Legal Counsel

- Fantastic opportunity to play a key role in a leading conservation organisation
- Location - based in Melbourne (Hybrid)
- Full time, permanent position

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a very real contribution to the protection of Australia’s unique wildlife and their habitat.

About us

As a national, not-for-profit, we want to continue to expand the areas we protect and deepen the impact we have. We work in partnership with Traditional Owners, listening to and learning from the customs and cultures that came before us.

Bush Heritage Australia is a leading conservation organisation, and for over 30 years we’ve supported and protected some of the most fragile ecosystems across the continent and seen the impact of our science-based approach. By 2030 Bush Heritage Australia aims to protect and enhance biodiversity across 30 million hectares of land, including 2.4 million hectares of directly owned and managed land, while extending and deepening Aboriginal partnerships. We also work alongside farmers and private landholders to improve biodiversity on agricultural lands.

About the role

Reporting to the Executive Manager Corporate Services and CFO, the Legal Counsel is a key influential role in Bush Heritage, leading the Legal function to ensure Bush Heritage’s conservation and other business interests and its important relationships are protected through timely and highly informed legal advice and management.

The position is responsible for providing advice directly and/or liaising with external legal advisors to Bush Heritage management and staff across a highly diverse range of legal matters including general commercial contracts, land tenure and managing land use conflicts, native title & Aboriginal cultural heritage, land acquisition and access, conservation covenants and bequests.

The Legal Counsel is also a member of Bush Heritage’s Impact Leadership Team, a group of senior leaders across Bush Heritage that provide support and advice to the Senior Leadership Team.

- Legal qualification and eligibility for admission to legal practice in whichever state the incumbent is resident.
- Demonstrated post admission experience of 10 years plus across the key responsibility areas of the role.
- Demonstrated capacity to draft legal and commercial documents and agreements and provide advice in respect of same.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated success in working effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Strong communication skills in both a written and oral form, and an excellent level of attention to detail.
- Demonstrated organisational and negotiation skills, particularly in a legal context.

What sets us apart

- Great life-work balance: flexible work arrangements with hybrid working.
- Access to 20 days personal leave per year, 10 of these available from commencement of employment. We also offer cultural leave and gender transition leave.
- Employee Resource Groups for women, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent employees as well as a social group for bird lovers.
- Professional development activities including access to LinkedIn Learning.
- Equitable 12 weeks paid leave to all parents, irrespective of their role as primary or secondary carers.
- Access to support and counselling via our Employee Assistance Program and free access to Headspace app

How to apply

To apply for this role, simply fill in your personal details and answer the questions below. You will then be taken to a page to upload a copy of your CV. There is no need to attach a cover letter or separate document answering key selection criteria. Candidates who are interested in the position are encouraged to apply even though they may feel they are not strong on individual selection criteria. In assessing merit, the panel will take into consideration “performance or achievement relative to opportunity”. We recognise that many staff today have a range of personal circumstances, and career histories.

Bush Heritage Australia does not discriminate based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or marital or parental status. Should you require a reasonable adjustment to be made for your application we would be more than happy to discuss how this could be arranged.

Applications close: Sunday the 16th of November at 11:30pm AEDT

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