Principal Lawyer, Construction and Infrastructure

Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority | Health; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

VIDA Health (Victorian Health Building Authority) is seeking a Principal Lawyer to shape Victoria's health infrastructure. You will advise on complex construction and infrastructure matters, support project teams through contract delivery and provide strategic guidance on claims and disputes.

Mandatory Bachelor of Laws and eligibility for a current practising certificate in Victoria. Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents with the ability to pass pre-employment checks.

Qualifications

• Experience providing construction legal advice on complex construction/infrastructure projects.
• Ability to manage end-to-end contract processes, including drafting and negotiating transaction documents.
• Strong ability to adapt to changing demands and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice across project lifecycle, including development, procurement, delivery and contracting.
• Advise on claims, performance issues and dispute resolution to support government decisions.

Job description

About VIDA Health

VIDA Health (Victorian Health Building Authority) is responsible for the rollout of the Victorian Government's multi-billion-dollar health capital projects. We're delivering world-class health facilities across Victoria including new public hospitals and emergency care, community health services, ambulance branches, residential aged care and mental health facilities. VIDA Health also provides technical support across engineering, property, asset management and environmental sustainability disciplines.

The Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping Victoria's health infrastructure landscape by providing expert legal advice on some of the state's most significant construction and infrastructure projects. As Principal Lawyer, you will work across the full project lifecycle, partnering with a diverse range of stakeholders and contributing to critical government decision-making on complex construction, infrastructure and commercial matters. You will advise on a variety of construction contract models, support project teams through contract delivery and administration, and provide strategic guidance on claims, performance issues and dispute resolution. The role offers the chance to influence outcomes on high-profile projects while ensuring legal risks are effectively managed and practical, commercially focused solutions are delivered. Working in a dynamic and purpose-driven environment, you will help drive successful project outcomes that have a lasting impact on Victorian communities and the future of public health infrastructure.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Build and maintain strong relationships across government and private sector to support legal activities.
• Provide legal subject matter expertise through timely, high-quality and client-focused legal advice. This includes advising on project development, procurement, delivery, construction contracting, legislation to support complex, large-scale infrastructure projects.

We are looking for:

• Experience providing construction legal advice on complex construction/infrastructure projects, advising both private sector and government.
• Proven experience managing end-to-end contract processes, including drafting, negotiating and evaluating transaction documents.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment, adapt to changing demands and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.
• Mandatory Bachelor of Laws qualification and eligibility to hold a current practising certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria).

Applications close 11.59pm on Tuesday 3rd of November 2026.

If you require any adjustment to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please contact [emailprotected]

All prospective employees undergo a National Criminal Records Check.

We believe our teams should represent the diversity of our communities in which we work, and we actively embrace and celebrate people from all walks of life.

You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa.

Preferred candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including, but not limited to, police checks, reference checks, qualification checks and role related clearances.