Principal Legal and Commercial Adviser

Utilise your legal expertise to provide support and advice to the Policy and Strategy, Fines and Enforcement Services branch
- Fixed-Term (until March 2027), Full-Time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
- VPS Grade 6: $130,673 - $174,869 plus superannuation.

**About Us**:
Fines and Enforcement Services (FES) is a business unit within the Department of Justice and Community Safety's Courts, Civil and Criminal Law group. FES is responsible for managing the end-to-end infringements system in Victoria and includes the Director, Fines Victoria and the Sheriff's Office of Victoria. 
FES is undertaking a procurement project to procure a new vendor to deliver services that support Victoria's Fines Program including operating the Fines Victoria Call Centre.

**About the Role**:
Working closely with the Managing Principal Legal and Commercial Adviser, the Principal Legal and Commercial Adviser will support the project by providing legal, commercial and strategic advice on a wide range of commercial, contractual and procurement matters relating to the project. The role operates within a complex and dynamic environment that requires a capacity to exercise sound judgement, and the ability to proactively develop and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, using influence and negotiation skills to support the provision of clear advice to support effective and timely actions.

**Some of your duties will include**:

- Providing legal support in the development, tender to market and negotiation of contracts in accordance with policy and approved processes. This includes contract drafting and reviewing, evaluating tender responses, formulating strategy, and negotiating commercial and legal terms.
- Providing specialised, solutions-based legal expertise in relation to complex and sensitive contractual and commercial matters to the project team, senior management and key internal and external stakeholders.
- Preparing and supporting others in preparing executive level briefings in line with departmental guidelines.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

**About You**:

- Significant and demonstrated experience in providing commercial/contract law advice. Experience in privacy law and/or administrative law would be highly regarded.
- Relevant expertise in contract management and procurement.
- Ability to work autonomously and provide authoritative advice and support on sensitive and/or complex legal issues including with respect to contract drafting, negotiations and variations, commercial positions and privacy law matters.
- Ability to analyse complex legal issues, interpret legislation and develop accurate legal solutions.
- Ability to identify emerging legal and commercial risks and liabilities and to develop contingencies and recommendations.

**Qualifications**:

- Law Degree and admitted, or eligible to be admitted, to practice as a legal practitioner in Victoria.

**How to Apply**:
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**:CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT**:
The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.