Principal Regulatory Lawyer - Regulatory Advice

Acendre; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 166,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15.4% superannuation

Job summary

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is seeking a Principal Regulatory Lawyer to lead strategic legal work across multiple jurisdictions in Australia. The role focuses on high-level regulatory matters, sound legal risk management, and advising senior executives to shape regulatory decisions.

Based in Adelaide with travel to other locations, you will guide legal strategy, foster collaboration across government legal practices, and develop a high-performing team of lawyers to improve

Qualifications

• Exceptional legal expertise and judgement
• Outstanding leadership capability
• Deep understanding of the Commonwealth legal framework
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influence skills
• Strong commitment to client service and organisational impact
• Superior communication and advocacy skills
• Strategic thinking and organisational awareness
• Resilience, sound judgement and adaptability
• Passion for developing people and legal capability
• Commitment to public service and regulatory excellence

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal leadership on complex, high-profile regulatory matters and guide the Commission's approach to legal risk.
• Shape interpretation and application of aged care legislation to align with regulatory priorities.
• Lead development and execution of legal strategy and longer-term planning for the function.
• Advise senior executives and decision-makers with pragmatic, solutions-focused legal guidance.
• Build relationships across government legal practices to drive collaboration and outcomes.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team of lawyers and promote governance, risk management.

Job description

Principal Regulatory Lawyer - Regulatory Advice

• Legal 2
• $165,948 - $179,273
• Adelaide - SA, Brisbane - QLD, Canberra - ACT, Hobart - TAS, Melbourne - VIC, Sydney - SYD, Western Australia - Perth, NT -Darwin

About the Team - The Legal Services Branch
The Legal Services Branch, led by the Chief Counsel, provides the full scope of legal services relevant to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner’s (the Commissioner) and Complaints Commissioner’s functions, principally in relation to the interpretation and application of the legislation that currently regulates aged care providers, being the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025. Our role includes advising on the Commissioner’s and Complaints Commissioner’s regulatory activities, administrative law, commercial law, information law and employment law matters, managing the Commission’s involvement in litigation in relevant courts and tribunals as well as engagement with external legal service providers.
About the Role

We are seeking an accomplished leader with substantial management experience who is excited by the opportunity to help shape our future, drive excellence, and contribute to the continued growth and capability of the team.

As part of the Branch’s senior leadership team, your work will include:

• Providing strategic legal leadership on complex, novel and high-profile regulatory matters, guiding the Commission's approach to legal risk and supporting sound regulatory decision-making.
• Shaping the interpretation and application of aged care legislation, influencing regulatory practice and ensuring legal advice aligns with the Commission's strategic objectives and regulatory priorities.
• Leading the development and execution of legal strategy, setting the direction of the legal function and ensuring longer‑term planning supports the Commission's mission, emerging priorities and future regulatory challenges.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to senior executives and decision‑makers, influencing organisational outcomes through the provision of pragmatic, solutions‑focused legal advice on matters of significant strategic importance.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships across government legal practices, fostering collaboration, driving shared outcomes and enhancing the legal team’s effectiveness.
• Leading, mentoring and developing a high‑performing team of lawyers, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement while investing in the growth of future legal leaders.
• Driving capability uplift across the organisation by promoting legal excellence, strengthening regulatory decision‑making and embedding sound governance and risk management practices.
• Championing a modern, high‑performing legal function that delivers strategic value to the Commission and contributes to the protection of the rights, safety and wellbeing of older Australians.

• Legal 2
• $165,948 - $179,273
• Adelaide - SA, Brisbane - QLD, Canberra - ACT, Hobart - TAS, Melbourne - VIC, Sydney - SYD, Western Australia - Perth, NT -Darwin

For senior legal professionals seeking challenge, influence and purpose, this role offers a unique combination of complex legal work, executive level leadership and work that improves the lives of older Australians.

The role requires attendance in the office at least 2 days per week and occasional interstate travel.

Position Eligibility Requirements (Selection Criteria):

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate the following minimum requirements :

• Exceptional legal expertise and judgement
• Outstanding leadership capability
• Deep understanding of the Commonwealth legal framework
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influence skills
• A strong commitment to client service and organisational impact
• Superior communication and advocacy skills
• Strategic thinking and organisational awareness
• Resilience, sound judgement and adaptability
• A passion for developing people and legal capability
• A commitment to public service and regulatory excellence

You will also have:

• at least 10 years post‑admission experience working in an in‑house legal team or a legal services provider/law firm;
• experience advising regulator(s) on complex regulatory issues; and
• senior leadership experience, including at least 5 years leading legal teams and/or leading complex programs of work, with a demonstrated ability to inspire excellence, manage competing priorities, and achieve exceptional organisational outcomes.

In addition to the above key capabilities, to be eligible for this position you must:

• be admitted as a legal practitioner (however described) of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory. Be eligible to hold and maintain a practising certificate in the jurisdiction in which they practise; and
• be capable of holding security clearance up to Negative Vetting 1 level.

Position Notes:

• Salary offered will be between $ 165,948 to $179,273 per annum depending on skills and experience. In addition, 15.4% superannuation will be paid.
• Only candidates who hold Australian citizenship can apply. Appointment is conditional on successfully completing a national police check. For more information, please visit www.apsc.gov.au/citizenship-aps
• Non‑ongoing opportunity will be offered for a specified term . Opportunities will be offered for varying periods up to 12 months with the option to extend to a total of 24 months.
• Merit Pool established through this selection process may be used to fill this or future ongoing or non‑ongoing vacancies.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Commission is committed to fostering a workplace with flexible work arrangements to support a diverse, respectful and inclusive culture for all staff.

The Commission recognises the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and is committed to the implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan . The Commission values the unique knowledge and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees which strengthens and supports our focus on protecting and enhancing the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life of aged care consumers.

RecruitAbility

We provide reasonable adjustments such as access, equipment or other practical support at relevant stages of the recruitment process.

Further information:

For further information about the Quality Commission, office locations and other related resources, please visit https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au

For more information on the Australian Public Service, please visit http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications-and-media/current-publications/cracking-the-code .