Senior Government Lawyer

• Senior Government Lawyer - EL1
• Canberra, ACT; Sydney, NSW; Newcastle, NSW; Orange, NSW; Darwin, NT; Alice Springs, NT; Brisbane, QLD; Mackay, QLD; Rockhampton, QLD; Townsville, QLD; Adelaide, SA; Hobart, TAS; Melbourne, VIC; Bendigo, VIC; Perth, WA.
• $129,477 - $158,609

About The Department Of Employment And Workplace Relations

We are committed to empowering futures, ensuring rights and enriching lives. We support people to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future as we ourselves strive to be a model employer.

We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees. We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or re-training to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.

With us, your work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. Whether you are engaging in policy development, program implementation, or direct support services, your efforts will have a tangible impact on job seekers, employees and the economy by giving them a framework to build a future anchored and realised through employment.

It is our ambition to do things differently, to create the ‘department of great jobs’ where our people reflect our purpose.

The Role

Reporting to the Principal Government Lawyer we are seeking a high performing Senior Government Lawyer with commercial law experience to join our specialist commercial law practice within the Commercial and Information Law Branch.

You will be part of an experienced and well-established practice that is recognised across the department for delivering high quality, practical and solution-focused legal advice. With three dedicated commercial law teams, the Branch provides legal support across the full spectrum of the department's commercial activities, ensuring the work is both diverse and interesting.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Advising on the design and delivery of procurement and grants activities;
• Drafting and negotiating complex contracts, deeds, variations, novations and other legal instruments to support government programs and policy outcomes;
• Advising on contractual rights and obligations, including dispute resolution, breach management, recovery of funds, termination rights and intellectual property matters;
• Providing advice on Commonwealth legislative and policy frameworks relevant to government commercial activities, including the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles, and associated procurement policies;
• Advising on corporate governance and risk management issues;
• Advising on ICT procurements, projects and contractual arrangements; and
• Advising on commercial property and other commercial law matters affecting departmental operations.

The duties and responsibilities for this role will also include complying with obligations in Commonwealth legislation and policies where relevant, for example the Public Service Act 1999 and the Legal Services Directions 2025.

Qualifications And Education

• A degree in laws from an Australian tertiary institution, or a comparable overseas qualification, which is appropriate to the duties of the position; and
• Admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory with ideally at least 4 years post admission experience.

Eligibility

At DEWR we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and seek to recruit staff with a wide range of backgrounds, skill levels, disciplines and working styles. If this role resonates with you and you are excited about making an impact, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Citizenship

To be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.

Security Clearance

Our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

#J-18808-Ljbffr