Principal Legal Officer

Join Ministry of Health’s Legal Branch for an exciting**_full time ongoing_**employment opportunity and be part of the team enriching health in millions of ways every day.

**About us**
- We are a dynamic team of lawyers who are engaged in a broad range of legal matters. If you are looking for variety, complexity and purposeful work, then this role could be for you.
- Our core values of collaboration, openness, respect, and empowerment are more than just words - they're the guiding principles that shape every aspect of our work.
- Committed to fostering diverse and inclusive workplace for all.

To learn more about the Ministry and what benefits we offer, access our Employee Benefits Handbook.

**About this role**
With your skills and experience, you can contribute to the millions of ways we’re enhancing health and wellness while developing your career as part of the largest health organisation in Australia.

We are a small, specialist legal team forming part of the Legal and Regulatory Services Branch that includes units responsible for corporate governance, privacy, regulation of medicines and private hospitals. The legal team works as corporate counsel to the Ministry, as well as advising health service providers and hospitals across the broader public health system.

Legal Officer Grade VI, starting salary from $165,865- $169,359 p.a. plus Super and annual leave loading, with a 35-hour work week.

For more information, please read the full Role Description.

**What you'll be doing**
You will be working in a fast-paced environment dealing with a diverse range of legal issues with a principal focus on managing significant legal matters involving iCare medical negligence claims, privacy matters and all coronial matters involving NSW Health.

The Legal structure has 3 teams reporting through a Director to the General Counsel for NSW Health. The role sits in the Professional Capability and Legal Operations Team. The team’s work includes general legal issues such as contracts and procurement and legal questions arising from the day to day operation of a large public health system, as well as focussing on specialist health law and emerging medico-legal issues and liability questions.

The operations team is also responsible for improving health system legal services and capability, training needs, and oversight of legal service panels. Senior lawyers in the team need excellent written and verbal communication and good time management skills, as well as a demonstrated capacity to proactively manage emerging issues, provide strategic legal advice on solutions and support to junior legal officers in the team.

**About you**
We are seeking motivated and committed individuals who can support the work of NSW Health with:

- Significant experience working in litigation involving Health matters.
- The ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
- A growth mindset, and commitment to continuous learning and personal development.
- The ability to work in a small dynamic team environment.
- Proficiency in working to tight deadlines and managing a high volume of work.

**How to apply**
At The Ministry of Health, we want you to make the most of the opportunities you’ll get to grow your skills and your career, surrounded by authentic, smart people and leaders.

Please review the role description and submit your up-to-date resume (up to 5 pages) and cover letter (1-2 pages) AND demonstrate your ability by attaching a response to the two target questions below.

**Target Questions (1-2 pages)**
- Describe a recent health law case that you found particularly complex or challenging. What made it difficult, and how did you approach it?
- Describe a situation in your experience where you needed to decide on a course of action when there was a degree of uncertainty in the options available? What approach did you take to bring the matter to a resolution? What were the challenges?

Use the link below to access our Capability Application tool, designed to help you excel in the recruitment process. Practice your responses with the example questions provided to effectively highlight your achievements and the strategies you used to accomplish them.

**Closing Date: Sunday 26 October 2025**

**Our commitment to diversity and inclusion**
At the Ministry of Health, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and flexible environment which reflects the community and customers we serve. We actively promote the employment of women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

To be eligible for employment in these roles you must be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa with permission to work in Australia.

**Additional information**
- This recruitment may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future roles (ongoing or temporary) that may ari