Manager, Legal

**About the Diocese**

The Diocese of Parramatta is home to more than 330,000 Catholics and is one of the fastest growing dioceses in Australia. The Diocese is made up of 46 parishes, 80 Catholic schools, and more than 43,000 students and includes a number of agencies which assist the Bishop in the pastoral care of the community.

Are you seeking to combine your thorough understanding of the Catholic Church, its mission and its unique challenges and opportunities with your knowledge of common law and legislation and how that impacts Diocesan clergy, employees and volunteers including the safeguarding and professional standards regulatory framework? Then this Manager, Legal - Safeguarding position is made for you

**About the Position**

The primary purpose of the Manager, Legal - Safeguarding position is to manage the wide range of legal and information exchange matters that relate to the Diocese. This includes oversight of all civil litigation matters on foot, management and oversight of the National Redress Scheme (NRS) and Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP), Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Services Ltd (CDPSL) and Manager for Safeguarding CatholicCare (CCSS) matters. This role will also manage and oversee investigations and complaints within the Office for Safeguarding relating to the Diocese of Parramatta.

Reporting to the Diocesan Head of Safeguarding, you will be responsible for:

- Working collaboratively with the Diocesan Head of Safeguarding and other senior leaders and all clergy across the Diocese;
- Working collaboratively with external stakeholders including; police, legal representatives, survivors of child sexual abuse;
- Maintaining effective relationships with relevant external authorities, e.g., National Redress Scheme, police, law firms;
- Providing advice and managing the legal, complaints, investigations and information exchange operations that fall into the remit of the Office for Safeguarding; and
- Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders with the objective to embed safeguarding culture as it relates to legal obligations, across the Diocesan community, including developing strategies and plans;
- As a Model Litigant, provide timely and precise responses to information exchange requests;
- Manage all legal work related to complaints and investigations with regard to:

- Greater Sydney Agreement;
- GIPA;
- Chapter 16A;
- APP12;
- Effecting and/or responding to instruments enabling information exchange to occur (e.g. warrants, GIPA requests and subpoena);
- NRS;
- Integrity in the Service of the Church;
- Integrity in Ministry;
- Relevant Canon Law, e.g., Vos Estis Lux Mundi;
- Towards Healing;
- National Catholic Professional Standards;
- State Child Safe Standards.
- Financial forecasting and management of budget for NRS, external consultants and investigators;
- Maintaining appropriate and accurate centralised records in the approved space for all Diocesan safeguarding investigations including hard copies, electronic copies and databases;
- Identification of serious risk and recommendations for risk minimisation;
- Manage the Investigations Panel, including creation of relevant resources, comprising external investigators and CEDP, CCSS and CDPSL representatives; and
- Undertake risk assessments and safety plans as required.

**About You**

To be successful in this role you will bring the following qualifications and technical experience:

- Bachelor Degree (or higher) in law;
- At least 5 years’ experience as a lawyer in an applicable agency (or relevant experience);
- A thorough knowledge of common law and legislation that impacts Diocesan clergy, employees and volunteers including the safeguarding and professional standards regulatory framework;
- A demonstrated commitment to the ethos and values of the Catholic Church;
- A thorough knowledge of legislative requirements in relation to all aspects of the legal, information exchange, complaints and investigations;
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to reprioritise and reorganise priorities;
- Excellent record management skills;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills;
- Experience in engaging with persons affected by abuse;
- Significant commitment to client services and accountability for their performance;
- Ability to ensure that appropriate systems and internal controls are implemented and maintained;
- Demonstrated experience in working in a diverse and highly complex environment;
- Ability to interact effectively with multiple and diverse stakeholders;
- Proven ability to work under direction, to think creatively and laterally, to problem solve; and
- Substantial time management and organisational skills with the ability to work to tight deadlines and deliver under pressure.

**Applications for the position should include**:

- A covering letter explaining why you are interested in the position and explain how your skills, experience and capabilities align to the criteria i