Senior Legal Counsel

Bouygues Construction Australia; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Bouygues Construction Australia is hiring a Senior Legal Counsel to deliver strategic, commercially focused legal advice across complex projects, transactions and contracts. You will lead negotiations on head contracts with varied clients and manage risk within Bouygues Construction's governance framework.

The role reports to the General Counsel in Australia from the Sydney head office, with a flexible working policy and occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with practical Australian practice experience.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Solid understanding of regulatory and governance requirements.
• Experience interacting with senior management and key stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, commercially focused legal advice on complex projects and contracts.
• Negotiate head contracts with clients across sectors including data centres, renewables and infrastructure.
• Manage legal risk, identify regulatory implications and develop practical solutions.
• Oversee legal reviews, templates and compliance frameworks within Bouygues Construction.

Skills

Legal counsel

Contract drafting

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

Education

Law degree

Admitted in Australia

Job description

At Bouygues Construction Australia, we are dedicated to the design, construction, and delivery of nation shaping projects across civil infrastructure, engineering, and energy and services.

We have proudly been working in Australia for more than 25 years.

Our local experience in underpinned by significant global expertise and resourcing.

About The Role

The Senior Legal Counsel provides strategic, commercially focused and technically sound legal advice across complex projects, transactions, contracts, and operational matters. The position acts as a trusted legal adviser and subject-matter expert, supporting the organisation's objectives while protecting its legal, commercial and reputational interests.

The Senior Legal Counsel identifies and manages legal risk, oversees complex legal matters including negotiation of head contracts with clients, supports supply chain arrangements including negotiation of key downstream contracts, develops practical legal solutions and provides clear advice to senior management and key stakeholders. All within the compliance and governance framework of the Bouygues Construction group.

This position reports directly into the Bouygues Construction Organisation’s General Counsel in Australia and is based in the Sydney Head Office (with a flexible working policy). The role may require occasional domestic and international travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Predominantly a front end, transactional role with a prime focus on negotiating head contracts with public and private sector clients across a range of sectors: data centres, renewables with a focus on solar and battery projects, hospitals, schools, universities, and from time to time supporting the wider civil infrastructure team (including tunnels, roads, bridges, ports and defence projects).
• Support the preparation, review, negotiation and management of contracts and other legal documents.
• Provide clear and timely legal advice to operational and management teams to support effective decision making on complex construction, energy and commercial matters.
• Identify, assess and manage legal, contractual, regulatory and operational risks.
• Act as a recognised part of the corporate decision-making process by providing legal reviews and support to senior management and key stakeholders.
• Advise on the legal implications of client and Bouygues Construction Group strategies, policies, procedures, programs and projects.
• Lead legal research and analysis to support compliance with organisational policies, contracts, laws, regulations and legal requirements, including using legal AI tools.
• Monitor and implement legal developments, industry trends and recognised best practice.
• Develop practical and innovative solutions to legal problems and emerging risks.
• From time to time contribute towards corporate initiatives including acquisition activity.
• Manage external legal advisers where required.
• Contribute to the development and review of legal policies, procedures, templates and compliance frameworks including participating in global Bouygues Construction Legal Working groups and events.
• Maintain accurate records of legal matters, advice, contracts, risks and outcomes.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to legal team members and relevant stakeholders.
• Promote legal integrity, corporate accountability and efficiency, collaboration, teamwork and continuous improvement.

Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Law, Engineering, Construction Management, Business or a related discipline.
• Admission as a legal practitioner and a current practising certificate, in Australia or other common law in Jurisdiction.
• Significant experience as a legal practitioner in a senior or specialist role, in-house or in private practice.
• Recognised experience in a relevant legal and construction / building / energy industry sectors.
• Some M&A or corporate / commercial experience is desirable.
• Experience working with senior management and key internal and external stakeholders
• Strong legal, technical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Sound commercial judgement and the ability to assess and manage legal risk.
• Excellent written communication skills, including advance legal drafting skills and the ability to prepare clear contract reviews, reports, contract templates and tender submissions.

Bouygues Construction values diversity and welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.