Chief Legal Counsel, Governance and Risk Officer

**Chief Legal Counsel, Governance and Risk Officer**:
**Job no**: 497675

**Work type**: MSP Contract

**Classification**: MSP

**Categories**: Human Resources, Business Strategy & Improvement

**Create our future together at the City of Greater Geelong**
At City of Greater Geelong, we are committed to working together for a thriving community. We do this by delivering over 130 services to our rapidly growing population and working hard to protect and improve what it is that makes Greater Geelong on Wadawurrung country such a great place to live, work and study.

We’re going through an exciting period of change that will help us serve our community better. From digital modernisation to the contemporary, sustainable office we've built in Central Geelong, now more than ever is a great time to join our team at the City of Greater Geelong.

Our Community is made up of diverse people from all walks of life, and it’s important to us that our workforce represents and celebrates this strength.

We encourage great people from all backgrounds to join us. We encourage authenticity, because inclusion makes us stronger.

If you’re excited about working together to create a Clever and Creative Greater Geelong, and joining a workplace where all people can thrive, then hit **apply** - we’d love to meet you

**About the role**
As the Chief Legal Counsel, Governance and Risk Officer, you will provide leadership and high-quality expert advice on a diverse and complex range of strategic and operational activities through the provision of in-house legal services and governance and risk management practices which comply with legislative and policy requirements and promote business excellence.

In this senior leadership position, you will evaluate current and future organisational needs and develop innovative and dynamic strategies and responses to facilitate the efficient and effective delivery of best practice legal, governance and risk management services and advice across the City.

Key responsibilities include:

- Be an effective and empowering people leader and coach.
- Lead, motivate and provide strategic direction to the Legal, Governance & Risk Department to deliver high quality advice and services aligned to business requirements, optimise team and individual employee achievements, optimise results and performance, and embrace and engage with the Council’s strategic priorities and vision.
- Encourage the Legal, Governance & Risk Department teams to “go beyond theory” and partner with internal stakeholders to design and implement practical initiatives that will deliver clear responsibility, accountability and effective oversight and practices.
- As the City’s primary legal advisor, provide timely, accurate and high-quality legal advice to the Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Leadership Team, and senior leaders across the City.
- Develop the department’s capability and expertise through supervision and mentoring of team members and continuous improvement iniatives.
- Oversee the implementation of good governance practices for the City and Council.
- Guide the continuous improvement of the City’s internal controls framework, enterprise risk management and compliance practices.

**About you**
To be successful in this role, you will have relevant tertiary qualifications in law and admitted to practice Law in the state of Victoria. You will hold a current practicing certificate and have at least 10 years post-admission experience

Essential Experience:

- Extensive experience in the provision of legal advice in a public sector environment.
- Extensive experience in the provision of strategic commercial and policy advice.
- Experience in implementing best practice and contemporary legal services.
- Sound understanding of the role of legal advice in supporting the strategic and corporate objectives of an organisation.
- Experience in a governance-related field in the public or private sector.
- Experience in a risk management related field in the public or private sector.
- Proven interpersonal, communication and negotiations skills with the ability to use discretion and judgment in a complex business and political environment, particularly in the provision of expert, accurate, confidential, and sensitive advice.
- Highly developed leadership skills with a demonstrated sound understanding of the importance of building a positive, inclusive, and values-based culture.

**A career with us**
With flexible working options, our people have choice in how and where they work. Our employees connect with us from across the Greater Geelong region and beyond.

Central Geelong-based City employees are now based in our new Civic Precinct, Wurriki Nyal. Meaning ‘speak and talk together’ in local Wadawurrung language. Wurriki Nyal sets the benchmark for what a sustainable, inclusive and culturally safe workplace can be, including industry leading sustainability standards, a flexible and people-focused design, saf