Senior Government Lawyer

Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations; Sydney; On-site; AUD 129,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations – Bondi NSW is seeking a Senior Government Lawyer (EL1) with commercial law experience to join our specialist practice. You will deliver high-quality, practical legal advice across procurement, contracts, grants, and related policy frameworks.

The role includes advising on governance, ICT procurements, and commercial property matters, with emphasis on complex contracts, negotiations, and compliance with national legislation.

Qualifications

• A degree in laws from an Australian tertiary institution, or comparable overseas qualification appropriate to the duties.
• Admission as a legal practitioner of the High Court or a State/Territory Supreme Court, with at least 4 years post admission experience.
• Baseline security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality, strategic legal services across a diverse range of commercial law matters.
• Advise on procurement and grants activities, and draft/negotiate complex contracts and instruments.
• Advise on contractual rights, dispute resolution, IP matters, and governance issues.
• Provide guidance on statutory frameworks including Government Procurement Act, PGPA Act, and related policies.
• Support ICT procurements, corporate governance and risk management, and commercial property matters.

Education

Degree in laws from an Australian tertiary institution or comparable overseas qualification

Admission as a legal practitioner (Australian)

Job description

Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations – Bondi NSW

$129,477 - $158,609 a year

10d ago , from Department Of Employment And Workplace Relations

• Canberra, ACT; Sydney, NSW; Newcastle, NSW; Orange, NSW; Darwin, NT; Alice Springs, NT; Brisbane, QLD; Mackay, QLD; Rockhampton, QLD; Townsville, QLD; Adelaide, SA; Hobart, TAS; Melbourne, VIC; Bendigo, VIC; Perth, WA.
• $129,477 - $158,609

About the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
We are committed to empowering futures, ensuring rights and enriching lives. We support people to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future as we ourselves strive to be a model employer.

We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees. We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or re‑training to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.

With us, your work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. Whether you are engaging in policy development, program implementation, or direct support services, your efforts will have a tangible impact on job seekers, employees and the economy by giving them a framework to build a future anchored and realised through employment.

It is our ambition to do things differently, to create the ‘department of great jobs’– where our people reflect our purpose.

The Role

Reporting to the Principal Government Lawyer we are seeking a high performing Senior Government Lawyer with commercial law experience to join our specialist commercial law practice within the Commercial and Information Law Branch.

You will be part of an experienced and well‑established practice that is recognised across the department for delivering high quality, practical and solution‑focused legal advice. With three dedicated commercial law teams, the Branch provides legal support across the full spectrum of the department's commercial activities, ensuring the work is both diverse and interesting.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities for this role include providing a broad range of commercial legal services to the department as set out under the heading ‘the Role’ and demonstrating capabilities listed under the heading ‘Capabilities’ below.

As a Senior Government Lawyer, you will provide high quality, strategic legal advice and services across a diverse range of commercial law matters, including:

• Advising on the design and delivery of procurement and grants activities;
• Drafting and negotiating complex contracts, deeds, variations, novations and other legal instruments to support government programs and policy outcomes;
• Advising on contractual rights and obligations, including dispute resolution, breach management, recovery of funds, termination rights and intellectual property matters;
• Providing advice on Commonwealth legislative and policy frameworks relevant to government commercial activities, including the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles, and associated procurement policies;
• Advising on corporate governance and risk management issues;
• Advising on ICT procurements, projects and contractual arrangements; and
• Advising on commercial property and other commercial law matters affecting departmental operations.

The duties and responsibilities for this role will also include complying with obligations in Commonwealth legislation and policies where relevant, for example the Public Service Act 1999 and the Legal Services Directions 2025.

• Senior Government Lawyer - EL1
• Canberra, ACT; Sydney, NSW; Newcastle, NSW; Orange, NSW; Darwin, NT; Alice Springs, NT; Brisbane, QLD; Mackay, QLD; Rockhampton, QLD; Townsville, QLD; Adelaide, SA; Hobart, TAS; Melbourne, VIC; Bendigo, VIC; Perth, WA.
• $129,477 - $158,609

About the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
We are committed to empowering futures, ensuring rights and enriching lives. We support people to have safe, secure and well‑paid work with the skills for a sustainable future as we ourselves strive to be a model employer.

We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees. We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or re‑training to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.

With us, your work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. Whether you are engaging in policy development, program implementation, or direct support services, your efforts will have a tangible impact on job seekers, employees and the economy by giving them a framework to build a future anchored and realised through employment.

It is our ambition to do things differently, to create the ‘department of great jobs’– where our people reflect our purpose.

The Role

Reporting to the Principal Government Lawyer we are seeking a high performing Senior Government Lawyer with commercial law experience to join our specialist commercial law practice within the Commercial and Information Law Branch.

You will be part of an experienced and well‑established practice that is recognised across the department for delivering high quality, practical and solution‑focused legal advice. With three dedicated commercial law teams, the Branch provides legal support across the full spectrum of the department's commercial activities, ensuring the work is both diverse and interesting.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities for this role include providing a broad range of commercial legal services to the department as set out under the heading ‘the Role’ and demonstrating capabilities listed under the heading ‘Capabilities’ below.

As a Senior Government Lawyer, you will provide high quality, strategic legal advice and services across a diverse range of commercial law matters, including:

• Advising on the design and delivery of procurement and grants activities;
• Drafting and negotiating complex contracts, deeds, variations, novations and other legal instruments to support government programs and policy outcomes;
• Advising on contractual rights and obligations, including dispute resolution, breach management, recovery of funds, termination rights and intellectual property matters;
• Providing advice on Commonwealth legislative and policy frameworks relevant to government commercial activities, including the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles, and associated procurement policies;
• Advising on corporate governance and risk management issues;
• Advising on ICT procurements, projects and contractual arrangements; and
• Advising on commercial property and other commercial law matters affecting departmental operations.

The duties and responsibilities for this role will also include complying with obligations in Commonwealth legislation and policies where relevant, for example the Public Service Act 1999 and the Legal Services Directions 2025.

Qualifications and Education

• A degree in laws from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification, which is appropriate to the duties of the position; and
• Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory with ideally at least 4 years post admission experience.

Citizenship

to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.

Security Clearance

our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a Baseline security clearance.