Senior Lawyer, Transport Advisory

Department of Transport & Planning Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Transport & Planning Victoria in Melbourne seeks a Senior Lawyer, Transport Advisory for a fixed-term role ending 30 June 2029. You will provide authoritative legal advice on complex commercial matters, including close-out of franchise agreements, manage external advisers, and support senior leaders to protect the State’s interests.

The role requires strong analytical skills, sound commercial judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities in a government environment.

Qualifications

• Three years’ post-qualification experience (mandatory)
• Experience advising on complex, high-value contracts (mandatory)
• Experience in transport, construction, infrastructure or government environments including Model Litigant obligations

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, practical legal advice with sound judgement on complex issues.
• Draft effective legal and transactional documents and coordinate with external advisers.
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships to inform policy and commercial decisions.

Skills

Legal advisory

Contract drafting

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Law degree; admission in Victoria

Job description

Department of Transport & Planning Victoria – Melbourne VIC

About the role

This is a Fixed Term Position until 30 June 2029
The Senior Lawyer, Transport Advisory provides authoritative, strategic and pragmatic legal advice on complex commercial matters, particularly the close out of train and tram franchise agreements. The role supports senior leaders and stakeholders to protect the State’s interests, manage risk and achieve value for money.

The role requires strong analytical skills and attention to detail as well as sound commercial judgement, with the ability to manage competing priorities and changing demands. It involves contributing to the management of the legal work program, managing external advisers, building strong stakeholder relationships, monitoring delivery and informing policy and commercial decisions for future franchise and other high-value contracting arrangements.

What we’re looking for (Selection Criteria)

You’resomeone who:

• Can provide clear, practical and commercially focused legal advice, applying sound judgement to complex issues and identifying appropriate options and risks.
• Can draft effective legal and transactional documents, manage legal matters and work with external legal advisers where required.
• Communicates with impact, adapting their approach to different audiences and influencing stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
• Builds strong, collaborative relationships across teams, understands organisational context and responds constructively to stakeholder needs.
• Is adaptable and resilient, able to manage changing priorities, coordinate competing work and maintain focus on delivering quality outcomes.

Qualifications and experience

You’llbring:

• A tertiary law degree, admission or eligibility to practise as a lawyer in Victoria, and at least three years’ post-qualification experience (mandatory).
• Demonstrated experience advising on complex, high-value contracts (mandatory), with experience in operational or end-of-term/close-out phases (highly regarded)
• Experience in litigation, dispute resolution, and/or providing legal advice in transport, construction, infrastructure or government environments, including an understanding of government-specific requirements such as Model Litigant obligations.

Pre-employment checks and employment conditions

Relevant pre-employment screening and reference checks will berequired.

Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa necessary for the nature of the position.

Recipients of Victorian Public Service (VPS) voluntary departure packages should note that re-employment restrictions apply.

Redeployees

If you are a VPS redeployee, please state this in your cover letter and include your case manager’s contact details. This helps ensure your redeployment status is appropriately considered. For more information on redeployment, visit the Victorian Government policy.

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Contact

For further information about the role, please contact Catherine Taylor, Managing Principal Lawyer Transport Advisory at ***************@transport.vic.gov.au.