Principal Legal Counsel

Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources; Sydney; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Professional development

Job summary

Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources in Sydney is seeking EL2 Principal Legal Counsel to lead priority legal matters and manage risk for the Commonwealth. You will provide strategic legal advice on complex public policy issues, oversee legislative design and regulatory work, and help shape government outcomes across commerce, investment, and industry.

This role offers flexible work arrangements, opportunities to collaborate with Ministers and executives, and a path to develop

Qualifications

• Admitted as a legal practitioner in an Australian jurisdiction.
• Current practising certificate issued by the Law Society or equivalent.
• Experience in commercial, information law, legislative design or dispute resolution.
• Ability to translate complex policy into effective legislative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a section, aligning to the Legal Practice vision and service offering.
• Manage internal resources, external expenditure, contracted providers and risk.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with Ministers, executives and clients.
• Identify and implement business improvements and change initiatives.
• Lead people, monitor workloads and support career development and wellbeing.
• Ensure high-quality, client-centric legal advice and retention of records.

Skills

Commercial law

Information law

Legislative design

Dispute resolution

Federal litigation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Admitted as legal practitioner (Australia)

Practising certificate

Job description

Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources - Sydney NSW

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector.

The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people’s lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.

If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia’s future.

Please see the APSC's APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.

About the Department

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector.

The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people’s lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.

If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia’s future.

Please see the APSC's APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.

About the team

Lawyers in the Chief Counsel and Integrity Division (CCID) provide strategic and pragmatic legal advice on a range of public policy issues supporting Australia’s economic security including technology and artificial intelligence, offshore oil and gas regulation, mining, Industry capability, supply chain resilience, commercial investments, manufacturing, Science policy, governance and infrastructure.

We support the Australian Space Agency, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, and Australia’s Chief Scientist.

Our team of legal professionals are committed to providing high-quality legal advice in a supportive culture.

The opportunity

Principal Legal Counsel manage priority legal matters to deliver outcomes for the Australian Government and manage legal risk to the Commonwealth.

With roles available in both the Public Law and Dispute Resolution and Corporate and Information Law Branches we are seeking talented, experienced lawyers who are interested in working in the following areas.

• Commercial legal issues, including major transaction and investment decisions taken by Government and broader grants administration.
• Administrative law including decision making, exercising regulatory powers, delegations and authorisations.
• Employment and workplace relations matters; code of conduct, public interest disclosure (PID) and other integrity issues.
• Litigation, merits and judicial review of administrative decisions relating to trade remedies, mining and resource activities, grants and other industry support programs.
• Legislative compliance and complex statutory interpretation.
• Legislative design, shaping legislative frameworks that enable major policy and program outcomes.
• Procurement, contract drafting and negotiation and contractual issues.
• Intellectual property, data access and confidentiality issues.
• Privacy, data management and freedom of information matters including privacy impact assessments.

What’s in it for you?

In this role you will work at the centre of government, with the opportunity to:

• advise on complex legal aspects of contemporary public policy
• play a key role in translating complex policy into clear, workable and enduring law
• work closely with senior policy makers and decisionmakers on high-profile reforms
• access flexible working arrangements and professional development to support your career.

Our ideal candidate

We are seeking EL2 Principal Legal Counsel to fill several positions in the Legal Practice.

To be successful, you need to bring:

• Skills and experience in an area of law relevant to in-house government practice, including at least one of commercial, information law, legislative design or dispute resolution and federal litigation.
• Strong understanding of legislative frameworks, statutory interpretation and administrative law.
• Proven ability to translate complex policy into effective legislative solutions.
• Experience supporting legislation through parliamentary processes and implementation phases.
• Highly developed judgement, including the ability to identify and manage legal and delivery risks.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including with senior executives.
• Experience leading teams, collaborating with others, and building capability in others.

As a Principal Legal Counsel, you can:

• Undertake work with higher levels of legal complexity under broad direction
• Oversee and develop teams to provide high-quality, customer centric, legal services
• Influence policy design and delivery through legal strategy
• Support executive leadership of the Legal Practice

Our department has a commitment to inclusion and diversity, with an ambition of being the best possible place to work. This reflects the importance we place on our people and on creating a workplace culture where each and every one of us is valued and respected for our contribution. Our ideal candidate adds to this culture and our workplace in their own way.

The key duties of the position include:

Practice leadership responsibilities including:

• Lead and manage a section, developing a shared sense of purpose aligned to the Legal Practice vision, mission and service offering
• Manage internal resources, external expenditure, contracted service providers, business contingency and risk
• Use strategic collaboration, communication, and interpersonal skills to build client, peer and team relationships based on respect and trust
• Identify and implement business improvement and change initiatives
• Manage people, monitor workloads, team wellbeing, career development and workplace safety
• Use Legal Practice systems and processes to ensure the quality and consistency of advice, retention of records and legal knowledge.

Legal advice and responsibilities, including:

• Provide strategic legal advice, solve problems and manage issues relating to complex, legal matters
• Make decisions using professional judgement, to manage complex and/or sensitive legal issues
• Communicate effectively, in the provision of legal and other advice to Ministers, Executive, clients and in the management of a team
• Oversee the quality of legal work delivered by a team
• Support Chief Counsel and General Counsel to anticipate, elevate and respond to legal challenges and risk in a timely way
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with Ministers, the Executive, clients and stakeholders, including external legal providers
• Demonstrate resilience and personal accountability for the quality of advice and delivery of results by the Team
• Provide reports and briefs on key legal matters, risks and priorities to the Executive as required.

Eligibility

Principal Legal Counsel must hold:

• Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory, and
• A current practising certificate issued by the Law Society of the ACT or their state or territory of residence (or be eligible to acquire one).
• Applicants in South Australia must hold, or be eligible to hold, an unrestricted practising certificate issued by the Law Society of South Australia and meet the requirements in that state to supervise lawyers with a restricted practising certificate.

To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.

Positions require a Baseline security clearance and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Notes

For the right candidate, commencement salary may be negotiated commensurate with skills, experience and qualifications.

The department offers flexible work opportunities for many roles. Current vacancies can be based in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide, and flexible or remote work arrangements may be considered for the right candidate. Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.

A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Gazette.

The department does currently offer flexible work opportunities for many roles. This vacancy is Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth based, although flexible or remote work arrangements may be considered. Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.

Getting to know the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR)

The department’s Enterprise Agreement and policies provide for a flexible working environment to assist staff balance their work and home life. Staff and managers work together to balance the operating needs of the department with the needs of the individual. Options may include full time/part time working arrangements, working from home or other arrangements.Our employees say they recommend our department as a good place to work. Our workplace is one that encourages and supports all employees to have a sense of belonging and a culture that allows them to bring their authentic selves to work every day.Our reconciliation vision supports a workforce with opportunities and career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The vision allows them to feel empowered and helps to ensure that the department and broader community can benefit from the knowledge and experience of Australia’s First Peoples.We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, nationalities and backgrounds including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, mature age, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people of the LGBTIQA+ community and people with disability.The department wants to give candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their full potential during a recruitment process. We encourage candidates who require any adjustments or support as part of the recruitment process to reach out and discuss them with the job's contact officer. Candidates are also welcome to contact our Inclusion team at *********@industry.gov.au for a confidential discussion if you identify from any of these diverse backgrounds and would like to discuss how we can support you.