Director, Legal and Sector Policy, NATSILS

• Drive justice reform to improve outcomes for First Nations communities
• Lead NATSILS legal policy team, guiding advocacy and systemic reform.
• $158,905 - $180,221 + super + salary packaging & leave loading

Full-Time | Fixed-Term, Two Years | Melbourne, VIC

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services. We advocate for justice, equality, and the rights of our peoples, supporting culturally safe legal services and driving national reforms to close the gap in justice outcomes.

Your Impact

As a senior leader at NATSILS, you will shape national legal and sector policy, driving strategic advocacy and systemic reform to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and reduce justice system contact for children and adults. You will oversee criminal, family, and civil legal policy, ensuring alignment with Closing the Gap justice reforms. You will work closely with ATSILS across all jurisdictions to ensure national policy positions reflect legal practice evidence, community priorities, and lived experience. Each day, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership of NATSILS Legal and Sector Policy practice, guiding high-impact advocacy, systemic reform, and sector sustainability.
• Lead development of national policy advice, submissions, and reform strategies across criminal, family, and civil law, including input to the Justice Policy Partnership.
• Manage and mentor Policy Officers, overseeing performance, workloads, and delivery of evidence-based policy outputs.
• Collaborate with NATSILS, ATSILS, and stakeholders to ensure policy positions reflect lived experience, community needs, and legal practice expertise.
• Represent NATSILS in national forums, working groups, and engagements with government, legal sector, and community stakeholders.
• Monitor legislation, funding, and sector trends, supporting systemic reform and effective coordination across the legal assistance sector.

Your Story & Strengths

You are a visionary and accomplished senior leader with deep expertise in legal and sector policy, advocacy, and systemic reform. You understand and respect the cultural, social, and historical contexts shaping the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. You bring exceptional strategic, analytical, and leadership skills, coupled with a strong commitment to advancing justice, strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, and delivering high-impact, evidence-based policy outcomes. Key strengths include:

• Minimum 5 years post-qualification experience in legal practice or legal policy, with demonstrated leadership, staff management, and mentoring experience.
• High-level knowledge of justice and legal assistance systems, public policy frameworks, and systemic drivers of incarceration for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Strong policy, advocacy, and legal analysis skills, including drafting submissions, briefings, and reform strategies.
• Proven ability to work respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations.
• Experience engaging senior government stakeholders and navigating complex policy, political, and funding environments.
• Desirable: Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, with experience in community-controlled organisations, legal assistance funding, criminal law practice, or related qualifications.

Our Journey Together

At NATSILS, you'll find a career that truly matters, one where your work has purpose and impact every day. We are proud to offer a supportive and rewarding environment with a range of generous benefits, including:

• Not-for-profit salary packaging to reduce your tax burden, which means you get to keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket
• Annual leave loading of 17.5%, ensuring that you are rewarded for your time off and can enjoy a well-deserved break.
• Career and professional development opportunities

At NATSILS, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of safe recruitment practices. Therefore, it is essential that candidates either possess or have the capacity to obtain a current and valid Working with Children (VIC) check for this role.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates. If you identify as a person with a disability and need any adjustments or support with your application including throughout the recruitment process, please let us know by reaching out to our Talent Team at

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as we are moving quickly with this recruitment process.