Managing Principal Solicitor, Land Acquisition, Planning and Environment

Managing Principal Solicitor, Land Acquisition, Planning and Environment; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 167,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

The Victorian Government Solicitor's Office (VGSO) invites applications for a senior, strategic legal practitioner to lead the Land Acquisition, Planning and Environment team as Managing Principal Solicitor. You will shape legal strategy, advise across government, and foster strong client relationships in public law.

Offering a flexible hybrid work arrangement, VPS 6.2 salary band, and the opportunity to influence public sector legal services, this role requires extensive experience and

Qualifications

• Senior legal practitioner with more than six years' practising experience in public law.
• Strong understanding of government structure, culture and sensitivities.
• Proven ability to deliver strategic leadership and manage teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialised legal expertise across government in land acquisition, planning and environment law.
• Provide strategic leadership to a team while ensuring high quality and responsive legal services.
• Proactively advance client strategies and grow existing and new government client relationships.

Skills

Public law expertise

Strategic leadership

Client relationship management

Job description

The Victorian Government Solicitor's Office (VGSO) values diversity and seeks to attract and retain a diverse workforce with the best people for the role. We welcome applications from people of all ages, disability, ethnicity, family and caring responsibilities, gender, religion, sexual orientation and cultures including people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. If you require a copy of this advertisement or any attached documentation in an accessible format, such as large print, please email [emailprotected]

• Unique opportunity to provide legal advice at the heart of government
• Diverse, challenging and fulfilling work on matters of public interest
• Hybrid work- enjoy the flexibility of office and remote work
• Ongoing | Full-time or Part-time (minimum 4 days/week)
• VPS 6.2 $166,939 - $191,084 plus superannuation per annum
  

About the VGSO

The Victorian Government Solicitor's Office (VGSO) serves the rule of law exclusively for the State.

The VGSO provides responsive legal services exclusively for the Victorian Government and public sector. Our place within government ensures we are at the centre of legal change, reform and problem-solving. We operate as a service-driven legal professional practice and strive for excellence in this competitive environment. We role-model the Victorian Public Sector values and VGSO's Our Compass pillars, which guides how we work together in everything we do: Proud of what we do; Value every voice; Learn, grow, thrive; Always evolving; Act with care.

About the branch

The Land Acquisition, Planning and Environment Team is part of the Public Law and Planning Branch at VGSO. The Public Law and Planning branch operates in the epicentre of public law practice in Victoria. The Land Acquisition, Planning and Environment teams practice spans advice and litigation in subject areas including planning and built heritage and land acquisition and compensation.

The team's advisory work includes advice on the application, interpretation and development of legislation and other instruments, principally in the team's subject areas. Its litigation focusses primarily on judicial and merits review of decision making in its subject areas, and contested land compensation and valuation matters.

The team's subject areas include:

• Land acquisition and compensation;
• Planning and built heritage;
• Environment and climate change;
• Major projects, project powers and project delivery;
• Aboriginal cultural heritage;
• Forestry, water and other resources; and
• Emergency management.

About the role

We are currently seeking a senior and highly experienced and strategic legal practitioner to join our Land Acquisition, Planning and Environment team as a Managing Principal Solicitor.

Reporting to the Lead Counsel, you will lead a team of talented solicitors in delivering expert legal advice and services across government, with a particular focus on land acquisition, planning, and environmental law. This role is pivotal in shaping legal strategy, driving excellence in service delivery, and fostering strong client relationships across the public sector.

You will play a key role in supporting the strategic direction of the Land Acquisition, Planning and Environment team, contributing to the broader goals of the Branch and VGSO, and ensuring alignment with our Strategic Plan, Business Plans, and organisational values.

Key responsibilities

• Provide highly specialised legal expertise and technical legal advice across government, particularly in land acquisition, planning and environment law;
• Provide strategic leadership to a team while contributing to the branch and the VGSO more broadly, ensuring the provision of high quality and responsive legal services and advice to Government, in alignment with the VGSO's Strategic Plan, relevant team and branch business plans and Our Compass pillars; and
• Proactively advance the VGSO's client strategies, practice areas and client relationships in order to further develop positive existing client relationships and establish new business opportunities.

About the successful applicant

You are a highly regarded senior legal practitioner with more than six years' practising experience, public law expertise, and a strong understanding of the structure, culture and sensitivities of government. You bring sound judgment, strategic insight, and a nuanced understanding of the political and legal context in which public sector legal services operate.

You are extremely flexible: you are adept at delivering legal services in a manner which is fit for purpose, whether that is providing robust written advice for a legal audience or explaining a litigation strategy to a ministerial one. You can lead a team and manage projects simultaneously, whether the timelines are short or longer term. You thrive in dynamic environments, managing multiple priorities and leading teams through both short-term challenges and long-term projects.

Your leadership style is inclusive and empowering. You understand that high-performing teams are built on strong foundations: the right people, thoughtful management, and effective processes. You are committed to developing talent and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence.

You also bring a strategic mindset to business development and client engagement. You have a proven ability to build and maintain trusted relationships, identify opportunities for growth, and contribute to the expansion of VGSO's practice areas.

Benefits

VGSO offers an inclusive, collegiate and collaborative work environment where you will be well-supported and mentored to develop your knowledge. You will also be given excellent career opportunities to progress and develop within the organisation.

VGSO embraces flexibility and recognises the importance of work-life balance. We offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, allowing employees to spend half of their time working remotely and the other half in the office. This setup encourages collaboration and strengthens team connections, while supporting your ability to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

Preferred candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including but not limited to, reference checks, pre-employment misconduct screening and criminal record checks.