through to delivery and operations.
• Broad exposure across construction, procurement, property, development and commercial contracting.
• Join an experienced, collaborative and highly regarded legal team.
• Competitive remuneration, flexible working arrangements and strong long-term career opportunities.