Senior Legal Counsel

AusNet Services Ltd; Victoria; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

AusNet Services Ltd in Victoria seeks an experienced Senior Legal Counsel for a 12-month fixed-term contract. Based in our Finance, Strategy & Legal team, you’ll partner with Operations and the broader Legal group to deliver pragmatic, commercially focused advice across diverse matters.

You’ll manage broad commercial contracts, claims and regulatory interactions, working with senior stakeholders to balance legal risk with business needs and to support Victoria’s changing energy future.

Qualifications

• Awards: 7–9 years legal experience, in-house or private practice.
• Strong experience in commercial contracts and contract fundamentals.
• Exposure to claims and litigation is highly regarded.
• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice across diverse matters.
• Draft, negotiate and manage operations, maintenance and procurement contracts.
• Advise on claims and disputes, coordinating with insurers and external advisers.
• Engage regulators on incidents and information requests with relevant bodies.
• Support senior leaders on projects and strategic matters.
• Collaborate with Procurement on contractual frameworks and negotiations.

Education

Law degree and admission to practise in Australia

Job description

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• 12-month opportunity in a critical Victorian infrastructure business
• Broad commercial contracting, claims and operational legal exposure
• Partner with senior stakeholders while supporting Victoria’s changing energy future

We bring the energy!

Through purpose and people -not just through the infrastructure we operate, but through the way we show up for each other, our customers’ and our communities. The future of energy is in our hands. Let’s shape it together.

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join AusNet on a 12-month fixed-term contract. Joining our Finance, Strategy & Legal team and reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, Operations, Customer and Regulation, you’ll partner closely with our Operations business and broader Legal team, providing pragmatic and commercially focused advice across a diverse range of matters.

What you’ll be doing

This is a genuinely broad commercial legal role where no two days will look quite the same.

You’ll:

• Partner with the business to provide practical, strategic and commercially focused legal advice.
• Draft, negotiate and execute operations, maintenance and procurement contracts supporting AusNet’s electricity and gas networks.
• Provide advice on claims and disputes, including working with insurers and external legal advisers when required.
• Engage with industry regulators on incidents and information requests, with exposure to organisations such as Energy Safe, the Essential Services Commission, AEMO, AER, WorkSafe and the EPA.
• Support senior leaders with advice on both specific projects and broader strategic matters.
• Partner with Procurement on contractual frameworks, templates and commercial negotiations.

What we’re looking for

You’re an experienced lawyer who can balance legal risk with commercial reality. You’re comfortable working autonomously, know when to challenge or ask the right questions, and can turn complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• A tertiary qualification in Law and admission to practise in Australia.
• Around 7-9 years’ legal experience, gained in-house, in private practice, or through a combination of both.
• Strong experience in commercial contracts and contract fundamentals.
• Exposure to claims and litigation would be highly regarded.
• Strong commercial judgement and negotiation capability.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• The confidence to work with ambiguity and progress matters without necessarily having all the answers upfront.
• A collaborative mindset and willingness to step outside your core specialisation when the business needs it.

The AusNet experience is all about…

• Solving some of the most complex energy challenges of our time: We love unpacking complex challenges in clever ways and looking at things differently.
• When life happens, knowing we’ve got your back: Whether it's life's big moments or the unexpected little ones, we get it - sometimes you just need to be there.
• Being part of a team that cares deeply about each other:We share in the good times. We support in the tough times. And we’re humble through and through.

We’re committed to building an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce. We believe different perspectives are essential to our success, and we encourage all applicants to apply. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we're happy to discuss how we can support you.