Senior Legal Counsel - Construction

City of Moreton Bay; Strathpine; Hybrid; AUD 187,000 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Work from home days

Job summary

City of Moreton Bay in Strathpine is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel - Construction to lead the council's construction law capability and support across governance, procurement, and project delivery.

You will provide strategic advice on major projects, draft and negotiate contracts, and guide procurement processes while managing risks and disputes.

This role offers a hybrid working arrangement, a collaborative in-house team, and a pathway to shape critical infrastructure for our community.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice on major construction, infrastructure, and capital works projects across the council.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on construction contracts, consultancy agreements, procurement documents, and project delivery arrangements.
• Support project teams throughout the lifecycle of construction projects, from procurement and contract award through to completion and defects management.
• Advise on contract administration matters, including variations, extensions of time, delay claims, liquidated damages, and performance disputes.
• Provide legal guidance on procurement and tendering processes to ensure compliance with local government legislation, policies, and probity requirements.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and commercial risks arising from construction and infrastructure projects.
• Advise on security of payment legislation, contractor claims, adjudications, and payment disputes.
• Help manage and resolve construction-related disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation where necessary.
• Support the delivery of major community infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, parks, recreational facilities, and public buildings.
• Advise on issues relating to contractor performance, defects, warranties, insurances, indemnities, and risk allocation.
• Work closely with engineering, procurement, project management, finance, and executive teams to achieve project outcomes while managing legal risk.
• Provide legal advice on planning, environmental, property, and regulatory matters affecting construction projects.
• Instruct and manage external legal advisers, consultants, and experts involved in construction disputes and project delivery.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, legal precedents, and governance frameworks for construction and infrastructure projects.
• Prepare legal opinions, reports, and briefings for senior management, project boards, and council committees.
• Monitor legislative developments and emerging legal issues affecting construction, infrastructure delivery, and local government operations.
• Lead negotiations on complex commercial arrangements with contractors, developers, government agencies, and key stakeholders.
• Provide mentoring and guidance to junior lawyers and support the continuous improvement of the council's legal and procurement practices.

Job description

• TRP from $207,505 pa (inclusive of 12% super and leave loading)
• 76 hour fortnight
• 5 weeks annual leave
• Hybrid, flexible working environment, including some work from home days.
• Location: Strathpine

Join City of Moreton Bay as a Senior Legal Counsel - Construction, and help shape and enhance our communities for today and tomorrow.

We’re excited to be growing our in-house legal team and are seeking a talented Senior Legal Counsel to join us.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced construction lawyer looking to grow their career and make a meaningful impact in Local Government. As part of the collaborative and high-performing legal team, you will strengthen and expand our construction law capability while contributing to the team’s broader legal function across commercial contracting, governance, property, planning and environment, and dispute resolution.

At the City of Moreton Bay, your work will help shape decisions that affect the community every day. You’ll step into a trusted advisory role, working at the heart of strategic, legal and operational decision-making within Australia’s third-largest council.

In this team, no two days are the same. You will:

• Provide strategic legal advice on major construction, infrastructure, and capital works projects across the council.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on construction contracts, consultancy agreements, procurement documents, and project delivery arrangements.
• Support project teams throughout the lifecycle of construction projects, from procurement and contract award through to completion and defects management.
• Advise on contract administration matters, including variations, extensions of time, delay claims, liquidated damages, and performance disputes.
• Provide legal guidance on procurement and tendering processes to ensure compliance with local government legislation, policies, and probity requirements.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and commercial risks arising from construction and infrastructure projects.
• Advise on security of payment legislation, contractor claims, adjudications, and payment disputes.
• Help manage and resolve construction-related disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation where necessary.
• Support the delivery of major community infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, parks, recreational facilities, and public buildings.
• Advise on issues relating to contractor performance, defects, warranties, insurances, indemnities, and risk allocation.
• Work closely with engineering, procurement, project management, finance, and executive teams to achieve project outcomes while managing legal risk.
• Provide legal advice on planning, environmental, property, and regulatory matters affecting construction projects.
• Instruct and manage external legal advisers, consultants, and experts involved in construction disputes and project delivery.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, legal precedents, and governance frameworks for construction and infrastructure projects.
• Prepare legal opinions, reports, and briefings for senior management, project boards, and council committees.
• Monitor legislative developments and emerging legal issues affecting construction, infrastructure delivery, and local government operations.
• Lead negotiations on complex commercial arrangements with contractors, developers, government agencies, and key stakeholders.
• Provide mentoring and guidance to junior lawyers and support the continuous improvement of the council's legal and procurement practices.

While the primary focus of this role is construction law, you will also have opportunities to contribute across other areas of Council's legal service as business needs require.

Position Description - Senior Legal Counsel

About you

This is an exciting opportunity to join a large and growing in-house legal team during a period of transformation and expansion.

You’ll be part of a collaborative, people-focused environment where you’ll be supported to develop your skills, strengthen relationships across the business and contribute to delivering contemporary, best-practice legal services.

You will:

• Play a key role in projects that deliver lasting benefits to the community.
• Gain exposure to complex land, development and infrastructure transactions.
• Work closely with senior leaders across the organisation.
• Be supported by experienced legal professionals in a collaborative environment.
• Have opportunities to broaden your practice across planning, property, governance, commercial and other local government legal disciplines.

Local Government offers a diverse and interesting portfolio of work, giving you exposure to a broad range of legal areas while deepening your expertise. If you’ve ever considered a move into Local Government, this is an ideal time to join us as we grow

Why City of Moreton Bay?

What you do with your life matters. It’s the same with your career.

We’re the third-largest council in Australia and one of the fastest-growing areas. As Australia’s newest city, we’re building something that’s never been done before: a new kind of city, inspired and empowered by a new kind of council.

This is your opportunity to develop skills and experience in a truly unique place, at a truly unique point in time.

At City of Moreton Bay, we’re focused on the vital work we do today. But we’re also focused on the future. On what can be – for our city, our Council and your career.

Here’s what you’ll love about a career with us:

• See it. To build a city of the future, first, you have to see it. The polycentric city we’re building will bring greater prosperity, sustainability and affordability to our city. This is your chance to contribute to something that’s never been done before.
• Shape it. You’ll get hands‑on in a rewarding career, serving and strengthening our communities for today and tomorrow. Our work is diverse, interesting and it matters – and it’s yours to shape and own.
• Live it. Contribute to the city you and your family want to live in and enjoy the lifestyle you deserve. And if you don’t live here, you’ll still find pride and connection in so many ways with our successful, resilient team.

You’ll also enjoy a range of other benefits:

• Advance your skills and career through our Study, Training And Research Scheme (STARS).
• Make your pay go further with salary packaging options on novated leases, superannuation payments, smartphones and devices.
• Prioritise your health and wellbeing with discounted health insurance, free annual flu vaccinations and our Fitness Passport Program.
• Get support when you and your family need it most with our 24/7 confidential counselling service,leader support hotline and Mates in Construction program.
• Our Strathpine office has local parking on site and is close to public transport networks, making for an easy commute.

Ready for a career that matters?

Join City of Moreton Bay, and help shape our city of the future.

As part of the recruitment process, applicants will be required to undergo a National Criminal History Check.

Your Future City. See it. Shape it. Live It.

City of Moreton Bay extends across the traditional lands of the Jinibara, Kabi Kabi, and Turrbal peoples, and we acknowledge and pay respects to Traditional Custodians. We believe diversity of thought, background and experience creates better outcomes for our people and communities, and we strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of all ages, genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds.