General Counsel

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This range is provided by Oxfam Australia. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

A$167,727.00/yr - A$167,727.00/yr

• Melbourne
• Permanent

About Us

At Oxfam Australia, we believe all lives are equal and no one should live in poverty. We are a member of Oxfam International, a global confederation working with partners and local communities in 87 countries.

Would you like to join this global movement of people working together to eliminate the inequalities that keep people in poverty?

We are currently seeking an enthusiastic and committed person to fill the role of Legal Counsel.

Why you will love working at Oxfam

As part of the Governance and Executive team, you will use your skills, qualifications, lived experience and initiative to tackle inequality and fight poverty. Yes, you read that right, lived experience and initiative, because it is not all about key selection criteria.

Are you re-entering the workforce after a career break? Don't worry We are looking for people with a fire in their belly and a commitment to ending poverty. As long as you know your subject matter, we can teach you the other stuff and show you what's happened while you were away.

The Role

The General Counsel is responsible for leading the provision of professional legal services and advice to support the delivery of Oxfam Australia's strategic plan, in conjunction with external legal counsel, the Board, Executive Leadership Group, and the Executive Leadership Team to support Oxfam Australia's operations. This will include advice on a wide range of legal issues.

A little about you (the key selection criteria)

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated ability to provide sound and accessible legal advice and support to all levels of the organisation
• Extensive knowledge and experience working in and/or advising clients in highly regulated contexts (including for example, large national or international organisations, procurement, corporate and charity governance, fundraising, insurance etc.)
• Ability to forge and maintain strong internal and external relationships with people from a wide range of cultural and professional backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to provide excellent leadership of a team, providing advice on complex matters
• Ability to work with stakeholders, including pro-bono partners, to foster excellence in risk management and organisational governance.
• Intermediate computer and systems literacy (including ability to use the Microsoft suite of programs confidently)

We can offer you

• A base salary of $167,727 plus superannuation, superior leave benefits and access to a generous not-for-profit salary packaging program (up to $18,450 of your salary tax-free).
• The opportunity to use your talents and expertise to make a positive impact around the world.
• We value flexibility and seek to support our people to work in ways that meet their work/life commitments and support their wellbeing.
• Cultural leave
• Superannuation matching

Our culture is shaped by our values, which reinforce what we care about and how we do things, not just what we do. Our five core values of Accountability, Empowerment, Equality, Inclusiveness and Sustainability drive everything we do at Oxfam.

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Therefore, our people are required to comply with the One Oxfam Child Safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policies and sign the Oxfam Australia Child Safeguarding and One Oxfam Employee Codes of Conduct.

How to Apply

Complete the online application form, then, as three separate documents, upload:

• a cover letter that tells us why you want to join Oxfam Australia, and how your professional history and lived experience make you the right candidate.
• your CV.
• your response to the selection criteria outlined in the advertisement.
• Applications close on Thursday, 10 July 2025.
• Here is the link to the Position Description

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We care deeply about creating a safe and inclusive workplace where our people feel valued, respected and empowered. We are committed to providing equal opportunities and encourage applicants with personal experience of the forms of injustice we seek to address to apply for opportunities at Oxfam Australia.

Applicants will be required to show proof of their right to work in Australia the subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, which include Police Checks and Misconduct Disclosure Scheme outcomesprior to commencement. Pre-employment checks are not used by Oxfam Australia to prevent any applicant from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits.

Oxfam Australia will not recruit international candidates who do not hold visas permitting them to work in Australia. Oxfam Australia does not provide visa sponsorship.

Additional information:

For ongoing roles, candidates will be required to have a minimum of 2 years' Australian work rights from the date of commencement of their employment with Oxfam Australia. For fixed-term roles, candidates will be required to have work rights for the full duration of the contract.

At Oxfam Australia, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture where everyone's rights are recognised and respected. Guided by feminist principles and core values, we embrace different perspectives and work to eliminate systemic inequities that perpetuate discrimination. We centre and amplify the voices of people with lived experience and work in solidarity to build a future where no one is left behind.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is reflected in our actions, Oxfam Australia:

• Supports employee-led committees
• Promotes consultative ways of working and decision making
• Maintains a comprehensive enterprise agreement that prioritises employee well-being, as demonstrated through multiple leave types
• Provides ongoing awareness and training on unconscious bias, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices, ensuring alignment with Oxfam's values
• Ensures a fair and accessible recruitment process

We give priority to protecting the health, safety and well-being of our people, supporters, and the communities we work with. If successful, you may be required to provide evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination or approved medical contraindication prior to commencing employment with Oxfam Australia.

Seniority level

• Seniority levelMid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment typeFull-time

Job function

• Job functionLegal
• IndustriesNon-profit Organizations

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