Project Legal Counsel

FCC Construction Australia Pty Ltd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

FCC Construction Australia Pty Ltd is seeking aProject Lawyer to join our Sydney-based team, providing practical legal advice across the project lifecycle and supporting delivery on a major infrastructure project.

You will work closely with project leadership, management of contractual obligations, variances, and potential exposures, while balancing legal risk with pragmatic project requirements in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Recognised law degree and Australian admission to practise
• 7–12 years PQE in construction or major projects
• Experience with construction contracts and procurement
• Experience advising on negotiations, variations, claims and dispute resolution
• Strong analytical, drafting, negotiation and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate construction contracts and subcontracts
• Provide timely practical legal and commercial advice on obligations and risks
• Support contract administration: notices, variations, extensions, payments
• Assist with claims, disputes, and use external advisers as needed
• Identify legal and contractual risks and develop pragmatic strategies
• Support procurement during tendering and contract award
• Engage with stakeholders and maintain governance and documentation

Skills

Contract review

Negotiation

Legal advice

Risk management

Contract administration

Claims management

Stakeholder engagement

Compliance governance

Drafting

Communication

Education

Law degree

Australian admission to practise

Job description

FCC Construction Australia Pty Ltd – Sydney CBD NSW

Since establishing in Australia in 2020, FCC Construction Australia is committed to expanding the capability of the Australian construction market by leveraging our proven integration approach and demonstrating our reputation for solving complex infrastructure

Our activities span all areas of engineering and construction – we are a world leader in successfully delivering civil works and transport infrastructure - roads, railways, airports, hydraulic and marine works, tunnels, bridges – as well as residential and non-residential buildings - hospitals, football stadiums, museums and corporate offices. Currently we’rein the top 30 construction companies globally.

Play a key role in delivering a major construction project

FCC Construction Australia is seeking a commercially minded Project Lawyer to join the team delivering a major Sydney based project.

This is an opportunity for a construction lawyer to work closely with project leadership and delivery teams, providing practical legal advice across the project lifecycle. You will help manage contractual obligations, identify and mitigate legal and commercial risks, and support informed decision-making in a complex, fast-paced construction environment.

If you enjoy working at the intersection of law, contracts and project delivery, this role offers the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to a significant construction project.

Key responsibilities

• Contract review and negotiation: Draft, review and negotiate construction contracts, subcontracts, consultancy agreements and other project-related commercial arrangements.
• Legal and commercial advice: Provide timely, practical advice on contractual interpretation, legal obligations, project risks and potential exposures.
• Contract administration: Support the project team in managing contractual notices, variations, extensions of time, payment matters and other contractual entitlements.
• Claims and disputes: Assist with the assessment, management and resolution of contractual claims, disputes and contentious matters, engaging external legal advisers where required.
• Risk management: Identify emerging legal and contractual risks and develop pragmatic strategies to protect the project's commercial and legal interests.
• Procurement support: Partner with procurement and commercial teams throughout tendering, contract award and subcontract negotiations.
• Stakeholder engagement: Build effective working relationships with project managers, engineers, commercial personnel, subcontractors and other key stakeholders.
• Compliance and governance: Help maintain appropriate contractual processes, legal compliance and project documentation.

About you

You are a practical and solutions-focused lawyer who understands the realities of construction projects and can translate complex legal issues into clear, commercially relevant advice.

You will ideally bring:

• A recognised law degree and admission to practise as a lawyer in Australia; 7-12 years PQE
• Experience in construction, infrastructure or major projects
• A sound understanding of construction contracts, subcontracting arrangements and the commercial issues that arise during project delivery.
• Experience advising on contract negotiation, variations, claims, contractual risk and dispute resolution.
• Strong analytical, drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
• The confidence to work directly with project stakeholders and provide clear, actionable advice under time pressure.
• A collaborative approach, sound judgement and the ability to balance legal risk with practical project requirements.

Why join FCC Construction Australia?

This role offers the opportunity to work alongside a multidisciplinary project team on a significant Sydney construction project, with direct exposure to the legal and commercial decisions that shape project delivery.

You will have the opportunity to contribute beyond traditional legal advisory work, develop strong relationships across the business and help resolve challenges as they arise on site.