Director - Practice Manager

EL 2 - $136,118 - $158,149 per annum plus superannuation
- Legal Division
- Canberra, ACT
- Work in a fast paced, exciting environment_
- Hold a leadership role in the Division._
- Lead a high performing team to deliver on initiatives and goals._

**Who we are**
The Legal Division is managed by the Chief Counsel and is comprised of both lawyers and non-lawyers. Together we are responsible for all legal services and advice required by the department. We partner with the business areas of the department, the Executive, and the Secretary to identify and manage legal risk across the department and facilitate excellent legal outcomes for our clients. As a member of the Division, you will have a key role in growing this department which has been established to deliver on matters which are at the forefront of our national agenda. You will be involved in interesting and important work which may span environment protection, energy, climate change and heritage, and on-ground operations in Commonwealth national parks and Antarctica. Work we do includes:

- providing legal advice on a broad range of issues including statutory interpretation and administrative law, regulatory actions and investigations and commercial work and funding activities,
- managing the department’s litigation across a broad range of matters including merits review, judicial review, commercial disputes, and Work Health and Safety matters, in a range of Courts and Tribunals,
- developing legal risk and mitigation strategies, particularly in areas of novel or complex work,
- developing and coordinating legislation bids and processes, including drafting instructions for the department’s ambitious legislative reform agenda,
- developing legal guidance resources and delivering training for the department,
- coordinating freedom of information requests and providing privacy advice, and
- providing administrative and financial support services to the Division.

The Legal Division operates in a fast paced, exciting environment. We focus on ensuring our staff are supported and developed so that they are in the best position to take on the challenges of the work. We provide competitive conditions and remuneration and provide opportunities for staff to both specialise and diversify their skills, while learning from and being supported by highly skilled senior staff.

The Corporate, Climate Change & Energy Branch is made up of four sections: Information Law, Commercial Law, Climate Change & Energy Legal, and the Legal Strategy & Coordination team. The Branch is responsible for advising on all information law and commercial law matters, corporate advising, and statutory and administrative law advice to the Climate Change & Energy groups. The Branch is also responsible for practice management support to the Division, including recruitment, managing the Divisional budget and the procurement of external legal services.

The Legal Strategy and Coordination team provides strategic and administrative support to the legal branches within the Chief Counsel Division. The team has a broad range of responsibilities including regular reporting and coordination, managing staffing levels and budget, procuring all external legal services for the department, and managing recruitment for the legal branches.

**The Job**
Directors hold a leadership role in the Division. They display honesty and integrity and help to drive the vision and strategic direction of the Division. The Practice Manager will lead with energy and resilience and have a proactive approach to professional and organisational development with the ability to engender enthusiasm and professionalism in others. In this role you will:

- manage the department’s legal practice and actively participate in the Division’s leadership group, providing briefings (written and verbal) and support to the Legal Executive to manage the workforce and budget.
- plan, manage and monitor Divisional budgets and oversee the management of ASL, resources, expenditure, and reporting.
- contribute to the workforce planning and manage and oversight recruitment activities and the onboarding and training of new starters.
- manage the design and implementation of strategic practices and projects to ensure the effective functioning and continual improvement of the Division.
- oversee all legal services procurement for the department, managing contracts and the payment of suppliers through the finance system and ensuring compliance with all procurement requirements.
- identify whole-of-government and departmental risks and issues and work towards delivering quality outcomes.
- liaise and engage with other internal or external professionals as necessary to exchange views, seek advice and ensure positive outcomes.
- be responsible for motivating, mentoring, and leading a section to deliver on initiatives and goals whilst striving to create an inclusive, responsive, and effective work environment.
- build the capacity of team members, m