Principal Solicitor, Housing Team

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

**Salary**: $127,467 - $149,024

Occupation: Legal

Reference: VG/DFFH/AS/375227

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life.

Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTQI+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

We work in a variety of community-based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

If you’re having any trouble viewing this ad and would like it or any attachments in an accessible format (such as large print), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on the ad.

An exciting opportunity exists for a **Principal Solicitor** on an **Ongoing **basis in the **Legal Services Branch**.

The Legal Services Branch ensures high-quality, strategic legal advice, litigation services, legislative services and legal policy advice to the Secretary, Ministers, the Chief Executive Officer of Homes Victoria and other senior executives to support the achievement of government policy and departmental objectives, and to manage legal risk.

Your work will include advising on a broad range of complex and significant property law issues, statutory interpretation and administrative law matters. You will also prepare property transaction agreements, other legal documents, Ministerial correspondence, Cabinet submissions, written reports and briefings, and take the lead on a range of projects. You will work closely with the Legislation and Policy team to advise on the legal aspects in the development and implementation of complex legislative projects and subordinate instruments for the Housing portfolio.

You will provide leadership, support and mentorship to other staff in the Housing Team and across Legal Services.

You will work predominantly in the Housing Team, however, in accordance with clause 19 of the VPS Agreement (where applicable), you may be asked to join a different team where business operations require this.
- Leadership skills
- Organisational awareness
- Conceptual and analytical ability

**VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS POLICY**

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of its workers and clients. The department may require its employees to be fully vaccinated against preventable diseases such as the current coronavirus (COVID-19). The department's **COVID-19 Vaccination requirements policy** **(Word) outlines the requirements for existing employees, other workplace participants and prospective employees. Subject to exceptions, only employees or other workplace participants with up-to-date vaccination status (see definitions section of the policy) against COVID-19 and who provide evidence of their Vaccination Status are permitted to work for the department outside their ordinary place of residence. For this role, you are required to submit proof of vaccination prior to commencement. Please refer to the above link for more information.

Other mandatory qualifications or requirements for this opportunity include:
(list the requirements) - delete if not applicable

For more information on the accountabilities and key selection criteria, qualifications and/or requirements for the role please refer to the attached Position Description.

**HOW TO APPLY**

Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suitability to the role in line with the Key Selection Criteria.

Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process.