El1 - Senior Lawyer, General Commercial, Legal, Foi & Privacy Division

Requisition ID 44726 - Posted - $113,631 - $119,891 -  Location of Position (4)  - Ongoing - Full Time -  Position Classification(s) (1)

 Title:  Classification(s):  Employment Type: EL1 IFA Salary - $125,352 - $129,256

Salaries in the department are provided through its Enterprise Agreement and supporting s.24(1) Determination. They may also be provided through Individual Flexibility Arrangements (IFA). The department has an Individual Flexibility Arrangement (IFA) Framework applicable to employees at the APS6 and Executive Levels. Employees at these classifications may be eligible to receive salaries set out in the IFA Framework which are above those set out in the Enterprise Agreement and supporting s.24(1) Determination. These IFAs can be negotiated prior to commencement and the IFA will be provided to staff on commencement with the department. For more information on the IFA Framework and to understand what remuneration the department can offer, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact  ******  Business Division: Legal, FOI & Privacy Division

 Branch Commercial Law

 Location: The role will be located in either Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne dependent on the location of the successful applicant. Accordingly, applications are welcomed from candidates located in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne.

 Security Clearance: Baseline Vetting 

 Job Reference No: 44726 

 Contact Officer: Maria Guarnieri, Principal Lawyer, 0409 298 356, ******

 Closing Date: 11.59pm AEDT, Sunday 24 March 2024  Our Department Values Our values set the direction for what it means to work in our department. They inform the standard and expectations of behaviours, skills and capabilities and the attributes we currently have, will continually work to achieve and develop, and that we use to acknowledge and attract, retain and recruit into our department.

The department supports workplace diversity and values the contribution of people from diverse backgrounds. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people with cultural and linguistic diversity, and LGBTIQ people. The department is committed to achieving gender equality and, in particular, supporting women's progression into senior leadership. A little bit about us 

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (Department) is responsible for the design and delivery of the Australian Government's infrastructure, transport, regional development, communications and arts policies and programs. 

Our work touches every Australian community and underpins our economy and society. Our focus is on connecting Australians, enriching communities, and empowering our regions. We do this by providing policy advice to government, and delivering programs, services and research for the benefit of all Australians.

In the Department's Legal, FOI and Privacy Division, we provide high quality, practical, technically excellent and timely legal advice, support and services for the department and Ministers' offices, on the diverse areas covered by the portfolio. The Division has also integrated with the Department's FOI team, who are responsible for coordinating all FOI matters within the Department.

The opportunity we have available

The Legal, FOI & Privacy Division is seeking experienced (EL1 level, 5+ years PQE), dynamic and talented commercial lawyers to join our growing legal team. With strong technical legal abilities and commercial acumen, our ideal candidate will have excellent written/oral communication and interpersonal skills and a proactive/enquiring mindset to enable and deliver on the real property focused aspects of the Division's legal services.

 

Reporting to the Principal Lawyer - General Commercial (EL2), these newly created roles will collaborate with other lawyers to deliver outcomes as part of a high performing legal team managing a diverse portfolio of matters that are crucial to the wellbeing of every Australian and the prosperity of the nation. This is an opportunity to advance your career and/or gain experience working in the Australia Public Service, working with high profile stakeholders. 

The Commercial Law team, which includes a general commercial law function, provides a broad range of legal services to the Department (including to support the delivery of major projects such as Western Sydney Airport, Moorebank Intermodal Freight Terminal and WestConnex). Particular areas of focus for the team, include:

• Major infrastructure projects, including air, road and rail;

• Regional development initiatives;

• Support for the administration of offshore non-self-governing Australian territories;

• Communications services;

• Border corporate and procurement services for the Department; and

• Surface transport matters, including aviation, maritime and road transport. 

We may establish a merit pool for future vacancies.

What will you do?

Working closely with the Principal Lawyer - General Commercial and the General Counsel - Commercial, you will be responsible for:

• Proactively identifying legal risks and providing timely and effective legal advice/ solutions to the Department and a range of internal and external stakeholders; 

• Carriage of, and providing strategic and technically sound legal advice on, commercial law matters and procurements (including the Department's varied portfolio of major/strategic projects) to enable the Department to assess legal risks and make sounds decisions on contractual and commercial matters;

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating key transaction and supporting contracts;

• Developing and maintaining (through periodic/ongoing review) the Department's commercial law related precedents;

• Partnering with internal stakeholders to inform, design and deliver effective and efficient legal solutions that meet the Department's requirements;

• Mentoring and guiding junior members of the Commercial Law team;

• Overseeing the efficient and value for money delivery of external legal service providers who may be appointed to assist with matters from time to time; and

• Contributing to organisational level continuous improvement and skills/capacity building initiatives, including by delivering internal training to the Department on commercial law related issues from time to time.

We actively support flexible work arrangements. The preference for the role is for a full-time position, however we are flexible in terms of allowing home-based work upon discussion with the Principal Lawyer - General Commercial.

Who are we looking for? Essential

Our ideal candidate must:

• Be a person who always conducts themselves in accordance with the Department's Values;

• Have 5+ PQE relevant legal experience, gained in a law firm, in an in-house environment or in government;

• Have the interpersonal skills and the ability to develop strong working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders (of all levels) in the provision of legal advice (they are flexible, resilient and a strong team player with a positive and collaborative working style) - importantly, our ideal candidate will be adept at providing advice to senior management and executives;

• Be able to work independently and with a geographically dispersed team, and be able to prioritise workload in a high-volume and fast-paced environment that will (at times) involve urgent deadlines - requiring the ability to triage, manage, and prioritise workflow; 

• Have excellent technical legal skills, including:

o Experience in advising on, drafting, reviewing and/or negotiating a range of commercial arrangements; and

o The ability to provide timely, strategic and technically sound legal advice that enables the Department to assess risk and make sound decisions on commercial law related matters;

• Be able to drive and own outcomes, be proactive and possess an agile mindset and strong problem solving and influencing skills - they are situationally aware, client centric and pride themselves on their ability to persuasively communicate complex legal concepts in plain English; and 

• Strive to continuously improve and develop (including by responding to constructive feedback), and an ability to meet the work level standards expected of an EL1 level lawyer (available at: Work level standards: APS Level and Executive Level classifications | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)).

While not essential, our ideal candidate may also have:

• Experience in resolving disputes, including using alternate dispute resolution, and in the development and implementation of strategies to resolve disputes; 

• Property, environment and planning expertise/experience; and/or

• Intellectual property and ICT expertise/experience; and/or

• An appreciation of the policy and legislative/regulatory framework that is relevant to dealings/transactions undertaken by the Department.

What else can we offer? Working in the Legal, FOI and Privacy Division within our department gives you an opportunity to be a part of delivering high-priority outcomes for the Government. We offer a range of professional benefits and opportunities to help you build your skills, experience and networks in the Australian Public Service (APS):

• An excellent opportunity to grow and diversify your career in a high-profile organisation and role;

• A flexible, family friendly workplace and a diverse and supportive team environment - for example, flexible working arrangements including home-based work;

• Exposure to high profile and exciting matters/pieces of work and networking opportunities across the Department and wider APS - including through access to our internal staff networks and communities of practice; 

• Study assistance, support for continuing legal education and vocational training (including formal training and capability development opportunities focused on your individual career goals); and

• Mentoring and coaching opportunities, work-life balance and excellent conditions of service (for example, 15.4% superannuation, a typical 37.5 hour working week, additional paid leave over the Christmas shutdown period and (where eligible to do so) we may even be able to recognise periods of prior State or Commonwealth Service for long service leave purposes in accordance with the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976 (Cth)).

 

Eligibility requirements

Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including: 

• Citizenship: To be eligible for employment with us, applicants must be an Australian citizen. Only in exceptional circumstances will we consider waiving this requirement.

• Health Assessment: You may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by our preferred medical provider.

• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at the ASGVA Baseline clearance level. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information. You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding 5 years for Baseline Vetting clearances. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.

•  Qualifications: 

o Tertiary degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification which is appropriate to the duties of the position.

o Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory or have completed and satisfied all requirements to be eligible for admission.

 

How to apply

Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm (AEST) on Sunday 24th March 2024. 

In applying for this position, you will be asked to provide a covering letter/ short statement of no more than two (2) pages outlining your background, capabilities and experience, and how these align with the capabilities and behaviours required to be successful in this role (as identified in the 'Who are we looking for' section). You must also provide a CV, to a maximum of five (5) pages. 

Your application should be received through our online recruitment system . Applications via Indeed (or other recruitment or job advertising websites/agencies) will not be accepted. 

If you experience any issues with the system please contact the Recruitment Team on 02 6274 6161 or via email to ****** to discuss an alternative way to submit your application.

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