Corporate Lawyer (12-month)

NOTE : this role can be based in Melbourne or Sydney

Help us deliver a better tomorrow

Australia Post is delivering for all Australians. From the vehicles that we drive, to the small businesses that make our communities thrive. We’re delivering for the environment, for our communities, for our customers and for our people. We’re moving forward and we want you to come along for the ride.

About the opportunity

This is a unique 12-month Fixed Term Corporate Lawyer in Australia Post’s Group Legal team, reporting to a Head of Legal supporting People & Culture (P&C) , Network Operations and Community, Sustainability & Stakeholder Engagement (CS&SE) teams. You will be a Lawyer with commercial or employment law background, responsible for providing broad commercial legal advice and support to stakeholders in these parts of the business, with a focus on the Network Operations business unit.

Network Operations team play a critical role in planning, building and maintaining infrastructure and operations across the enterprise while meeting agreed service, cost and performance targets. It is responsible for delivering billions of items annually to millions of delivery points across Australia and around the world. Network Operations includes Australia Post letter and parcel delivery, StarTrack Express, Premium Services, fleet and asset management, operations technology and facility property.

Working closely with key stakeholders to navigate rapid change in the road transport industry, you will support this key area of the business which is continually evaluating its processes and simplifying its operating model, to ensure sustainability of our parcel deliveries, while bedding down changes to letters delivery.

What you’ll deliver with us

Our Corporate Lawyers are known for providing high quality, commercially focused, independent and trusted legal services to a variety of stakeholders across Australia Post and its subsidiaries. We work hard, and we work on challenging matters, but we also recognise that everyone has a life outside of the office, so we provide flexible conditions that enable you to grow whilst enjoying genuine work-life balance.

This is an amazing in-house role with a unique opportunity to influence and shape business decisions.  You will be working with highly experienced corporate lawyers along with some great business leaders. You will have the opportunity to develop and progress your legal career within a collaborative and empowering environment.

You’ll also

• Review, draft and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements relating to suppliers and our large contractor workforce with a focus on independent contractor agreements
• Manage and resolve disputes with suppliers and contractor workforce, including parties represented by trade unions
• Develop strong stakeholder relationships throughout Network Operations to become a trusted advisor providing both proactive and reactive advice to support a range of matters. Working alongside senior advisors within Network Operations and People & Culture to identify risks and support complex matter management
• Provide advice on employment law / IR related issues arising in connection with the contractor network, including sham contracting, misconduct and contractor compliance with obligations under both state and federal employment and safety laws
• Monitor legislative and industrial changes and assess impact on contractor workforce with a focus on the road transport industry
• The provision of legal advice to support the compliance initiatives of Australia Post in the contractor network, including the audit of contractors to ensure compliance with workplace laws
• Manage matters that escalate to external forums including state Industrial Relations Commissions, Fair Work Commission, and Courts. Represent Australia Post in disputes, mediation, conciliation hearings, and in negotiations with unions on industrial matters concerning the contractor workforce. Manage litigation in employment related matters in the Federal Court and Federal Circuit Court. This may involve advocacy, or briefing law firms or counsel directly
• Management and advice on third party personal injury and workers compensation recovery claims by working closely with, and providing instructions to, our insurers and external legal counsel
• Provide legal advice with respect to Australia Post’s whistleblower obligations under Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (PID Act) or the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2002 (Cth) (NACC Act) and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act) including provision of support in complex investigations involving matters such as fraud and misconduct
• Other commercial and ad hoc legal advice as and when required to support P&C, Network Operations and CS&SE BUs

About you

How we’ll deliver for you

We’re delivering together

At Australia Post, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we

operate, live and gather as employees.

We believe our business should reflect the diverse communities we operate in and are proud to be an inclusive workplace for people from all walks of life. We encourage applications from people of all ages, genders and backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, People with Disability, LGBTQIA+ and Refugees. We are one of the largest organisations in Australia to successfully achieve Disability Confident Recruiter status. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process and workplace for those living with a disability and are committed to reviewing and removing bias in our processes to create a gender-equitable recruitment experience and workplace. If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact our Diversity & Inclusion team on inclusivecareers@auspost.com.au