Senior General Counsel – Local Government (Hybrid)

Council Jobs; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% superannuation

Competitive salary

Job summary

The City of Stonnington is seeking a trusted senior legal professional to lead its in-house legal function as General Counsel, delivering strategic, risk-based advice to the CEO and executive team within a complex municipal framework.

You will oversee external providers, manage budgets, and build internal capability to gradually reduce reliance on external advice while ensuring practical, commercially-minded governance for the community in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Qualifications

• Substantial post-admission legal experience at Senior Associate, Special Counsel or equivalent level.
• Experience across procurement, contracts, property, employment law and statutory interpretation.
• Strong expertise in administrative law and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience managing complex legal matters, disputes and litigation.
• Proven track record building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for executive audiences.
• Experience coaching and developing legal professionals.
• Strong judgement, risk assessment and problem-solving.
• Current Victorian Working with Children’s Check.
• Experience in local government or highly regulated environment.
• Knowledge of Local Government Act 2020 and governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, practical and risk-based legal advice to the CEO, Executive Team and managers across all service areas.
• Interpret and advise on relevant legislation, including the Local Government Act 2020 and broader regulatory and administrative law frameworks.
• Support organisational compliance, governance and risk management objectives.
• Deliver clear, solutions-focused legal advice and recommended courses of action.
• Manage a broad range of legal matters, determining the most effective approach for delivery either internally or through external providers.
• Oversee Council's Legal Services Panel and monitor performance, quality and value for money.
• Manage legal budgets and external legal expenditure.
• Provide regular reporting and insights on legal services usage and expenditure.
• Drive opportunities to build internal capability and reduce reliance on external legal advice over time.
• Advise on contracts, procurement, commercial agreements and property matters.
• Oversee litigation, dispute resolution processes, VCAT proceedings and other legal actions involving Council.
• Provide expert advice on governance matters, including councillor conduct, conflicts of interest, delegations and statutory obligations.
• Support Council's compliance with privacy, freedom of information and public sector governance requirements.
• Identify emerging legal risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.

Skills

Legal leadership

Governance

Regulatory frameworks

Contracts

Procurement

Property law

Employment law

Administrative law

Litigation management

Stakeholder management

Coaching

Job description

The City of Stonnington is seeking a trusted senior legal professional to lead its in-house legal function as General Counsel, delivering strategic, risk-based advice to the CEO and executive team within a complex municipal framework.

You will oversee external providers, manage budgets, and build internal capability to gradually reduce reliance on external advice while ensuring practical, commercially-minded governance for the community in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.