[Hiring] Senior Lawyer @Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

Role Description

The successful candidate will work in the Corporate Law team within the Legal Services Section. The Corporate Law team provides strategic and practical legal advice to support the Commission's role as a Commonwealth statutory agency and employer. The team works closely with business areas across the Commission to manage legal risk, support sound decision-making, and enable the Commission to achieve its operational and strategic objectives.

The team advises on a broad range of matters including:

• Commercial Law:
  • Contract review, negotiation, variations and termination
  • Information communications technology (ICT) arrangements
  • Licensing agreements
  • Memoranda of understanding (MoU)
  • Intellectual property
  • Leasing and other commercial transactions
  • Commercial risk mitigation including advice on legal risks arising from procurement and probity matters, along with emerging technologies (AI and digital platforms)
• Employment Law:
  • Legal advice on employment, industrial relations, Work Health and Safety (WHS) and discrimination law
  • Advising on APS Code of Conduct investigations and other matters involving workplace rights and obligations
• Legislative Compliance:
  • General advice and assistance to ensure compliance with the Commonwealth legislative and policy framework
  • Review of internal policies, procedures and instruments of delegation

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the provision of high-quality legal advice on employment law, commercial law and/or legislative compliance matters
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements and legal documentation
• Engage external legal providers in accordance with the Legal Services Directions 2025 (Cth), Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs)
• Lead the development of legal templates, guidance and deliver training to promote legal awareness
• Peer review legal advice and work products to ensure quality, consistency and legal accuracy
• Contribute to strategic initiatives within the Legal Services Section
• Actively contribute to a collaborative, high-performing and solutions-focused Branch culture
• Provide leadership, mentoring and professional development to junior legal staff
• Other duties as required

Qualifications

• Be admitted as a legal practitioner (however described) of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory
• Be eligible to hold and maintain a practising certificate in the jurisdiction in which they practise
• A minimum of 5 years' post-admission experience in employment law and/or commercial law
• Eligibility to hold and maintain a baseline security clearance

Requirements

• Knowledge of legislative frameworks applying to a Commonwealth statutory authority
• Significant experience advising on highly complex matters in the areas of:
  • Employment and workplace relations law
  • Commercial and corporate law, including procurement, contracting, ICT, intellectual property, leasing and governance
• Sound knowledge of:
  • The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth), Commonwealth Procurement Rules; and the Commonwealth procurement and contracting framework
  • The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), and the public sector workplace framework including the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth), APS Code of Conduct, etc.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, legal research skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet short deadlines and work effectively under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships and collaborate with legal and other Commission staff
• Demonstrated ability to provide practical, risk-based and solutions-focused legal advice
• Ability to work independently and with a geographically dispersed team, and manage and prioritise workflow
• Self-motivated to continuously improve and develop (including by responding to constructive feedback)
• The ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively in plain English
• Have integrity and be committed to practising in accordance with the Statement of Expectations for Government Lawyers

Benefits

• Salary offered will be between $127,956 - $151,738 per annum depending on skills and experience
• 15.4% superannuation will be paid
• Non-ongoing opportunity will be offered for an irregular/intermittent term
• Opportunities will be offered for varying periods up to 12 months with the option to extend to a total of 24 months
• Merit Pool established through this selection process may be used to fill this or future ongoing or non-ongoing vacancies