Senior In-House Counsel — Government Contracts & Defence

Burgess Paluch Legal Recruitment; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Competitive salary (annual reviews)

Paid parental leave

Income protection

Corporate rewards

Salary packaging/novated leasing

Employee stock purchase plans

Flu shots, skin checks and discounted

Career development: Online learning, &

Mentorship and career pathways

Job summary

KBR in Australia is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to lead legal services across Australian operations, supporting Defence projects and strategic transactions. You will provide pragmatic commercial legal advice, manage complex government contracting, and partner with senior leaders on bids, disputes and governance.

The role requires Baseline Security Clearance and extensive in-house experience. This permanent full-time position offers flexible Canberra-based work with mobility to other capitals,

Qualifications

• Admitted Australian legal practitioner with current practising certificate.
• Extensive post-qualification in-house experience valued.
• Deep expertise in Australian Government contracting, commercial agreements and regulatory compliance.
• Experience advising on complex commercial negotiations, joint ventures, disputes and strategic projects.
• Strong commercial acumen with pragmatic, business-focused advice.
• Excellent stakeholder management and ability to influence senior executives.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication translating legal issues into business terms.
• Sound judgement and integrity navigating competing priorities.
• Collaborative leadership with mentoring and service delivery improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of legal services across Australian operations supporting Defence projects.
• Provide strategic legal advice on high-risk, business-critical matters.
• Draft, negotiate, review and approve complex contracts with government and quasi-government entities.
• Partner with business leaders on bids, tenders and contracting strategies.
• Advise on Australian Government contracting frameworks, including fixed-price and cost-reimbursable contracts.
• Support strategic transactions, including joint ventures and alliances.
• Oversee disputes, claims and investigations; coordinate with external counsel as needed.
• Develop and improve legal policies, processes, templates, and governance frameworks.
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders across functions; manage allocated legal budgets.

Skills

In-house experience

Strategic advisory

Contract negotiations

Governance & compliance

Education

Australian legal practitioner admission

Job description

KBR in Australia is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to lead legal services across Australian operations, supporting Defence projects and strategic transactions. You will provide pragmatic commercial legal advice, manage complex government contracting, and partner with senior leaders on bids, disputes and governance.

The role requires Baseline Security Clearance and extensive in-house experience. This permanent full-time position offers flexible Canberra-based work with mobility to other capitals,