Regional Manager

Victoria Legal Aid; Shire of East Gippsland; Hybrid; AUD 143,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid work

Relocation assistance

Salary packaging up to $15,900

Annual 3% salary increase

Job summary

Victoria Legal Aid seeks a contemporary, people-focused Regional Manager to lead a Gippsland team delivering essential legal services across the region. You will coach staff, build relationships with stakeholders and drive performance with empathy and a strengths-based approach.

Based in Morwell or Bairnsdale with regular travel, you will collaborate with Deputy Managing Lawyers and Admin Services Managers to grow leadership capability and service quality, ensuring staff feel supported and

Qualifications

• Current Australian practising certificate entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, adept at engaging both in person and virtually.
• Collaborative management style, able to foster teamwork and innovation.
• Resilience to handle complex situations and a heavy workload with grace.
• Strong leadership abilities to influence and inspire your team.
• Previous management experience, demonstrating effective team oversight.
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement, building and maintaining relationships crucial to VLA's mission.

Responsibilities

• Lead a dedicated regional team delivering legal assistance across Gippsland.
• Develop and implement coaching and strengths-based leadership.
• Collaborate with Deputy Managing Lawyers and Administrative Services Managers.
• Oversee regional operations and travel between Morwell and Bairnsdale.
• Support staff wellbeing and professional development.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Emotional intelligence

Strategic thinking

Education

Australian practising certificate (Victoria government legal practitioner)

Job description

• Full-time ongoing position (part-time applications up to 0.8FTE considered)
• Salary range: $143,076 - $166,922 plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement
• Choose your location: Morwell or Bairnsdale
• Relocation supports available for those not currently residing in the wonderful Gippsland region

About the role

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is seeking a contemporary, people-focused leader who prioritises psychosocial wellbeing and adopts a coaching and strengths-based approach to developing their team.

We are looking for someone who builds strong relationships, navigates different perspectives with empathy and confidence, and is comfortable having constructive conversations. You will create an environment where people feel supported, valued and empowered to do their best work.

This is an opportunity for an experienced managing lawyer who is passionate about people leadership and wants to make a meaningful difference in the Gippsland community. As a Regional Manager, you will lead a dedicated team, delivering legal assistance to people who need it most across the region.

You will play a key role in delivering VLA's strategic objectives, working closely with Deputy Managing Lawyers and Administrative Services Managers to support their leadership, professional growth and team performance. You will bring strong communication skills, emotional intelligence and a genuine commitment to coaching and strengths-based leadership.

This role is based at either our Morwell or Bairnsdale office on Gunaikurnai Country with regular travel between sites to oversee regional operations.

Why Gippsland:

Gippsland offers more than just a place to build your career. With beautiful natural surroundings and welcoming communities, it's a place where you can enjoy the best of both work and life. Whether you're looking for a change of pace, a rewarding career opportunity or a stronger connection to community and nature, Gippsland has plenty to offer. Enjoy a more affordable lifestyle, explore vibrant local communities and have some of Victoria's most beautiful landscapes right on your doorstep — while still being within easy reach of Melbourne.

About YouAs Our Ideal Candidate, You Will Possess

• A current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, adept at engaging both in person and virtually.
• A collaborative management style, able to foster teamwork and innovation.
• Resilience to handle complex situations and a heavy workload with grace.
• Strong leadership abilities to influence and inspire your team.
• Previous management experience, demonstrating effective team oversight.
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement, building and maintaining relationships crucial to VLA's mission.

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate.

About VLA

We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. With over 1500+ staff employed in 16 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

Employee Benefits

• A focus on work-life balance, including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model
• Generous leave benefits, including:
• Three days paid seasonal leave (to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year's Day public holidays)
• Paid gender affirmation leave
• Five days paid reproductive and fertility leave per calendar year
• Annual 3% salary increase each December plus performance-related salary incentives
• Attractive salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 PLUS Novated Leasing
• Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and access to a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.

Other relevant information

It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.